LEGITIMI HEREDES

legitimi heredes (l[schwa]-jit-[schwa]-mI h[schwa]-ree-deez), n. pl.[Latin] Roman law. Heirs on intestacy, as determined by the Twelve Tables; specif., the Praetor’s second rank of claimants to an intestate’s estate, comprising the agnates of the Twelve Tables order and some others, such as the decedent’s patron. See TWELVE TABLES.