Lasciti

Lasciti is the plural of lascito, an Italian term used to denote legacies or bequests left by a deceased person to heirs or beneficiaries. In broader use, it can also refer to the heritage or imprint that a person, an institution, or a culture leaves behind.

In a legal context, a lascito is a bequest established in a will (testamento). A testamentary lascito designates money, real estate, rights, or other valuables to a named beneficiary. Lasciti are part of an estate and are subject to succession law and taxation; Italian practice distinguishes, for example, lasciti universali (transferring the whole estate) from lasciti a titolo particolare or specifici (specific items or amounts). The execution of a lascito requires formal provisions and may be contested by other heirs according to the rules of the succession.

Beyond the legal sense, lasciti also describe cultural or historical legacies—collections, archives, works of art, or philanthropic endowments left by individuals or organizations. Such lasciti are often managed by heirs, museums, libraries, or foundations and can shape public access and cultural memory.

With the rise of digital assets, the term is used for digital lasciti—accounts, data, and intellectual property left after death. Planning for digital lasciti intersects with privacy, accessibility, and evolving regulations, and is increasingly incorporated into estate and heritage planning.