legítimas
Legítimas is a legal concept in civil law that designates the portion of an individual's estate that must be reserved for certain close relatives, known as forced heirs. This reserved portion cannot be fully dispensed with through a will or other transfers, ensuring financial support for those relatives after the decedent’s death. The concept exists in several jurisdictions, including Spain, Portugal, and parts of Latin America, though the exact rules and quantities vary by country.
Who counts as a forced heir and how the legítima is calculated differ across systems. In many
Jurisdictional variations are common. In some countries, the legítima is a fixed share of the total estate;
For precise rules, including who qualifies as a forced heir and the exact share, local civil or