legítimos

Legítimos is the plural form of legítimo in Portuguese and Spanish. As an adjective, legítimo means lawful, valid, or authentic, and in both languages it can describe something that conforms to law, rules, or moral standards. The term is widely used in everyday language to designate genuineness or rightful status, for example, un documento legítimo or un hijo legítimo in historical contexts.

In legal contexts, especially in civil-law jurisdictions influenced by Roman law, legítimos also designates a class of heirs. The legítima is a portion of a decedent's estate that the law reserves for certain relatives, such as descendants and, in some systems, a surviving spouse. The heirs who are entitled to this reserved portion are referred to as the legítimos or, more commonly, los herederos legítimos. The remainder of the estate may be disposed of freely by the decedent (the disponible or libre disposition). The size of the legítima and the rules for its calculation vary between countries and legal codes and can adjust for the number of eligible heirs.

Historically, legítimos included legitimate children as opposed to illegitimate children; contemporary practice often uses terms that emphasize legal recognition rather than birth status, and terminology may differ by jurisdiction.

Etymology: from Latin legitimus 'lawful, proper'. Related terms include legítima (the reserved portion) and ilícito (illegal).