légataire

Légataire is the person or organization named in a will to receive a bequest from the estate of the deceased. In English, the equivalent term is legatee. A légataire may be a natural person or a legal entity, including charities or institutions. Bequests may be specific (à titre particulier) — for example, a particular painting or a fixed sum — or universal (à titre universel) — a portion or all of the remaining estate. A residuary legatee receives the balance after all other bequests have been satisfied.

In civil-law jurisdictions, légataires are distinct from heirs (héritiers), who inherit by succession or intestacy. The will typically designates an executor or administrator who manages the estate, pays debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, and then distributes legacies to the légataires. If assets are insufficient, legacies may be reduced to respect legal protections for other beneficiaries or to comply with statutory limits on bequests.

The term légataire derives from the French verb léguer, to bequeath. While rooted in French legal traditions, the concept appears in many jurisdictions that use civil-law or mixed systems; in English usage, the term legatee is used, with similar meanings.

See also: will, testament, heir, legatee, testamentary disposition.