What is the forced portion of an estate in Louisiana called?

In Louisiana, the forced portion of an estate refers to the part of a deceased person's estate that is legally required to be allocated to certain heirs, often referred to as forced heirs. This allocation is part of Louisiana's legal framework, which aims to protect the rights of specific family members, particularly children and, in some cases, other descendants. The term "legitime" specifically denotes this concept, as it refers to the portion of the estate that must be reserved for these heirs regardless of the deceased's wishes as expressed in a will.

The concept of legitime is rooted in French civil law and is crucial in understanding how estates are managed after a person’s passing in Louisiana. It ensures that heirs cannot be completely disinherited, thereby preserving the financial rights of immediate family members.

The other terms mentioned, such as estates of inheritance, testamentary trust, and successive inheritance, do not specifically define the mandatory portion of an estate that must be allocated to forced heirs. Estates of inheritance generally refers to the broader concept of heirs' rights, testamentary trusts pertain to trusts created through wills for managing assets, and successive inheritance involves property passed down through generations but does not deal directly with the compulsory shares of an estate. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the role