LEGITIM  , or BAIRN'S

PART, in Scots law, the legal share of the movable property of a father due on his death to his children . If a father dies leaving a widow and children, the movable property is divided into three equal parts; one-third part is divided equally among all the children who survive, although they may be of different marriages (the issue of predeceased children do not share); another third goes to the widow as her jus rclictae, and the remaining third, called " dead's part," may be disposed of by the father by will as he pleases . If the father die intestate the dead's part goes to the children as next of kin . Should the father leave no widow, one-half of the movable estate is legitim and one-half dead's part . In claiming legitim, however, credit must be given for any advance made by the father out of his movable estate during his lifetime .