What does elective share mean?

An elective share is a surviving spouse's legal right to claim a minimum portion of the deceased spouse's estate, even if the will left them less or nothing. The exact share varies by state, often somewhere around a third to a half, and some states scale it to how long you were married. Community property states protect spouses differently. The rule exists to keep someone from completely disinheriting their husband or wife, so check your own state's law for the specifics.