A portion or share, especially of money.  A portion of a decedent’s estate awarded by statute to the decedent’s survivors for support during the administration of the estate, regardless of whether they have any rights to the estate or any testamentary disposition or competing claims to the estate. If statutorily available is only to the surviving spouse, it is known as a spousal (or widow’s or widower’s) allowance. If statutorily available is to surviving spouse, children, or parents, it is known as a family allowance. See also elective share.  The court-ordered financial award to a fiduciary for services rendered. 4 A deduction.