Per Stirpes

What is Per Stirpes?

Latin for "by roots," by representation. The term is commonly used in wills and trusts to describe the distribution when a beneficiary dies before the testator. The testator provides that the share of the predeceased beneficiary shall go to his or her heirs, per stirpes.

Further Reading

For more detailed information, see our related Wills Trusts And Estates terms:

• Lineal Descendants
• Contingent Remainder
• Per Capita

Reviewed by

Stephanie Bagnall

Licensed Attorney and Legal Researcher

Stephanie Bagnall is a Georgia-licensed attorney and legal researcher with experience in accessibility law, compliance, employment law, and legal writing. She helps develop and review BarPrepHero's Legal Terms content for clarity, accuracy, and usefulness to bar exam students.

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