per stirpes

American  

[pur stur-peez, per] / pɜr ˈstɜr piz, pər /

adjective

Law.

1. pertaining to or noting a method of dividing an estate in which the descendants of a deceased person share as a group in the portion of the estate to which the deceased would have been entitled.

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Etymology

Origin of per stirpes

First recorded in 1675–85, per stirpes is from Latin per stirpēs literally, “by stocks”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

per stirpes

Choosing per stirpes can provide a hedge if a child has children before the beneficiary designation is updated, so that a deceased child’s share will pass on to their descendants.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

But the division per stirpes was not maintained throughout.

From On The Structure of Greek Tribal Society: An Essay by Hugh E. (Hugh Exton) Seebohm

Indeed we need not care whether the division per stirpes or per capita, our share is not the less in either case.

From Americanisms and Briticisms with other essays on other isms by Brander Matthews

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