per stirpes

[ pur stur-peez, per ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of per stirpes¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

Heirs were firstly sons, then daughters, then grandsons per stirpes, then granddaughters per stirpes, then brothers, and then sisters of the decedent.

From Project Gutenberg

But the division per stirpes was not maintained throughout.

From Project Gutenberg

If sons all dead, grandsons probably divided per capita, It has generally been assumed that grandsons inheriting directly from their grandfather, all the intermediate generation being already dead, inherited none the less the shares of their respective fathers per stirpes.

From Project Gutenberg

Gráma, 52 167 219 Grandsons inherit per stirpes, 39 120 ...

From Project Gutenberg