Plain-English meaning
Per Stirpes
A distribution method under which a deceased beneficiary's branch of the family may take that beneficiary's share by representation.
Why the term matters
It determines how a gift moves down family lines when a named person dies before distribution.
Do not confuse it with
Per stirpes, per capita, and by-representation formulas can produce different shares and are not interchangeable labels.
Where you may see it
The term may appear in a signed will or trust, a court petition or order, a deed, an account or policy form, a fiduciary report, or correspondence from a tax or benefit agency. Read the defined-terms section and the complete sentence before deciding what role or action it describes.
Records that give the term context
- the current signed document and every amendment
- ownership, beneficiary, court, and account records connected to the issue
What to verify
- Which document, contract, court order, or statute controls?
- Who has authority now, and what evidence proves it?
Example without case advice
If a notice uses “per stirpes,” first identify the person or property the word refers to, the document supplying the definition, and the deadline or decision attached to it. The same word can carry a different procedural effect in a trust, probate file, tax form, or account contract.
Sources to verify
Use the controlling court, agency, statute, provider record, or governing document before relying on a general explanation.