Asset Distribution Per Stirpes

Per stirpes means “by branch” in Latin, but is commonly understood to mean “by the bloodline.” If your estate is distributed per stirpes after your death, each branch of the family will receive an equal share of the estate.

For example, imagine that Amy has three children: Brigid, Charles, and David. At Amy’s death, all three children will receive one third of Amy’s estate – if that estate is set up to pass per stirpes. Assume now that Brigid predeceased Amy, and that Brigid has two children, Eleanor and Fergus. Now at Amy’s death, Charles and David will still receive one third of the Amy’s estate. Eleanor and Fergus will each share in what would have been Brigid’s share, so both Eleanor and Fergus will take one sixth of Amy’s estate.