Per Stirpes Definition

Per stirpes is a legal term stipulating that should a beneficiary predecease the testator—the person who has made out the will—the beneficiary’s share of the inheritance goes to his heirs. While the term per stirpes is commonly used to refer to an individual’s assets under a will, it is sometimes used in beneficiary designations for individual retirement accounts (IRAs). While per stirpes and per capita are similar, there are differences. Per capita means that any surviving descendants of the same generation distribute property equally.