Per stirpes
![Figure 1. A's estate is divided equally between each of the three branches. B, C and D each receive one-third. As B pre-deceased A, B's two children - B1 and B2 - each receive one-half of B's share, equivalent to one-sixth of the estate.](/Images/godic/202502/02/Per_stipes_example_A4555.PNG")
![Figure 2. Comparison between per stirpes inheritance and per capita by generation inheritance. On the left, each branch receives one third of the estate. On the right, A's only surviving descendant, C, receives one third of the estate. The remaining two thirds are divided among the descendants in the next generation.](/Images/godic/202502/02/Comparison_of_per_stirpes_and_per_capita_inheritance4555.PNG")
Per stirpes (/pɜːr ˈstɜːrpiːz/; "by branch") is a legal term in Latin. An estate of a decedent is distributed per stirpes if each branch of the family is to receive an equal share of an estate. When the heir in the first generation of a branch predeceased the decedent, the share that would have been given to the heir would be distributed among the heir's issue in equal shares. It may also be known as right of representation distribution, and differs from distribution per capita, as members of the same generation may inherit different amounts.