per stirpes
Per stirpes is a method of dividing up proceeds based on lineage. The share that a person would have received while alive can go to that person's heirs.
Using per stirpes in a beneficiary designation can cause uncertainty. It's better to be specific. For example, "to my children A & B in equal shares but if either A or B dies before me, then to their surviving children equally."
page revision: 0, last edited: 20 Apr 2007 05:13