Katharine Paljug is a financial writer and editor with over a decade of industry experience. Her writing has covered nearly every aspect of the financial world, from investing in forex to paying for ...

Per stirpes ensures descendants inherit an equal share of an estate, even if an heir predeceases. Per capita divides estate equally only among living heirs, excluding descendants of deceased heirs.

Per stirpes is a legal term used in the law governing inheritance and estate. It is a designation that decrees how the assets of a testator (person making the will) will be distributed when a ...