Video Summary
Two common terms used in preparation of a will are per stirpes and per capita. Both refer to different ways to indicate how your assets are to be distributed amongst your beneficiaries.
Per Stirpes means that if a benificiary named in your will dies before you do, then his or her share of the inheritance will pass to his or her beneficiaries.
Per Capita means that if a beneficiary named in your will dies before you do, this his or her share of the inheritance will be divided equally among the remaining beneficiaries.
For example, let’s say you have two children and the older dies.
If your will is written per stirpes, the older child’s beneficiaries will receive his half of your estate.
If your will is written per capita, the younger child will receive one hundred percent of your estate.