Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

stirpes

noun

/ˈstɪr.piz/

Definition

A term used in legal contexts to refer to the descendants or lineage of a particular ancestor, especially in inheritance situations.

Examples

He left his estate to his children, with the stipulation that it be distributed per stirpes.
In a stirpes distribution, if one of the heirs has predeceased the testator, their share goes to their own children.

Meaning

Stirpes implies a method of dividing an estate among heirs based on their familial branch, ensuring that each branch of descendants receives an appropriate share of an inheritance, typically following the line of descent from the deceased ancestor.