Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania
How does per stirpes effect beneficiaries of en estate?
Asked on 9/02/12, 6:34 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
Domenic Bellisario
Law Office of Domenic A. Bellisario
Per stirpes refers to each branch of a family being treated alike. For example, if a distribution is to one's children per stripes, and there were two children then each child or his/her offspring would get one half. So, if Child A had two children and Child B had three children and both children died before the parent, then the two grandchildren of Child A would each split one half, that is get a fourth each, and the three grandchildren from Child B would split the other half, that is, get one-sixth each. So, the grandchildren would not get equal shares in this example, but the family branches would get equal shares (one-half each).
Answered on 9/04/12, 6:21 am