Legal Definitions - stirpal

Definition: Stirpal (stər-pəl), adj. See Stirpital. Stirpital (stər-pə-təl), adj. Of or relating to per stirpesdistribution. Also termed stipital; stirpal. See Per Stirpes.

Explanation: Stirpal is an adjective used to describe the distribution of property or assets among the descendants of a deceased person. It is related to the term "per stirpes," which means that each branch of a family receives an equal share of an inheritance. Stirpal is often used in legal contexts, such as wills and estate planning.

Example: If a person dies and leaves behind three children, but one of those children has also passed away and has two children of their own, a stirpal distribution would mean that the deceased child's two children would receive their parent's share of the inheritance, rather than it being divided equally among the surviving children.

Explanation: This example illustrates how stirpal distribution works in practice. Instead of dividing the inheritance equally among the surviving children, the deceased child's share is passed down to their own children, ensuring that each branch of the family receives an equal share.