Which term describes a per capita distribution of an estate to residuary beneficiaries and the heirs of a deceased beneficiary?

Which term describes a per capita distribution of an estate to residuary beneficiaries and the heirs of a deceased beneficiary?

• A. Per stirpes
• B. Fiduciary
• C. Per capita
• D. Executor

Answer: (C)

Per capita describes distributing the estate by equal shares to the beneficiaries at the designated level, treating each living holder of a share on a per-person basis rather than by tracing shares through a deceased beneficiary’s line. In this approach, the focus is on how many living recipients there are and dividing equally among them, rather than passing a deceased beneficiary’s share down to their descendants. If the distribution were by another method, such as per stirpes, the share would go to the deceased beneficiary’s heirs rather than to the surviving residuary beneficiaries in equal measure. So the term that best fits a plan distributing the estate per person to residuary beneficiaries (and accounting for those who may be deceased) is per capita. The other terms describe different concepts: per stirpes involves heirs of a deceased beneficiary, while fiduciary and executor are roles, not distribution methods.

Per capita describes distributing the estate by equal shares to the beneficiaries at the designated level, treating each living holder of a share on a per-person basis rather than by tracing shares through a deceased beneficiary’s line. In this approach, the focus is on how many living recipients there are and dividing equally among them, rather than passing a deceased beneficiary’s share down to their descendants. If the distribution were by another method, such as per stirpes, the share would go to the deceased beneficiary’s heirs rather than to the surviving residuary beneficiaries in equal measure. So the term that best fits a plan distributing the estate per person to residuary beneficiaries (and accounting for those who may be deceased) is per capita. The other terms describe different concepts: per stirpes involves heirs of a deceased beneficiary, while fiduciary and executor are roles, not distribution methods.