The default is to name your spouse your primary beneficiary and name your children ... This is called a per stirpes distribution. That means that each branch of the family will receive an equal ...

How to name a beneficiary on your life insurance policy ... You can choose between a specific percentage: per stirpes or per capita. Lastly, you may also be able to determine how much money ...

Like many retirement savers, the grandmother forgot to name a contingent ... wasn’t listed as a contingent beneficiary. In summary, when you choose per stirpes, you ensure that the next of ...

But naming beneficiaries on your accounts should be a part of the planning process, too. Without them, your estate could be tied up in court and your loved ones could be locked in a bitter dispute.

When naming the kids as beneficiaries, you can choose to designate their shares to be split “per stirpes” or “per capita.” Per stirpes is Latin for “by the branch.” If one of the kids ...