Per stirpes is a Latin term commonly used in legal and financial discussions, meaning "by roots" or "by branch". When it comes to estate planning, it refers to the distribution of property among a person's descendants in the event of their death. Though not a widely known term outside the legal profession, alternative phrases with similar meaning are employed in various contexts. Among these alternatives are "by representation", "descendants by roots", and "generational line". These synonyms share the same core principle as per stirpes: the distribution of assets among descendants based on their respective branches or roots in the family tree.