per capita
In succession, distribution per capita means each heir takes an equal share as an individual, regardless of the branch of the family through which he claims. It is contrasted with per stirpes (by branches), where each branch takes the share its ancestor would have taken and the members of the branch then divide it.
Hanafi (Sunni) law generally distributes among descendants of the same degree per capita, while Shia law follows the per stirpes rule. Under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, the heirs of a predeceased son or daughter take their parent's share, which is a per stirpes rule. Outside succession, “per capita income” simply means income per person.
Example
Under Hanafi law the five grandsons, though descended from two different sons, took the estate per capita, each receiving one-fifth.
In Indian law
- s.10, Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (distribution among Class I heirs)
See also
per stirpes · succession · intestate · class I heir
Read more in the study notes
- Growth, development and the features of the Indian economy (Economic Development in India)
- Industry: capital formation, foreign direct investment and MNCs (Economic Development in India)
- National income: meaning, concepts, methods of measurement and difficulties (Economic Development in India)
- National income: meaning, definitions and methods of estimation (Economic Theory and Public Finance)
- Concepts of national income: GDP, GNP, NNP, NI, PI and DPI (Economic Theory and Public Finance)
- Economic growth versus economic development, and the determinants of development (Economic Theory and Public Finance)