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Simple English definitions for legal terms

per capita

Read a random definition: caput gerat lupinum

A quick definition of per capita:

Per capita means to determine something based on the number of people. For example, if we want to know how much money a country makes per person, we can divide the total amount of money by the number of people living in that country. This is called Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. In a will, per capita is used to decide how property is divided among beneficiaries. If a beneficiary dies before the person who made the will, their share of the property can be given to their children. Per capita means that the property will be divided equally among all the children, regardless of which side of the family they are on.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Per capita is a Latin term that means "by head." It is used to determine something based on the number of people. For example, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita refers to a country's GDP divided by its population.

Per capita is also used in wills to determine how property is divided among beneficiaries. If a beneficiary dies before the testator, leaving children of their own, the term per capita is used to determine what share of the property each beneficiary gets. For example, if a will states that heirs of a deceased beneficiary are to receive the property per capita, each beneficiary will receive an equal share of the property.

For instance, let's say that a father leaves his house jointly to his son and daughter. However, the son dies before the father, leaving two children. If the father's will states that heirs of a deceased beneficiary are to receive the property per capita, the daughter and the two grandchildren will each take a third of the property.

It is important to note that courts will look at the language used in the will to determine whether the beneficiaries are to receive the property per capita or per stirpes. If the testator specifically referenced the beneficiaries claiming to inherit through a will per capita, then the beneficiaries will receive the property per capita.

For example, in Maud v. Catherwood, the California District Court of Appeal ruled that the testator did not intend to name the grandchildren as beneficiaries per capita because he referred to them as "descendants" and not as "grandchildren."

Per | per curiam

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dasfi0990ut1
18:32
@fedclerkhopeful: did u get that uCHI A?
dasfi0990ut1
18:32
miss ya, worried about u (llama)
fedclerkhopeful
18:33
nope I got the WL
dasfi0990ut1
18:33
fk this cycle.
fedclerkhopeful
18:33
still prolly set on reapplying unless SLS comes in clutch
dasfi0990ut1
18:34
Good on you! LS will always be there. I hope either way it works out- IK it will! Keep ya head up!
fedclerkhopeful
18:34
thank you :)
18:35
is the 50~70% conversion rate for Cornell ii accurate?
dasfi0990ut1
18:35
:)
fedclerkhopeful
18:35
yep
[] ararara
18:36
@fedclerkhopeful: what are your goals?
[] ararara
18:38
You remind me of a friend of mine from back in the day. They came in at the top of their class at a T14 but reapplied before doing this to get HYS. They still didn't get it the second time with perfect stats. That stuff is competitive and what does it matter anyway? Just saying!
18:42
Sometimes I’m like yeah i could work for five years and get into Harvard but that’s sooo much work
18:42
No thank you!
dasfi0990ut1
18:43
@dubiously: same. in 5 years ill either be in prison for fraud or retired in the caymen islands
18:43
This white boy don’t miss u would swear u saw Luka
fedclerkhopeful
19:10
@ararara: appellate clerkship and then civil liberties law
fedclerkhopeful
19:11
And yes, I have near perfect stats and would regret going to a lower tier school when reapplying is a viable option
omelette
19:12
lower tier and its mfing cornell
[] ararara
19:27
Haha didn't realize you were admitted at Cornell not why I'm saying this haha. I've also seen a few people get H and one person get Y the second time around. Hopefully things just work out now but if it doesn't go your way the second time don't worry ✌️ you 🫵 are amazing! For the record though my housemate's friend who graduated from Cornell has an appellate clerkship.
[] ararara
19:28
@dubiously: 💀😵👻
when do we think FSU and UF will have all decisions out
19:37
I know a guy who got an appellate clerkship out of a regional t100. He’s old now but still
dasfi0990ut1
19:43
@dubiously: was it Kansas by chance?
19:44
Of course. Kansas is an appellate clerkship powerhouse
dasfi0990ut1
19:45
KS to the T14 by 2028!
[] ararara
19:47
@FumblingRightfulLemur: I would look back at last cycle ✌️❤️ but also actually wouldn't even pay attention that's usually when it happens haha
rosythecat
20:53
@ararara: your cycle was insane holy hell
rosythecat
20:53
W
Steel2Law1997
20:56
anybody got any tips/stories of going from WL to A?
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