Per Capita - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition per-capita

per capita

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[Medieval Latin, by heads]
1 : equally to each individual [all property to pass to the descendants per capita] used of a method of distributing an esp. intestate estate compare per stirpes NOTE: Per capita distribution of an estate provides each descendant with an equal share of the estate's assets regardless of the degree of his or her kinship. Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., all receive equal shares.
2 : per unit of population
: by or for each individual [a high per capita tax burden]