The situation: A foreigner living in China who held a bank account, a company share and some property died suddenly without leaving a written will. His family members disagreed over who was entitled to what, especially since he also had assets in his home country.
Applicable law: Under the Inheritance part of the Civil Code, where there is no will the estate passes to statutory heirs in a predetermined order and shares, which do not necessarily reflect the deceased's personal wishes or undocumented arrangements.
Typical outcome: Distribution was delayed by the dispute, by difficulty proving ownership of some assets, and by the cross-border complexity. Someone who had held a notarised will and clear ownership documents would have had his wishes carried out far more smoothly.
👪 Family & divorce · Awareness case
Dying without a will… the estate follows a fixed order · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 民法典 继承编 / Civil Code — Inheritance
A foreigner with assets in China died without a will, so his estate passed to statutory heirs in an order that may not match his wishes, sparking family dispute.
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
Lesson: If you hold assets in China, make and notarise a will, and keep clear ownership documents for each asset. Coordinate your assets inside and outside China; this spares your family disputes and ensures your wishes are carried out.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026