Wills in China

Use a statutory will form that courts will recognise — informal notes rarely beat intestacy.

Wills under China’s Civil Code must meet form requirements (holographic, notarial and other recognised forms). Foreigners and cross-border assets add complexity. This hub fills the map slug `/wills-in-china` and routes to live pages on recognised forms, foreigners making wills, and testamentary succession. Intestacy applies if the will fails.

The classification screen

4 questions before you choose the route.

This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.

Which will form will you use?

Resolve the which will form will you use question separately before choosing the route.

Form

Foreigner or cross-border estate?

Resolve the foreigner or cross-border estate question separately before choosing the route.

Foreign

Assets in China titled how?

Map.

Assets

Intestacy backup understood?

Resolve the intestacy backup understood question separately before choosing the route.

Intestate

Working rule: Wills under China’s Civil Code must meet form requirements (holographic, notarial and other recognised forms).

What changes the answer

The signal ledger.

These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.

Signal

Ask the operating question

Why it changes the route

Will form

Which Civil Code form is being used and are its signature, witness, date and formality requirements satisfied?

A formally invalid will may fail even if intent is clear.

Competing documents

Are there multiple wills or later inconsistent dispositions?

Sequence and form can change which document controls. FAQ: Which will forms are recognised? — Use the will-forms guide for the formal requirements of holographic, witnessed, printed, audio/video, oral and notarised wills.

Prepare before you escalate

Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.

Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.

01Draft willForm.

02Asset listEstate.

03ID/kinship documentsLater probate.

Common confusions

Questions people ask before they build.

Short answers for orientation. The right result can change with the service model and current rules.

Where are recognised forms?

Use the linked specialist resource when Wills in China turns on detailed evidence, procedure or risk assessment.

Where is intestacy?

Use the linked specialist resource when Wills in China turns on detailed evidence, procedure or risk assessment.

Primary authorities

Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.

National laws database (NPC)

SAMR

Supreme People’s Court

Ministry of Commerce / relevant regulators