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Adopted at the Third Session of the Sixth National People's Congress, promulgated by Order No. 24 of the President of the People's Republic of China on April 10, 1985, and effective as of October 1, 1985

Contents

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1

This Law is enacted pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China with a view to protecting the right of citizens to inherit private property.

Article 2

Succession begins at the death of a citizen.

Article 3

Estate denotes the lawful property owned by a citizen personally at the time of his death, which consists of:

(1) his income;

(2) his houses, savings and articles of everyday use;

(3) his forest trees, livestock and poultry;

(4) his cultural objects, books and reference materials;

(5) means of production lawfully owned by him;

(7) his other lawful property.

Article 4

Personal benefits accruing from a contract entered into by an individual are heritable in accordance with the provisions of this Law. Contracting by an individual, if permitted by law to be continued by the successor, shall be treated in accordance with the terms of the contract.

Article 5

Succession shall, after its opening, be handled in accordance with the provisions of statutory succession; where a will exists, it shall be handled in accordance with testamentary succession or as legacy; where there is an agreement for legacy in return for support, the former shall be handled in accordance with the terms of the agreement.