Authorities share changes to will regulations

Public events on changes to will-related matters ruled in China's Civil Code adopted in May and set for implementation next year will be hosted to popularize how to register a will under new provisions, China Will Registration Center's Shanghai branch said. 

They will be held at communities, work units, senior homes and schools for the elderly in the city together with public welfare consultations, the branch announced over the weekend. 

So far, the two registration centers of the branch have helped more than 18,000 people register their wills and kept over 13,000 wills since 2017.

The code recognizes both print wills and video wills, and introduces an "administrator of inheritance" mechanism, which can better satisfy diversified property distribution needs, said Chen Kai, director of the center's management committee.

The code also specifies "the right of residence" for the first time, which enables seniors to guarantee their residency rights after they leave their property to their children in a will, said Chen. 

This tackles the concern that children sell the property after inheritance, he added. 

The center has registered more than 40,000 social workers so far and about 20,000 are from professional fields such as finance, law and philanthropy.

"I visited communities several times to answer questions from residents on wills, and found they are eager to learn about will-related law and regulations, particularly under the COVID-19 coronavirus," said Zhang Jingsong, a social worker at the center's Shanghai branch.