Wills and Will Notarization in China for Foreigners
Making a will for assets in China, or using a foreign will there: the recognised will forms, the notary process, translation, and the authentication chain.
Practical notes on Chinese law, written for people dealing with a Chinese counterparty from outside the language.
For heirs outside China dealing with an estate inside it: the notary route, the document chain, and disposing of what you inherit.
Making a will for assets in China, or using a foreign will there: the recognised will forms, the notary process, translation, and the authentication chain.
Complete guide to foreigner inheritance rights in China. Learn about inheritance law, procedures, tax implications, and cross-border estate planning for 2026.
How foreigners can inherit property in China, cross-border succession issues, and estate planning.
Property division, jurisdiction issues, and enforcing foreign divorce judgments.
Cross-border succession, estate planning, and inheritance for EU citizens.
Succession rules, estate planning, and inheriting Chinese real estate.
Unpaid salary, dismissal, work permits and labour arbitration, for foreign employees of Chinese companies and institutions.
Full guide to working in China, and disputes with a Chinese employer →
Understanding your legal protections as a foreign employee in China, from contracts to labor arbitration.
Filing procedures, rights protection, and dispute resolution processes for employment issues.
How to recover unpaid wages, labor arbitration process, and protecting your employment rights.
Navigating work permit disputes, employer-related visa issues, and maintaining legal status during job changes.
Understanding the requirements and limitations of confidentiality and non-compete agreements under Chinese law.
Key provisions, mandatory terms, and common pitfalls when hiring employees in China.
Common renewal issues, solutions, and maintaining legal work status.
Complete guide to foreigner social insurance rights in China. Learn about mandatory contributions, benefits, exemptions, and bilateral agreements for 2026.
Work permits, social insurance, tax obligations, and employment arrangements.
Severance requirements, valid termination grounds, and how to avoid wrongful dismissal claims.
Working without permits, penalties, and how to regularize your status.
Learn about China's Judicial Interpretation II and its impact on foreign employment rights, effective September 1, 2025.
Work permit requirements, illegal teaching consequences, and protecting yourself as a foreign teacher.
Work injury insurance, claims process, and your rights as a foreign employee.
Prepayments, quality disputes, contract enforcement and due diligence on the company you are dealing with.
Full guide to buying from China, and recovering money from a supplier →
Received defective or non-conforming goods from a Chinese supplier? How to preserve evidence, give notice in time, and prove a commercial claim under Chinese law.
How to handle defective products, rejection procedures, and remedies when goods don't meet specifications.
Legal remedies for contract breaches, damages, and enforcement strategies.
Practical strategies for recovering money owed by Chinese businesses, from negotiation to litigation.
Key strategies for drafting enforceable contracts and resolving disputes with Chinese counterparties.
What to do if you've been a victim of fraud in China, including reporting procedures and recovery options.
The procedural groundwork every cross-border matter runs through: authentication, powers of attorney, and how PRC courts actually work.
Why apostilles aren't accepted in China and what authentication you need instead.
Rules, restrictions, and the legal process for foreign nationals purchasing real estate in China.
Account freezes, opening difficulties, money transfers, and how to resolve banking issues.
Understanding Chinese courts, jurisdiction, and what to expect in litigation.
Complete guide to Chinese apostille and consular authentication procedures. Learn about document legalization, authentication process, and requirements for 2026.
SAFE regulations, currency conversion, and cross-border payments.
Complete checklist for investigating Chinese business partners and investment targets.
Complete guide to legalizing foreign documents for use in China.
What to expect when called as a witness, your rights and obligations.
LkSG compliance for German companies with Chinese suppliers.
Learn the essential steps, jurisdiction considerations, and strategies for taking legal action against a Chinese company.
Essential steps to verify Chinese business partners, suppliers, and investment targets before committing.
When mediation works, process overview, and enforcing settlements.
How to create valid powers of attorney for use in China, notarization and authentication requirements.
Title verification, encumbrance searches, and avoiding common pitfalls.
Tax implications, repatriation of funds, and legal procedures.
Background reading on work that usually reaches me through foreign counsel or the Yingke network rather than through this site.
Earlier articles on living, working and travelling in China. Many of these are matters an agency, an insurer or a free government channel handles better than a lawyer, and I say so on the pages themselves — they are kept here because people still find them useful.