Chinese woman to leave $2.8 million fortune to her pets, nothing for her children
January 25, 2024
A Chinese woman from Shanghai has decided to leave her 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) fortune to her pets instead of her children.
The mother’s decision: Although the woman, surnamed Liu, initially made a will to leave her fortune to her three kids, she changed her mind after her adult children purportedly neglected her by barely visiting, contacting or caring for her even when she fell sick. Instead, the senior woman has decided to leave everything to her beloved cats and dogs, whom she says were there for her when no one else was. Liu modified her will, specifying that her entire estate should be utilized for the well-being of her pets and any offsprings they may have upon her passing, reported the South China Morning Post.
The legal limitations: However, China prevents individuals from leaving her money directly to animals. To solve the legal limitations, a local veterinary clinic was designated as the administrator of the inheritance.
“Liu’s current will is one way, and we would have advised her to appoint a person she trusts to supervise the vet clinic to ensure the pets are properly cared for,” said Chen Kai, an official from the Will Registration Centre headquarters in Beijing.
Potential risks: Another official reportedly cautioned Liu about the potential risks of entrusting all her funds to the pet clinic before she finalized her will. The official told Liu “that if her children change their attitude towards her, she could always alter her will again.”
Online reactions: Liu’s story has sparked a debate on Chinese social media. Some people applauded her decision, expressing solidarity and stating they would do the same if mistreated by their children, while others expressed sympathy for her, acknowledging the likely disappointment and heartbreak that led to such a decision.
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