A family at war over father's fortune

In October, a court case about a disputed will attracted widespread public attention. The case revolved around a fortune estimated at about 2.1 billion yuan ($343 million), and the defendant was 95-year-old Wang Lingwen, the widow of a painter and calligraphy master named Xu Linlu. The case had been brought by Wang's children and grandchildren.

When Xu passed away in August 2011, apparently intestate, Wang inherited the lion's share of his estate. However, a year later Xu's third son, Xu Huayi, and four grandchildren sued Wang, demanding that the fortune be split fairly, in accordance with China's Law of Succession. The dispute really became rancorous when, in September 2013, Wang presented the court with a document she claimed was a will her husband had written in 2010. The children refused to believe the document was genuine.

According to the disputed will, Wang was Xu's sole heir and was therefore entitled to his entire estate, including 72 valuable paintings and pieces of calligraphy made by Xu, as well as several pieces by masters such as Xu's teacher Qi Baishi.