China's top legislature reviews draft civil code inheritance section

BEIJING - The draft section in the civil code on inheritance was submitted to China's top legislature for review Tuesday.

The draft is undergoing its second reading at the ongoing bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

A highlight of the revision is a leniency policy for offspring expected to inherit. A successor who has committed a serious act of abandoning a testator, or forged or tampered with a will shall be disinherited. However, the draft stipulates that the successor can be granted leniency and endowed with the right of inheritance if they show regret and are forgiven by the testator.

Villagers' committees are included as the custodians of an inheritable estate, when there are no successors or all statutory successors have waived their inheritance rights, according to the draft.

The draft also detailed the responsibilities of the custodian, including preventing the inheritable estate from damage and destruction.

The legislative session will run from Tuesday to Saturday.