An elderly woman, identified as Ms. Liu from Shanghai, has decided to bequeath her $2.8 million fortune to her pets, citing them as her sole source of comfort in old age. Ms. Liu, who has three children, excluded them from her will due to their lack of visits and care.
Originally intending to leave her wealth to her children, Ms. Liu altered her will, directing that all her money must be utilized for the well-being of her pets and any future offspring. A local vet clinic has been designated to manage her inheritance and ensure proper care for the animals.
While Ms. Liu wished to directly leave her entire estate to her pets, Chinese law prohibits such arrangements. Chen Kai, an official from the Will Registration Centre headquarters in Beijing, explained that alternatives, such as Liu’s current will, exist to address this matter. The arrangement includes appointing a trusted individual to oversee the vet clinic and ensure the proper care of the pets.
Officials cautioned Ms. Liu about the potential risks of allocating all her funds to the vet clinic, suggesting that she could modify her will if her children’s attitudes changed in the future. This story has generated significant online discussion in China.
