Table of Contents
Section I Relevant Data Section II Service Contents Section III Service Guidelines Section IV Procedures for Divorce by Mutual Agreement Section V Procedures for Divorce Litigation Section VI Application Procedures for Personal Safety Protection Order Section VII Client Stories Section VIII Service Team Section IX Our Advantages
Preface
The family is the warmest harbour in life, yet it is often an arena with the most intricate emotional and legal relationships. When affection meets challenges, when family bonds face tough choices, and when wealth needs to be passed down, professional, reliable and compassionate legal support serves as a solid bulwark to protect rights and interests, sort out disputes and pave the way for a new beginning.
We fully understand the weight of this entrustment.
We stay fully dedicated and have poured all our professional passion and energy into this practice area for more than two decades. This length of time is not merely a number, but testimony to our in-depth cultivation and continuous refinement of professional capabilities.
A decade shapes a sharp blade; dedication creates profound expertise. We reject superficial engagement and focus on every detail within marriage, family and succession law — from prenuptial agreements and divorce litigation, child custody and complex property division, to voluntary guardianship, estate planning and inheritance disputes. This level of concentration enables us to perceive subtle shifts in legal practice within this sector and accurately grasp the dynamics of all types of cases.
Practice tempers true knowledge, and experience builds trust. As of August 2025, we have provided professional legal consultation to more than 10,000 parties, answering their questions and easing their anxiety. We recognise that behind every consultation lies the hopes and struggles of an entire family. Meanwhile, we have successfully handled over 3,000 litigious cases involving marriage, family and succession matters, confronting countless complicated emotional entanglements and property puzzles. The aggregate value of assets involved in our cases exceeds RMB 5 billion. This figure not only demonstrates our expertise in handling high-net-worth and highly complex difficult cases, but also reflects the profound trust placed in us by our clients.
These substantial statistics stand as the most powerful testament to our team’s professional competence, practical experience and sense of responsibility. They represent our vigorous advocacy in court, astute negotiation at the bargaining table, and repeated scrutiny of case details through countless nights. We strive not only to secure maximum legitimate interests for our clients within the legal framework, but also to pursue the most constructive solutions amid tense conflicts, uphold the dignity of all family members to the greatest extent, prioritise the wellbeing of minor children, and facilitate the orderly intergenerational transfer of family wealth.
By choosing us, you engage not merely a team with over ten years of professional accumulation, but a group of legal companions who treat the turning points in your life as their own mission. Drawing on sophisticated legal skills, extensive practical experience and profound humanistic care, we will provide clear, powerful and compassionate legal navigation for you at the crossroads of marriage, family and succession matters, safeguarding the legitimate rights and future peace of you and your loved ones.
May our professionalism lay a solid foundation for you to restart a fulfilling life.
01 Relevant Data
Section I Relevant Data
The divorce rate continues to decline, public legal awareness rises, and the proportion of litigious divorces increases.
In 2024, there were 4,190 marriage registration authorities and venues nationwide, including 1,134 dedicated marriage registration offices. A total of 6.106 million marriage registrations were processed in accordance with the law, representing a year-on-year decrease of 20.5%. The marriage rate stood at 4.3‰, down 1.1 thousandth points from the previous year. A total of 3.513 million divorce formalities were completed legally: 2.622 million divorces registered through civil affairs departments, and 891,000 divorces granted through court judgments or mediation. The national divorce rate reached 2.5‰.
While the total number of divorces remains high, the share of litigious divorces has risen gradually. This data indicates that an increasing number of couples opt for legal channels to resolve marital breakdown rather than reaching private settlements.
In addition, due to the implementation of the divorce cooling-off period, some couples who have reached consensus on divorce matters may choose to file a lawsuit first and complete divorce via court mediation to save time and accelerate the divorce process.
(Figure: Marriage Rate and Divorce Rate, 2020–2024)Source: 2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Civil Affairs issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
The number of inheritance cases accepted by courts nationwide is rising, and 60% of wills involved in probate litigation are ruled invalid.
In recent years, the overall number of inheritance dispute cases in China has maintained an upward trend. According to the 2024 Statistical Yearbook published by the National Bureau of Statistics, 138,372 inheritance dispute cases were accepted nationwide in 2023, marking a 38.92% increase compared with 2022. The notable growth reflects the rising volume of inheritance disputes. Combined with the upward trend seen in preceding years, it is reasonable to predict that the number of accepted inheritance cases will likely keep increasing in 2025.
Meanwhile, statistics from the Supreme People’s Court show that 60% of wills examined in national inheritance proceedings are affirmed invalid. Creating a legally valid will is by no means a simple task.
Cross-border family cases involving foreign parties, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents are growing year by year. Mature judicial experience helps foreign, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents resolve disputes in mainland China.
Longhua District People’s Court of Shenzhen is the first grassroots court nationwide with centralised jurisdiction over first-instance cross-border family cases involving foreign parties, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. It has established the Shenzhen Cross-border Family Trial Centre. Officially accepting cases from 6 July 2022 up to 5 July 2025, the centre has received 2,783 cross-border family cases covering 65 countries and regions, with 2,063 cases concluded.
Our team handles a large number of cross-border family cases heard by Longhua District People’s Court in Shenzhen. We primarily serve the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and have provided legal services to clients from the Netherlands, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and other regions. We possess professional capabilities in handling cross-border legal affairs and have earned widespread recognition from clients for our rigorous expertise.
Source: White Paper of the Shenzhen Cross-border Family Trial Centre published by Longhua District People’s Court of Shenzhen
02 Service Contents
Section II Service Contents
(I) Legal Services for Marriage and Family Matters
| Service Category | Service Contents |
|---|---|
| Legal Consultation & Guidance on Marriage and Children | 1. Marriage and family consultation: Provide professional legal advice on issues arising before marriage, during marriage or upon divorce. Services include developing strategies to protect premarital assets, covering procedures and key points of prenuptial notarisation; designing frameworks to separate gifted property from marital joint property and defining ownership under the Marriage and Family Part of the Civil Code. In-depth analysis is offered together with targeted, actionable legal opinions to safeguard clients’ legitimate rights and interests. 2. Consultation on child-related matters: Address issues such as confirmation of parent-child relationships, custody upon divorce, visitation rights and guardianship for legitimate and non-marital children. Drawing upon the Minor Protection Law and other legislation, experienced lawyers deliver precise legal advice covering judicial standards for custody awards under different circumstances and mechanisms to exercise and safeguard visitation rights, comprehensively resolving clients’ concerns regarding child upbringing. |
| Non-litigious Legal Services: Agreements on Marriage and Child-related Matters | 1. Divorce Agreements: In accordance with the Civil Code provisions governing divorce, property division and child custody, tailor comprehensive agreements based on mutual needs of parties. Clauses cover dissolution of marital relationship, child arrangements (custody, amount and payment of maintenance, schedule and mode of visitation), division of joint assets (real estate, vehicles, deposits, investments and other property) and allocation of marital debts. Accompanied notarisation service is available to secure legality and validity. 2. Prenuptial / Marital Property Agreements: Clearly define ownership of premarital assets and property acquired during marriage based on parties’ intentions and legal requirements. Terms cover scope of assets, ownership arrangements and handling of asset appreciation. Accompanied notarisation service enhances enforceability and credibility. 3. Other Marital Property Agreements: Including marital loyalty agreements (defining loyalty obligations and consequences for breach), inter-spousal loan agreements (regulating loan amount, purpose and repayment), gift agreements (ensuring lawful validity of gifts), cohabitation (property) agreements (governing asset allocation during cohabitation), delivering full-spectrum contractual support. 4. Child Maintenance Agreements: Lawyers draft detailed agreements governing childcare arrangements, maintenance amounts and adjustment mechanisms, and exercise of visitation rights. Accompanied notarisation supports smooth performance of agreements. |
| Divorce Litigation Services | When marital relations have irretrievably broken down and no divorce agreement can be reached through negotiation, our lawyers deliver comprehensive litigation guidance. In accordance with applicable laws, we prepare evidence checklists covering proof of marital breakdown, asset information and evidence of suitability for child custody; draft high-quality legal documents including statements of claim and statements of defence. We provide full representation in divorce proceedings to protect clients’ interests in marital dissolution, property division and custody claims. |
| Child Custody Litigation Services | When parents cannot resolve disputes over custody of legitimate or non-marital children through negotiation, lawyers offer professional litigation guidance under relevant provisions of the Civil Code. We assist clients in collecting and organising supporting evidence such as proof of childcare capacity and stability of the child’s living environment, prepare complete legal documents, fully advocate for clients in court and strive for favourable custody rulings. |
| Litigation for Child / Spousal Maintenance | When parties cannot agree on maintenance amounts for children or elderly dependants, lawyers provide end-to-end litigation support for claims seeking payment or adjustment of maintenance. We gather evidence proving reasonable financial needs and the opposing party’s ability to pay, prepare legal documents and represent clients in proceedings to uphold legitimate interests. |
| Post-divorce Property Division Litigation Services | If disputes over joint property division emerge after divorce without amicable settlement, lawyers deliver full-process litigation services to pursue division of marital joint assets. We assist clients in tracing property clues and collecting supporting evidence such as real estate registration documents and bank statements, prepare legal documents and advocate for fair and reasonable asset allocation in court. |
| Services for Application of Personal Safety Protection Order / Personality Right Injunction | When one spouse or their close relatives suffer domestic violence or face imminent threats to personal safety, we initiate special proceedings before the people’s courts pursuant to the Anti-Domestic Violence Law. If a child is abducted or concealed and deprived of one parent’s guardianship, we may apply for injunctions to enforce guardianship, visitation rights or compel the child’s return to the original residence. Lawyers assist in evidence collection, prepare application materials and provide full representation throughout the application process to protect personal safety and legal rights. |
| Parent-child Relationship Litigation Services | Recognising the vital impact of parent-child status on family stability, child maintenance, elderly support and succession, lawyers accept entrustment to represent litigation for confirmation or denial of parent-child relationships. Through professional investigation and evidence gathering, we resolve parent-child disputes and secure legal recognition of kinship status. |
| Other Marriage-related Litigation Services | Cover betrothal property disputes (handling return of betrothal gifts in accordance with law), disputes over division of marital property during marriage (e.g. unauthorised disposal of joint assets by one spouse), post-divorce damages claims (compensation for losses caused by a party’s fault), disputes over invalid marriage and disputes over revocable marriage (e.g. marriage entered under coercion). We provide professional litigation representation for all marriage-related claims. |
| Legal Services for Marriage Crisis Management | Upon entrustment, we assist clients in responding to incidents severely damaging marital relations including domestic violence, extramarital affairs and malicious transfer of assets by one party, drawing upon laws and judicial practice. Specialised crisis counsel services include evidence collection, response strategy formulation, psychological support and legal backing to protect clients’ interests amid marital crises. |
(II) Legal Services for Succession Matters
| Service Category | Service Contents |
|---|---|
| Non-litigious Legal Services for Succession-related Agreements | 1. Voluntary Guardianship Services: Lawyers draft voluntary guardianship agreements reflecting the intentions of the guardian and ward under legal requirements. Agreements specify appointment of voluntary guardians and arrangements for personal care, asset management, civil affairs handling and funeral matters when the ward loses or partially loses capacity for civil conduct. Accompanied notarisation guarantees legal effect. 2. Advance Care Directives: Draft medical care instructions to govern treatment during terminal irreversible illness in accordance with the maker’s wishes. Accompanied notarisation ensures legality and enforceability. 3. Wills (Bequests): Prepare documents under statutory formalities whereby the testator bequeaths part or all of their estate to heirs or beneficiaries. We provide support for notarisation of wills and bequests to facilitate smooth execution. 4. Estate Division Agreements: Draft agreements clarifying asset distribution and rights and obligations among family members, preserving family harmony in accordance with parties’ demands. Accompanied notarisation supports valid performance. 5. Legacy Support Agreements: Prepare agreements where the supporter undertakes lifelong care and funeral arrangements for the testator in exchange for entitlement to the estate. Accompanied notarisation safeguards the lawful interests of both parties. |
| Litigation for Statutory Succession Disputes | When the deceased dies intestate and disputes arise over asset allocation among statutory heirs or between statutory heirs and other parties, lawyers provide litigation representation under the Succession Part of the Civil Code. We gather evidence to prove heir qualification and the scope of the estate, prepare legal documents and advocate for fair asset distribution in court. |
| Litigation for Testamentary Succession Disputes | When the deceased executed a will and conflicts emerge among heirs regarding asset allocation or the validity of the will, lawyers examine the validity of the testament, collect supporting evidence including proof of due execution and the testator’s capacity, prepare legal documents and represent clients to protect interests in testamentary disputes. |
| Other Succession-related Litigation | Cover disputes over repayment of the deceased’s debts (governing order and methods of debt settlement), bequest disputes (challenges to beneficiary eligibility or delivery of bequeathed assets), disputes arising from legacy support agreements (failure to perform obligations or modification of agreements) and estate administration disputes (breach of duties by estate administrators). We offer professional litigation representation. |
| Litigious and Non-litigious Services Relating to Estate Administrators | 1. Due Diligence: Comprehensive collection of information on the client’s identity, assets, claims and liabilities. We compile schedules of personal assets and debts supported by ownership documents and debt contracts; collect identity details and contact information of testamentary heirs, beneficiaries and interested parties. Based on the client’s intentions, we conduct targeted research, design legal frameworks and service workflows and formulate detailed implementation plans. 2. Assist Will Execution and Appointment of Executors: Provide professional advice to support creation of legally valid wills and appointment of suitable executors, ensuring compliance with formalities and orderly execution. 3. Will Custody and Ongoing Review: Secure storage of wills with regular monitoring of relevant circumstances such as the testator’s health and family changes, and timely recommendations for revision as needed. 4. Notification, Public Notice and Convening of Meetings to Disclose Wills: Carry out statutory notification and public notice procedures, convene stakeholders and disclose will contents to ensure open and impartial execution. 5. Prepare Estate Inventories and Report Estate Status: Conduct detailed asset verification, prepare formal estate inventories and periodically update stakeholders to guarantee transparency. 6. Settle the Deceased’s Claims and Liabilities and Distribute the Estate: Handle creditor claims in compliance with law and allocate assets fairly pursuant to will terms or statutory succession provisions to safeguard the legitimate interests of all heirs. |
(III) Legal Services for Family and Wealth Inheritance
| Service Category | Service Contents |
|---|---|
| Family Insurance Planning and Custodian Services | 1. Insurance Scheme Design: Develop personalised insurance programmes for clients and family members according to financial status, risk appetite and protection needs, select insurers and implement policy arrangements to build comprehensive family risk defence frameworks. 2. Policy Analysis and Custody: Conduct in-depth review of existing insurance policies under applicable laws to assess sufficiency and rationality of coverage. Provide professional policy custody services with regular monitoring of premium payments and policy value accumulation. In the event of insured incidents, we assist in compiling claim materials and liaising with insurers to secure timely realisation of benefits under insurance contracts. |
| Family Trust Services | 1. Customised Trust Documentation and Establishment Support: Draft tailored family trust agreements and formation instruments defining core clauses such as trust purposes, scope of trust assets and rights and obligations of beneficiaries. We advise on appropriate trust structures including property trusts, family trusts, insurance proceeds trusts, offshore trusts and charitable trusts, recommend qualified trust companies, assist clients throughout formation procedures until the trust is formally established and ensure full compliance with laws. 2. Trust Administration and Supervision: Perform agreed roles to implement trust purposes including asset management and distribution in accordance with the settlor’s intentions. Oversee the trustee’s management of trust assets under contractual terms, provide regular asset operation reports and adjust asset allocation as market conditions and client needs evolve to sustain stable trust performance. |
| Education and Residency Planning Services | Connect clients and family members with global premium educational resources and design multi-jurisdictional residency planning solutions to optimise education and migration pathways and support implementation. |
| Family Tax and Financial Services | Identify tax risks for individual family members and family enterprises, support tax compliance management and deliver professional accounting and taxation services. |
| Family Medical and Wellness Services | Develop comprehensive wellness programmes tailored to family members by age, health status and lifestyle. Engage senior medical and wellness specialists to provide professional consultation on healthcare, disease prevention and rehabilitation, enabling access to high-quality medical resources and improved quality of life. |
| Family Philanthropy Services: | Gain thorough understanding of the client’s intentions and objectives for building family influence, conduct research on public welfare sectors. Aligned with family values and long-term strategy, we design targeted, feasible charitable plans covering priority fields such as poverty alleviation through education, environmental protection and medical assistance; formulate detailed implementation roadmaps and budgets. Assist families in executing and monitoring charitable projects to enhance social standing and fulfil social responsibility. |
(IV) Legal Services for Cross-border (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan) Marriage and Succession Matters
Cross-border Divorce Litigation Services Involving Foreign Parties, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents Cross-border divorce frequently involves conflict of laws across jurisdictions, property division, child custody and application of international conventions. We deliver full-spectrum litigation support to help clients resolve disputes efficiently.
Service Contents:(1) Preliminary Consultation and Case Assessment: Analyse the place of marriage formation, habitual residence and asset distribution; evaluate applicable laws including the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Application of Laws to Foreign-related Civil Relations and the Marriage and Family Part of the Civil Code. Advise on jurisdiction for cases involving spouses from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or overseas. (2) Litigation Representation: Represent clients in divorce proceedings before mainland courts covering initiating or responding to claims, evidence submission and court hearings. For Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan-related cases, we refer to relevant judicial guidelines; for foreign-related matters, we take account of the Hague Conference on Private International Law conventions and bilateral treaties. (3) Property Division and Protection of Children’s Interests: Assist in tracing cross-border assets such as real estate in Hong Kong, bank accounts in Taiwan or overseas property and formulate division strategies. Address child custody, visitation and cross-border guardianship matters in compliance with the Minor Protection Law. (4) Mediation and Settlement: Prioritise out-of-court mediation to reduce litigation costs. Provide support for notarisation, authentication and translation if cross-border evidence collection is required.
Applicable Scenarios: Divorce cases where one party is a resident of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or a foreign national, marriages registered overseas, or assets distributed across multiple jurisdictions.
Service Advantages: Familiarity with divergent legal systems to avoid jurisdictional conflicts. Our track record includes representation in numerous divorce asset division cases involving Hong Kong, cutting average case duration by 20%.
Services for Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments from Hong Kong Family Courts in Mainland China Pursuant to the Arrangement on Mutual Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil Cases Relating to Marriage and Family Matters between the Courts of the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong family court rulings on divorce, property division and child custody may be applied for recognition and enforcement in mainland China. We specialise in helping clients realise cross-border enforceability of judgments.
Service Contents:(1) Eligibility Review and Application Preparation: Assess whether Hong Kong judgments satisfy the requirements of the Arrangement (final and effective, no violation of mainland public policy, etc.). Gather required documentation including judgments, identity certificates and certified translations. (2) Representation in Applications before Mainland Courts: File applications for recognition with competent intermediate people’s courts and conduct enforcement procedures such as compulsory asset transfer or modification of child custody arrangements. (3) Enforcement Monitoring: Oversee enforcement proceedings and handle objections or appeals. Coordinate with Hong Kong legal practitioners where necessary to facilitate full implementation.
Applicable Scenarios: Cases where a Hong Kong divorce judgment requires enforcement in mainland China for asset transfer, guardianship or recognition of divorce validity. The Arrangement entered into force in 2024 and covers judgments on divorce, denial of legitimacy and marital property agreements.
Service Advantages: Strict adherence to the Arrangement to prevent procedural delays. We have successfully represented multiple applications for enforcement of Hong Kong judgments in mainland China to help clients promptly realise legal rights.
Services for Recognition, Enforcement or Cancellation Registration of Mainland Judgments before Hong Kong Courts Judgments on marriage and family matters rendered by mainland courts may be recognised and enforced in Hong Kong, and we also handle cancellation registration such as applications to invalidate divorce registrations. We provide reverse enforcement support under the mutual recognition framework.
Service Contents:(1) Assessment and Document Preparation: Examine whether mainland judgments meet Hong Kong recognition criteria (final and effective, no conflict with Hong Kong public policy). Prepare authenticated documentation including mainland judgments with Hague Apostille or notarisation. (2) Representation in Applications before Hong Kong Courts: In cooperation with Hong Kong lawyers, file applications for recognition before the High Court of Hong Kong and conduct enforcement work including compulsory asset execution and adjustment of child-related orders. (3) Cancellation Registration Services: Provide legal advice and procedural representation for invalidation of marriages or divorce registration cancellation. Handle objections before registration authorities to ensure accurate updating of official records. (4) Cross-border Coordination: Manage enforcement involving multi-jurisdictional assets and respond to appeals or defences.
Applicable Scenarios: Cases requiring enforcement of mainland divorce judgments in Hong Kong for asset division and child custody, or applications to cancel registrations filed in Hong Kong. The mutual recognition regime enables reciprocal enforcement of judgments.
Service Advantages: Extensive experience with two-way recognition procedures, minimising obstacles arising from differing legal systems. Successful cases include securing enforcement of real estate transfers under mainland judgments in Hong Kong.
Service Process
Preliminary consultation and case assessment
Sign entrustment agreement and develop customised solutions
Collect evidence and documents, complete notarisation, authentication and translation
File lawsuits or applications and represent clients at hearings
Obtain judgments or rulings and advance cross-border recognition or registration
Enforcement and follow-up support including cross-border asset execution and protection of children’s interests
Client Benefits
Integrated full-chain solutions covering litigation, judgment mutual recognition and cross-border enforcement
Cross-jurisdictional coordination with dual oversight of mainland and Hong Kong legal frameworks to mitigate systemic barriers
Controlled risks: advance assessment of grounds for refusal of recognition and enforcement, guaranteeing procedural compliance
High efficiency: standardised document checklists to shorten processing timelines
03 Service Guidelines
Section III Service Guidelines
| Service Type | Applicable Circumstances | Examples of Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Consultation | Seeking legal advice from lawyers on marriage, family, succession and family governance matters for professional opinions | One-on-one legal consultation Formal written legal response letter |
| Crisis Response | Facing sudden family incidents such as discovery of extramarital affairs or sudden passing of family members; requiring combined legal and psychological professional guidance to navigate crises | Response plan for extramarital affair crises Response plan for marital breakdown crises Response plan upon the passing of a family member |
| Family Asset Inventory | Large-scale, diversified family assets scattered across multiple locations requiring systematic inventory to avoid omissions | Family asset investigation plan Family asset checklist Comprehensive family asset inventory report |
| Negotiation and Mediation | Room exists for negotiation among family members with the intention of resolving disputes amicably | Negotiation and mediation strategy On-site mediation facilitation Mediation agreement |
| Litigation Representation | No prospect of negotiated settlement and recourse to court proceedings is necessary. Typical cases include divorce disputes, post-divorce property disputes, real estate disputes upon divorce, will disputes, inheritance disputes and spousal / child maintenance disputes. | Litigation strategy plan Statement of claim Statement of defence Written submissions for court Court hearing outline Court appearance representation |
| Drafting of Legal Agreements on Behalf of Clients | Parties have reached consensus on factual details for simple marriage, family or succession matters and only require lawyers to draft formally valid legal texts. Example: Both sides have agreed on allocation of assets upon divorce and require only professionally drafted Divorce Property Division Agreement without additional negotiation facilitation. | Prenuptial / Marital Property Agreement Divorce Agreement Will Family property partition agreement Estate division agreement Legacy Support Agreement Gift Agreement Loan Agreement Maintenance Agreement Cohabitation (Property) Agreement Marital Loyalty Agreement |
| Comprehensive Scheme Design and Implementation | Complex marriage, family or succession matters involving multiple stakeholders, high-value assets and unresolved disagreements among family members. Lawyers deliver end-to-end guidance beyond single-document drafting: designing overall strategies first, defining rights and obligations via legal agreements, and overseeing practical implementation of contractual terms. Example: Division of equity interests in companies during divorce. | Design and implementation of overall prenuptial asset separation scheme Comprehensive plan for protection of individual premarital assets Asset protection scheme for second marriages Framework for separating gifted property from marital joint assets Comprehensive plan for division of jointly owned family assets |
04 Procedures for Divorce by Mutual Agreement
Section IV Procedures for Divorce by Mutual Agreement
05 Procedures for Divorce Litigation
Section V Procedures for Divorce Litigation
06 Application Procedures for Personal Safety Protection Order
Section VI Application Procedures for Personal Safety Protection Order
07 Client Stories
Section VII Client Stories
Case 1: Wu v. Jin – Post-divorce Property Dispute. After divorce, the wife discovered the husband fathered an illegitimate child during marriage and claimed re-division of jointly owned assets worth over RMB 10 million. Court reversed expectations and ordered only RMB 100,000 in compensation.
Case Background:The husband and wife signed a divorce agreement and completed divorce registration on 23 March 2020. The agreement stipulated arrangements for jointly owned real estate, vehicles and child custody. After divorce, Wu (wife) found Jin (husband) had engaged in extramarital affairs during the marriage and had a child with another party shortly after divorce. Alleging serious fault by the husband, Wu sought re-division of marital joint property valued at over RMB 10 million and claimed RMB 300,000 in mental distress compensation.
Case Representation:Our department’s lawyers accepted entrustment from Jin. After reviewing the family background and the client’s objectives, we identified the core breakthrough: Wu took an active role in negotiating the divorce agreement, was fully aware of the scope of marital assets and acknowledged extramarital conduct by Jin as one ground for separation. Lawyers systematically sorted the parties’ chat records, compared the comprehensive divorce agreement negotiated privately against the simplified version filed with the Civil Affairs Bureau and guided Jin to submit a Written Statement of Circumstances to the court. This reversed the unfavourable initial position and proved the divorce agreement represented Wu’s genuine intention without concealment of assets, misunderstanding or omission.
Case Outcome:The case concluded with a judgment. The court awarded only RMB 100,000 in mental damage compensation to Wu and dismissed her claim for re-division of the marital assets worth over RMB 10 million.
Case 2: Lin v. Wu – Divorce Dispute. Terminally ill wife undergoing chemotherapy accused a Jiangxi real estate entrepreneur of bigamy and fathering an illegitimate child, seeking division of marital assets worth over RMB 100 million.
Case Background:Wu, a well-known local real estate entrepreneur, met Lin when both were of modest means and they had one son together. Wu later cohabited with another woman during the marriage and had a second child. Lin endured the situation for years to protect their son and raised him alone until he departed for university in the United States. In 2019, Lin was diagnosed with advanced liver disease and received chemotherapy in Shanghai. Refused visitation rights and surgical consent by Wu, Lin suffered severe emotional distress and instructed a renowned Shanghai law firm to file suit. She sought division of marital assets including corporate equity and multiple commercial properties and requested that Wu receive no or minimal asset allocation on account of serious marital fault. Separately, public reporting by Lin led local public security authorities to open a criminal investigation against Wu on suspicion of bigamy.
Case Representation:Our department’s lawyers represented Wu. We conducted a full review of the couple’s shared history, current circumstances, respective demands, enterprise status and the extramarital cohabitation and childbirth matters. We held joint strategy sessions with retained criminal counsel to formulate comprehensive litigation and negotiation plans including contingency measures to safeguard corporate operations. Adhering to a strategy of parallel civil litigation and negotiation, simultaneous handling of criminal proceedings and protection of business continuity, we prepared multiple options aligned with the client’s core objectives.
Case Outcome:The case settled via mediation. Lin obtained two commercial properties, one villa and RMB 5 million in cash. Total consideration was capped at under RMB 30 million, resolving the family dispute. The arrangement met Lin’s practical financial needs and secured stable long-term income to support her medical treatment and recovery, achieving a relatively amicable resolution.
Case 3: Guo v. Chen & Zhang – Gift Contract Dispute. Successfully assisted the legal wife to recover all assets gifted by her husband to a third party (“the mistress”).
Case Background:Guo (wife) and Chen (husband) had been married for more than ten years with two children. Guo discovered Chen maintained an intimate relationship with Zhang, making numerous WeChat transfers including symbolic sums of RMB 5,200 and RMB 13,140. Chen also purchased gifts for Zhang including flowers, birthday cakes and perfume, and travelled to Zhang’s hometown to reside together before Chinese New Year. Deeply upset by the extramarital relationship and the unilateral gifts, Guo instructed our department to pursue full recovery of all assets transferred to Zhang.
Case Representation:Upon accepting the case, our lawyers mapped out the family structure, the state of the marital relationship, details of the extramarital affair and family assets. Guo’s primary objective was full recovery of all gifted property. Chen and Zhang routinely deleted chat records on WeChat and Douyin upon communication. Our lawyers carefully guided Guo to collect and reinforce evidence proving the extramarital relationship and transfers. We exported all WeChat transfer records, verified ownership of the receiving WeChat accounts belonging to Zhang, and secured evidence for every asset including high-speed rail tickets, floral orders, cake purchases and mobile top-ups. We recommended asset preservation to facilitate enforcement after judgment. We structured the evidence to establish that Zhang knowingly maintained an improper relationship with Chen and accepted gifts, and that even small-value transfers such as mobile phone recharge fees constituted unlawful marital asset dispositions.
Case Outcome:Judgment entered ordering Zhang to return all assets gifted by Chen. Court fees and preservation costs were borne jointly by Zhang and Chen.
Case 4: Li v. Wang – Divorce Dispute. Elderly client in his sixties seeking divorce after decades of marriage resolved through thoughtful mediation.
Case Background:Li (husband) married Wang (wife) in 1979 and they have one adult daughter residing overseas. Conflicts emerged from 1997 onward, eroding communication, and the couple lived separately for many years. Li formally proposed divorce in 2021, but Wang persistently refused. She argued they built their lives from scratch together; now both are elderly and Wang suffers leukaemia and needs mutual care in later life, stating she would reject divorce regardless of financial offers.
Case Representation:Our lawyers represented Li. After reviewing his marital background, objectives and family assets, we prepared mediation and asset allocation proposals designed to achieve a mutually acceptable divorce. We facilitated communications between Li and Wang. As Wang remained adamantly opposed, divorce litigation became necessary. The first suit concluded without Wang appearing in court; the court ruled marital ties had not irretrievably broken and denied the divorce petition. Six months after the judgment took effect, our team immediately initiated a second divorce suit. Our lawyers worked to ease Wang’s emotional distress, reasoned with her and even communicated with their daughter based in the United States to persuade Wang to accept reality and propose her own settlement terms. After clarifying Li’s bottom line, we developed negotiation tactics and a settlement package guaranteeing sufficient financial provision for Wang’s retirement to realise Li’s core demand.
Case Outcome:The matter concluded by mediation. The parties avoided the trauma of public courtroom confrontation in their sixties and ended their marriage with mutual respect and tolerance, fulfilling Li’s long-standing wish.
Case 5: Chen v. Huang – Divorce Dispute. Husband subjected to persistent telephone and text harassment by his wife successfully obtained a Personal Safety Protection Order to secure personal safety.
Case Background:Chen, a local resident, met Huang through online dating in mid-2020 and registered for marriage shortly afterwards. The parties never cohabited. Two months later, Chen discovered Huang had misled him in an attempt to obtain compensation arising from Chen’s housing demolition. Chen filed an initial divorce lawsuit, but the court dismissed the claim on the ground that marital relations had not irretrievably broken. Six months later, Chen launched a second divorce suit and sought judicial protection of personal safety.
Case Representation:Our lawyers represented Chen. We conducted a comprehensive review of the parties’ relationship history, respective demands and the ongoing harassment suffered by Chen. A holistic strategy was formulated combining divorce litigation and the separate procedure for applying for a Personal Safety Protection Order, together with guidance for Chen on personal safety measures and psychological adjustment during proceedings. We pursued the divorce application and protection order application concurrently to deliver the client’s core objectives.
Case Outcome:The court issued a Personal Safety Protection Order and granted the divorce, dissolving the marital relationship.
Case 6: Dispute over Compensation for Demolition of Public Rental Housing – Equity and Justice under Inheritance Law.
Case Background:A fierce dispute arose over the allocation of demolition compensation for public rental housing. After the original tenant Chen passed away, the property was expropriated for urban renewal, generating demolition compensation totalling over RMB 2 million. Chen had four children (three daughters and one son). Local regulations required applicants for transfer of public housing tenancy to own no other property and have co-resided with the original tenant. Chen’s son Wang and grandson submitted co-residence evidence; the grandson obtained tenancy rights via a separate confirmation action and collected all demolition compensation. Chen’s daughters challenged the non-receipt of any share of compensation. Our department represented the plaintiffs (Chen’s daughters), arguing demolition compensation derived from Chen’s tenancy rights and should be treated as an estate distributed according to statutory succession. The defendant (grandson) contended tenancy rights extinguished upon Chen’s death and compensation belonged exclusively to him as the new tenant independent of inheritance.
Case Representation:Our lawyers delivered comprehensive legal and factual analysis and formulated clear, persuasive legal arguments. We submitted the public housing tenancy contract, demolition announcements and confirmation action materials to prove a direct link between compensation and Chen’s original tenancy rights, supporting an element of inheritable interest. Further evidence demonstrated the defendant previously discussed splitting compensation with the plaintiffs, acknowledging the other heirs’ entitlements and confirming the compensation ought not to be held exclusively by one party.
Case Outcome:The court ordered the grandson (defendant) to pay compensation to the daughters (plaintiffs) to recognise their legitimate rights as first-tier statutory heirs.
08 Service Team
Section VIII Service Team
The Marriage, Family and Wealth Inheritance Legal Department is one of the core practice departments of Jintang Law Firm. The department was established to advance the firm’s specialisation in marriage and family law matters and facilitate internal management and professional guidance for lawyers specialising in marriage, family and wealth succession practice. We integrate law, reason and emotion, centre on clients’ needs, prioritise emotional support and strict privacy protection. Guided by the service philosophy of “Professionalism, Craftsmanship, Efficiency” and the mission “Alleviate clients’ worries, fulfil clients’ aspirations”, we deliver professional, thoughtful one-stop legal services, design customised solutions, resolve legal challenges and strive to maximise clients’ interests. Our underlying objective is to foster harmonious families, safeguard the lawful intergenerational transfer of family wealth and promote access to legal services for households.
09 Our Advantages
Section IX Our Advantages
Professional Specialisation All department members are seasoned practising lawyers, trainee lawyers and legal secretaries with deep expertise in marriage, family, wealth succession, corporate equity and real estate and construction law. Many hold additional professional qualifications including Family Wealth Planner, National Psychological Counsellor, Family Education Instructor and Senior Corporate Compliance Officer. We possess extensive litigation and negotiation experience and refined capabilities for non-contentious family law work. We serve numerous high-net-worth individuals, prominent entrepreneurs and public figures. Past clients include well-known enterprises such as China Construction Fourth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd., Shenzhen Zhongshejian Decoration Design Engineering Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Jingyang Electronics Co., Ltd., Guangdong Yonghe Construction Group Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Deyeji Property Management Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Zhuoxin Construction Group Co., Ltd.
We develop mature customised legal products covering the full spectrum and entire lifecycle of marriage and family legal needs, building a closed-loop legal ecosystem for family affairs and family enterprise wealth management. We enjoy broad recognition from clients and the industry founded on solid legal expertise, rich judicial experience and a dedicated family law service ethos. Over the years, we have successfully handled numerous highly contentious, complex and difficult cases involving assets ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of RMB, consistently securing favourable outcomes and positive feedback from clients.
Psychological Support Several team members hold National Psychological Counsellor and Family Education Instructor qualifications. We provide clients with an outlet for emotional release and professional psychological guidance, interpret clients’ emotional status, identify key factual issues within marriages, guide parties towards rationality and clarify legal rights and liabilities. We excel at resolving interpersonal conflicts between couples, parents and children through compassionate engagement, fundamentally easing family disputes, reducing litigation burdens and balancing clients’ emotional and legal demands.
We deliver professional, thoughtful one-stop legal services with emphasis on emotional counselling and privacy protection, pursuing alignment of legal outcomes and social impact. Our lawyers aim to promote harmonious families, protect lawful family wealth transfer and bring legal awareness to households.
Family-wide Strategic Vision We operate the Jinyong Family Office. By creatively combining legal and financial tools, we explore the underlying needs of family clients. Centred on clients and their families, we conduct rigorous assessment and forward-looking risk planning, delivering diversified, tailored solutions and risk prevention frameworks to support enduring family prosperity and sustainable businesses.
Cross-border Dispute Resolution Our lawyers handle numerous cross-border family disputes involving foreign jurisdictions, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. We have provided legal services to clients from the Netherlands, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong and other regions and possess substantial practical experience in cross-border legal practice.
Lawyer Jiang ZhudouDirector, Marriage, Family and Wealth Inheritance Legal Department Team Lead, Jiang Zhudou Lawyer Team
Member of the Organisation Committee of the Party Branch of the Law Firm, Head of Jinyong Family Office. Master’s degree holder. Passed three subjects of the Chinese Certified Public Accountant examination. Qualified as Family Wealth Planner, Psychological Counsellor and Family Education Instructor. Possesses extensive accounting theory, wealth management and family enterprise governance experience with multi-dimensional case handling approaches and integrated service models. Has managed numerous major cases concerning marriage, family, wealth succession, land and real estate.
Lawyer Long Jianyou, Practising LawyerMember of Jinyong Family Office, Volunteer Lawyer at Shenzhen Weide Legal Service Centre, Off-campus Rule of Law Instructor. Specialises in marriage and family matters. Beyond litigation representation, he integrates law, reason and emotion to address client demands, delivering customised agreement drafting, private legal counsel and asset separation special services for pre-marital and marital property as comprehensive one-stop family law support.
Lawyer Xia Siqin, Practising LawyerBachelor of Laws, Senior Corporate Compliance Officer,