Whether you are a foreign national or overseas Chinese looking to invest in China, inherit assets from a family member, liquidate Chinese assets and transfer funds abroad, or facing unexpected legal risks — we provide professional, compliant, and trustworthy cross-border legal services.
Years of Experience
Cross-Border Cases
Satisfaction %
Complete guide to tax clearance, bank application, currency exchange, and cross-border remittance for China property sales.
Comprehensive cross-border legal solutions for overseas Chinese and foreign-invested enterprises
Full-cycle coverage for foreign-invested enterprises: company formation, capital injection, equity M&A, ongoing compliance, IP protection, and orderly market exit. Bilingual team serving foreign businesses in China.
Learn more →Upon your power of attorney, we handle property sales, equity transfers, tax clearance, foreign exchange purchase, and cross-border remittance — all without requiring your physical presence in China. Streamlined asset disposal for overseas Chinese.
Learn more →Cross-border inheritance (notarial and litigation pathways), China-U.S. divorce, marital property division, child custody, and cross-border enforcement of support orders. All manageable remotely with your authorization.
Learn more →Early-stage bail applications, case dismissal advocacy, prosecutorial review submissions, and trial representation. Full-process, multilingual, cross-jurisdictional criminal defense support to navigate China's critical procedural windows.
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Partner, Lantai (Shanghai) Law Firm
Director, USA Jiangsu Chamber Shanghai Liaison Office
Member, Shanghai Bar Association Corporate Compliance Committee
LL.M. & MBA
18 years, 300+ cases. In cross-border legal services, the law is just the starting point — what really matters is understanding how things work on the ground.
For corporate clients, I stay ahead of the process. From company formation to dissolution, I anticipate regulatory bottlenecks and keep businesses on the right side of the rules.
For asset disposal, fragmented execution is the biggest trap — real estate, equity, fund repatriation handled separately means endless delays. I consolidate everything into one streamlined track.
Family cases are different. Clients abroad don't know China's procedures. What they need is a clear timeline and simple instructions — what to do, when, and how long it takes. Communication matters as much as the result.
In criminal cases, timing is everything. One day can change the outcome.
Years of cooperation with notary offices, land registries, market regulators, and foreign exchange authorities make this possible. With the Shanghai Liaison Office, these resources now have a stable channel — one mandate, end-to-end, turning complexity into clarity.
Transparent process from consultation to completion
Phone, video, or in-person to understand your situation
Clear fee structure, sign engagement agreement
Document prep, notarization, government filings
Case concluded, all documents delivered
Anonymized representations of our work
Client residing in the U.S. for 30 years inherited parents' Shanghai apartment. Remote power of attorney handled, full inheritance notarization and property registration completed without the client needing to return to China.
InheritanceRemote POACanadian national sold two Shanghai properties totaling over RMB 20 million. Assisted with VAT and income tax filings, then completed foreign exchange purchase and cross-border remittance through compliant channels in a single transfer.
Fund TransferTax ComplianceJapanese-Chinese client inherited both company equity and real estate in China, spanning two jurisdictions. Dual-jurisdiction legal advice provided, Apostille obtained in Japan, share registry transfer completed in China.
Dual JurisdictionEquityWhat our clients say
Practical knowledge about cross-border asset matters
On June 18, 2026, the USA Jiangsu General Chamber of Commerce officially established its Shanghai Liaison Office at Lantai (Shanghai) Law Firm, with Attorney Zhao Haiying appointed as Director.
A comprehensive overview of the inheritance process for overseas Chinese and foreign nationals inheriting assets in China.
Understanding the tax clearance, forex purchase, and cross-border remittance process for foreign nationals selling Chinese assets.
Key considerations for cross-border families with assets in China and abroad, including will planning and trust structures.
What taxes apply when overseas Chinese inherit real estate in China? A breakdown of notary fees, income tax, VAT and exemptions.
For overseas Chinese seeking divorce in China without returning. Covers remote divorce procedures, power of attorney, and Apostille requirements.
All you need to know about making a will for Chinese assets. Covers types of wills recognized in China, foreign will recognition, notarization, and common pitfalls.
Complete guide to foreign judgment recognition in China. Enforce divorce decrees, commercial judgments through Chinese courts.
Since November 7, 2023, China acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention. Complete guide on Apostille requirements, process, fees, and practical applications.
What rights do foreign nationals have when detained in China? Complete guide including consular notification and the golden 37 days.
Yes. You can issue a power of attorney in your country of residence, have it notarized and authenticated by the Chinese consulate, then send it to your lawyer in China to handle the inheritance notarization and property registration on your behalf. Remote representation is now a well-established practice.
After selling Chinese property, foreign nationals must first pay applicable taxes (VAT, income tax, etc.), then apply to a bank for foreign exchange purchase and cross-border remittance using the tax clearance certificate, sales contract, and identity documents. As long as the funds are legally sourced and taxes are paid, the full amount can be remitted in one transaction.
Timelines vary by complexity. Generally, inheritance notarization takes 1-2 months, and property registration takes about 1 month. If overseas factors are involved (e.g., documents requiring consular authentication), the process may extend to 3-6 months.
Inheritance is not considered taxable income in China, so heirs generally do not pay inheritance tax or personal income tax on inherited assets. The main costs are notarization fees (based on property value) and property registration fees (approximately RMB 80-800). Taxes apply if the inherited property is later sold.
Since November 7, 2023, China has acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents from Apostille member countries only need a simple Apostille certification and no longer require consular legalization. This significantly streamlines cross-border inheritance document processing for documents from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and most EU countries.
In most cases, yes. Inheritance notarization, property registration, and many other legal procedures can be handled through a power of attorney issued overseas. You can sign the POA at the Chinese consulate in your country or have it notarized locally with an Apostille. Your lawyer in China can then handle the entire process on your behalf without you needing to travel.
Free consultation — tell us about your situation and we'll get back to you
Location Advantage: Walking distance to Shanghai Notary Office, Huangpu Real Estate Registry, and multiple designated foreign exchange banks — ensuring efficient document processing for inheritance and fund transfer cases.
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We will contact you within 24 hours. For urgent matters, please call +86 173 2109 9752.
