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.
Comprehensive cross-border legal solutions for overseas Chinese and foreign-invested enterprises
Where a parent or spouse has died in China and the estate is there: which law applies, who inherits and in what shares, the notary and court routes, legalising documents abroad, how to proceed without travelling to China, and the order for transfer, sale and remittance.
Inheritance process & documents →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.
Ask about corporate matters →Upon your power of attorney, we handle property sales, equity transfers, tax clearance, foreign exchange purchase, and cross-border remittance. Most steps can be handled remotely, without repeated travel to China.
Instructions, title transfer & remittance →Cross-border inheritance (notarial and litigation pathways), China-U.S. divorce, marital property division, child custody, and cross-border enforcement of support orders. Most steps can be handled remotely with your authorization.
Divorce & property division →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.
Criminal defence process →A clear answer first, then who it applies to and how to proceed.
Cross-border inheritance covers cases where overseas Chinese or foreign nationals inherit property located in mainland China, such as real estate, bank deposits, or equity. It usually requires notarial or court proceedings in China plus authentication of overseas documents.
Cross-border divorce refers to divorce proceedings where one or both spouses live abroad but the marriage or assets fall within the scope of Chinese law. Jurisdiction and applicable law are the two issues that decide how the case moves forward.
Asset repatriation means lawfully completing tax clearance, foreign currency purchase, and remittance of proceeds from assets sold in China. Tax and foreign exchange compliance must be confirmed case by case under the latest policy.
Apostille is the simplified authentication procedure for foreign public documents under the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. The convention entered into force for China on November 7, 2023, simplifying authentication for most common documents.
Partner, Lantai (Shanghai) Law Firm
Director, USA Jiangsu Chamber Shanghai Liaison Office
Member, Shanghai Bar Association Corporate Compliance Committee
LL.M. & MBA
18 years, hundreds of 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
A U.S. mother and son held a Shanghai property for years, but passport renewals made identity verification difficult. Through identity consistency certificates, Apostille authentication and a remote notarized power of attorney, we completed listing, tax review, registration and full cross-border remittance of the sale proceeds.
Foreign PropertyApostilleFund TransferAfter their U.S.-national mother passed away, two daughters inherited her deposits in China. Using the foreign death certificate, identity consistency certificate and a legal opinion authenticated in Arizona, we completed the inheritance notarization and the deposit inquiry and withdrawal.
InheritanceApostilleDeposit SuccessionThe German decedent held deposits in both Suzhou and Hong Kong. Using a dual-track process of mainland notarization plus Hong Kong estate administration, we completed the Apostille authentication, translated notarization and estate management application for each jurisdiction.
Cross-Border InheritanceHong Kong EstateDual-TrackAfter the grandfather died in China and the mother had predeceased him, his German granddaughter inherited by subrogation. Through kinship authentication and remote authorization, we handled the inheritance litigation and the cross-border transfer of estate funds.
InheritanceSubrogationFX TransferIn a divorce between German spouses involving a villa, company equity and multiple bank accounts, we used several court investigation orders to uncover concealed assets, supported a reduced share for the at-fault spouse and pursued child support.
International DivorceAsset InvestigationCourt OrdersThe client had obtained Spanish investment residency and lived abroad long-term. We reviewed the prenuptial agreement and property replacement, addressed child custody and cross-border living arrangements, and represented the client in the domestic divorce proceedings.
International DivorcePrenuptialChild CustodyWe represented a German company in registering the "holux" and "Deutschtec" trademarks in China and handling office action appeals, relying on EU prior trademark evidence to complete multi-class applications and appeal responses.
TrademarkOffice Action AppealEU Prior MarksWe provided specialized dissolution and liquidation services for a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, covering N+1 employee compensation calculation, non-compete release, distributor termination, and deregistration with the business, tax and customs authorities.
DissolutionEmployment ComplianceDeregistrationWhat our clients say
Practical knowledge about cross-border asset matters
The notary needs every heir to appear, and one missing signature stops the transfer. Mediation, litigation, service by publication, and property preservation.
An overseas heir may inherit China company equity as a property interest. Shareholder status depends on the articles. Confirm, register, then remit.
After the division is settled, confirm title, then tax, then FX. Reversing that order is where the file usually stalls. This page covers only those three steps.
Hong Kong and mainland estates are generally two tracks, not one filing. Receiving bodies differ. Originals, translations, and certifications are usually prepared per track.
Overseas heirs who intend to waive a China-sited share: notarize the waiver, obtain an Apostille, then a Chinese translation. Order and stalls only—no outcome promises.
Apostille and translation done, but a China notary, registry, or bank still refuses the pack. Format, translation, authority, and office-rule stalls—no outcome promises.
Overseas heirs: notarize an inheritance POA, obtain an Apostille, then prepare a Chinese translation. Order and receiving-office stalls only—no outcome promises.
Yes, U.S. citizens can inherit Chinese real estate. Covers applicable law, Apostille authentication, inheritance notarization, title transfer, and lawful remittance.
How to handle disagreements among overseas heirs over Chinese property, deposits, and stocks, including statutory shares, mediation, and litigation.
How overseas heirs can confirm inheritance rights, handle deposits and A-share stocks, and legally complete bank review and cross-border remittance.
The house can be inherited, while homestead registration depends on local rules. Covers legal basis, Apostille authentication, and practical steps.
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.
Complete guide to tax clearance, bank application, currency exchange, and cross-border remittance for China property sales.
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.
Are prenuptial agreements valid in China? Learn the legal basis, key clauses, property and debt rules, notarization, and cross-border considerations.
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.
The time required varies widely from case to case.
Inheritance is not considered taxable income in China, so heirs generally do not pay inheritance tax or personal income tax on inherited assets. Statutory heirs who inherit title to land or housing are exempt from deed tax under Article 6 of the Deed Tax Law of the People's Republic of China. 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
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We will get back to you as soon as we can. You can also write to zhaohaiying@lantai.cn — emails are checked regularly. For urgent matters, call +86 173 2109 9752 or add WeChat on the same number.
