Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China
中华人民共和国民法典
(Adopted at the Third Session of the Thirteenth National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020)
（2020年5月28日第十三届全国人民代表大会第三次会议通过）
Book Six Succession
第六编 继承
Chapter I General Rules
第一章 一般规定
Article 1119 This Book regulates the civil-law relations arising from succession.
第一千一百一十九条 本编调整因继承产生的民事关系。
Article 1120 The State protects a natural person’s right to inheritance.
第一千一百二十条 国家保护自然人的继承权。
Article 1121 Succession begins upon the death of a decedent.
第一千一百二十一条 继承从被继承人死亡时开始。
Where two or more persons with the right to inherit each other’s estate die in the same incident and it is difficult to determine the time of each person’s death, the person without any other successor is presumed to have predeceased those with other successor(s). Where the aforementioned deceased persons are from different generations and all of them have other successor(s), the person of the elder generation is presumed to have predeceased those of the younger generation; or, where the deceased are in the same generation, they are presumed to have died simultaneously and no succession occurs between or among them.
相互有继承关系的数人在同一事件中死亡，难以确定死亡时间的，推定没有其他继承人的人先死亡。都有其他继承人，辈份不同的，推定长辈先死亡；辈份相同的，推定同时死亡，相互不发生继承。
Article 1122 An estate refers to the property lawfully owned by a natural person upon death.
第一千一百二十二条 遗产是自然人死亡时遗留的个人合法财产。
An estate not inheritable according to the provisions of law or based on the nature of the estate may not be inherited.
依照法律规定或者根据其性质不得继承的遗产，不得继承。
Article 1123 After succession opens, it shall be processed as an intestate succession, or where there is a will, as a testate succession by the successor(s) or donee(s)-by-will; or be processed in accordance with the agreement on testamentary gift for inter vivos support, where there is such an agreement.
第一千一百二十三条 继承开始后，按照法定继承办理；有遗嘱的，按照遗嘱继承或者遗赠办理；有遗赠扶养协议的，按照协议办理。
Article 1124 A successor who, after the opening of succession, disclaims an inheritance shall manifest his decision in writing before the estate is disposed of. In the absence of such a manifestation, he is deemed to have accepted the inheritance.
第一千一百二十四条 继承开始后，继承人放弃继承的，应当在遗产处理前，以书面形式作出放弃继承的表示；没有表示的，视为接受继承。
A donee-by-will shall, within 60 days after he learns of the testamentary gift, manifest his decision to accept or disclaim it. In the absence of such a manifestation within the specified period, he is deemed to have disclaimed the gift.
受遗赠人应当在知道受遗赠后六十日内，作出接受或者放弃受遗赠的表示；到期没有表示的，视为放弃受遗赠。
Article 1125 A successor is disinherited if he has committed any one of the following acts:
第一千一百二十五条 继承人有下列行为之一的，丧失继承权：
(1) intentionally killing the now decedent;
（一）故意杀害被继承人；
(2) killing any other successor in fighting over the estate;
（二）为争夺遗产而杀害其他继承人；
(3) abandoning the now decedent, or maltreating him and the circumstances are serious;
（三）遗弃被继承人，或者虐待被继承人情节严重；
(4) forging, tampering with, concealing, or destroying the will, and the circumstances are serious; or
（四）伪造、篡改、隐匿或者销毁遗嘱，情节严重；
(5) through fraud or duress, compelling or interfering with the testator to write, alter, or revoke a will, and the circumstances are serious.
（五）以欺诈、胁迫手段迫使或者妨碍被继承人设立、变更或者撤回遗嘱，情节严重。
A successor who had committed one of the acts listed in Subparagraphs (3) through (5) of the preceding paragraph shall not be disinherited if he truly repented and amended his ways, and was forgiven by the now decedent or was thereafter appointed as one of the successors in the decedent’s will.
继承人有前款第三项至第五项行为，确有悔改表现，被继承人表示宽恕或者事后在遗嘱中将其列为继承人的，该继承人不丧失继承权。
A donee-by-will who has committed the act listed in the first paragraph of this Article loses his right to receive the testamentary gift.
受遗赠人有本条第一款规定行为的，丧失受遗赠权。
Chapter II Intestate Succession
第二章 法定继承
Article 1126 Men and women are equal in their right to inheritance.
第一千一百二十六条 继承权男女平等。
Article 1127 The estate of a decedent shall be succeeded in the following order:
第一千一百二十七条 遗产按照下列顺序继承：
(1) first in order: spouse, children, and parents;
（一）第一顺序：配偶、子女、父母；
(2) second in order: siblings, paternal grandparents, and maternal grandparents.
（二）第二顺序：兄弟姐妹、祖父母、外祖父母。
When succession opens, the successor(s) first in order shall inherit to the exclusion of the successor(s) second in order. The successor(s) second in order shall inherit the estate in default of any successor first in order.
继承开始后，由第一顺序继承人继承，第二顺序继承人不继承；没有第一顺序继承人继承的，由第二顺序继承人继承。
“Children” referred to in this Book include children born in or out of wedlock, and adopted children, as well as stepchildren who were raised up by the decedent.
本编所称子女，包括婚生子女、非婚生子女、养子女和有扶养关系的继子女。
“Parents” referred to in this Book include blood parents and adoptive parents, as well as stepparents who raised the decedent.
本编所称父母，包括生父母、养父母和有扶养关系的继父母。
“Siblings” referred to in this Book include siblings of whole blood and half blood, and adopted siblings, as well as stepsiblings who supported or were supported by the decedent.
本编所称兄弟姐妹，包括同父母的兄弟姐妹、同父异母或者同母异父的兄弟姐妹、养兄弟姐妹、有扶养关系的继兄弟姐妹。
Article 1128 Where a decedent is predeceased by a child of his, the lineal descendants of the predeceased child shall inherit in subrogation.
第一千一百二十八条 被继承人的子女先于被继承人死亡的，由被继承人的子女的直系晚辈血亲代位继承。
Where a decedent is predeceased by a sibling of his, the children of the predeceased sibling shall inherit in subrogation.
被继承人的兄弟姐妹先于被继承人死亡的，由被继承人的兄弟姐妹的子女代位继承。
Successors who inherit in subrogation generally may only take the share of the estate per stirpes.
代位继承人一般只能继承被代位继承人有权继承的遗产份额。
Article 1129 Widowed daughters-in-law or sons-in-law who have made predominant contributions in supporting their parents-in-law shall, in relationship to their parents-in-law, be regarded as successors first in order.
第一千一百二十九条 丧偶儿媳对公婆，丧偶女婿对岳父母，尽了主要赡养义务的，作为第一顺序继承人。
Article 1130 Successors same in order shall, in general, inherit share and share alike.
第一千一百三十条 同一顺序继承人继承遗产的份额，一般应当均等。
When distributing an estate, due consideration shall be given to a successor who has special financial difficulties and is unable to work.
对生活有特殊困难又缺乏劳动能力的继承人，分配遗产时，应当予以照顾。
When distributing an estate, a successor who has made predominant contributions in supporting the now decedent, or who has been living with the now decedent may be given a larger share.
对被继承人尽了主要扶养义务或者与被继承人共同生活的继承人，分配遗产时，可以多分。
When distributing an estate, a successor who had the ability and was in a position to support the now decedent but failed to fulfill the duty of support shall be given no or a smaller share.
有扶养能力和有扶养条件的继承人，不尽扶养义务的，分配遗产时，应当不分或者少分。
Successors may take unequal shares upon agreement among them.
继承人协商同意的，也可以不均等。
Article 1131 An appropriate share of the estate may be given to a person, other than a successor, who has been a dependent of the now decedent, or to a person, other than a successor, who has made considerable contributions in supporting the now decedent.
第一千一百三十一条 对继承人以外的依靠被继承人扶养的人，或者继承人以外的对被继承人扶养较多的人，可以分给适当的遗产。
Article 1132 Any issue arising from succession shall be dealt with through consultation by and among the successors in the spirit of amity, unity, mutual understanding, and accommodation. The time and mode for partitioning the estate and the shares to be distributed shall be determined by the successors through consultation. Where no agreement is reached through consultation, they may apply to a people’s mediation committee for mediation or institute legal proceedings in the people’s court.
第一千一百三十二条 继承人应当本着互谅互让、和睦团结的精神，协商处理继承问题。遗产分割的时间、办法和份额，由继承人协商确定；协商不成的，可以由人民调解委员会调解或者向人民法院提起诉讼。
Chapter III Testate Succession and Testamentary Gift
第三章 遗嘱继承和遗赠
Article 1133 A natural person may, by making a will in accordance with the provisions of this Code, dispose of his estate and may appoint an executor in the will.
第一千一百三十三条 自然人可以依照本法规定立遗嘱处分个人财产，并可以指定遗嘱执行人。
A natural person may, by making a will, designate one or more of his statutory successors to inherit his estate.
自然人可以立遗嘱将个人财产指定由法定继承人中的一人或者数人继承。
A natural person may, by making a will, donate his estate to the State or a collective, or an organization or individual other than his statutory successor.
自然人可以立遗嘱将个人财产赠与国家、集体或者法定继承人以外的组织、个人。
A natural person may, in accordance with law, create a testamentary trust.
自然人可以依法设立遗嘱信托。
Article 1134 A holographic will is one written by the testator’s hand and signed by him, specifying the year, month, and day of its making.
第一千一百三十四条 自书遗嘱由遗嘱人亲笔书写，签名，注明年、月、日。
Article 1135 A will written on behalf of the testator shall be attested by two or more witnesses, of whom one writes the will, specifying the year, month, and day of its making, and signs it along with the other witness(es) and with the testator.
第一千一百三十五条 代书遗嘱应当有两个以上见证人在场见证，由其中一人代书，并由遗嘱人、代书人和其他见证人签名，注明年、月、日。
Article 1136 A will in printed form shall be attested by two or more witnesses. The testator and the witnesses shall sign and specify the year, month, and day on each page.
第一千一百三十六条 打印遗嘱应当有两个以上见证人在场见证。遗嘱人和见证人应当在遗嘱每一页签名，注明年、月、日。
Article 1137 A will made in the form of an audio or video recording shall be attested by two or more witnesses. The testator and the witnesses shall record their names or likeness in the recording and specify the year, month, and day of its making.
第一千一百三十七条 以录音录像形式立的遗嘱，应当有两个以上见证人在场见证。遗嘱人和见证人应当在录音录像中记录其姓名或者肖像，以及年、月、日。
Article 1138 A testator may, when facing imminent danger, make a nuncupative will. A nuncupative will shall be attested by two or more witnesses. When the imminent danger is removed and where the testator is able to make a will in writing or in the form of an audio or video recording, the nuncupative will thus made becomes invalid.
第一千一百三十八条 遗嘱人在危急情况下，可以立口头遗嘱。口头遗嘱应当有两个以上见证人在场见证。危急情况消除后，遗嘱人能够以书面或者录音录像形式立遗嘱的，所立的口头遗嘱无效。
Article 1139 A notarized will is one made by a testator through a notary agency.
第一千一百三十九条 公证遗嘱由遗嘱人经公证机构办理。
Article 1140 None of the following persons is eligible to act as a witness to a will:
第一千一百四十条 下列人员不能作为遗嘱见证人：
(1) a person with no or limited capacity for performing civil juristic acts, or a person otherwise incompetent to attest a will;
（一）无民事行为能力人、限制民事行为能力人以及其他不具有见证能力的人；
(2) a successor or a donee-by-will; or
（二）继承人、受遗赠人；
(3) a person having an interest with a successor or a donee-by-will.
（三）与继承人、受遗赠人有利害关系的人。
Article 1141 Reservation of a necessary portion of an estate shall be made in a will for a successor who has neither the ability to work nor the source of income.
第一千一百四十一条 遗嘱应当为缺乏劳动能力又没有生活来源的继承人保留必要的遗产份额。
Article 1142 A testator may revoke or alter a will he has made.
第一千一百四十二条 遗嘱人可以撤回、变更自己所立的遗嘱。
Where a testator who, after making a will, acts inconsistently with the content of his will, the pertinent part of the will is deemed to be revoked.
立遗嘱后，遗嘱人实施与遗嘱内容相反的民事法律行为的，视为对遗嘱相关内容的撤回。
Where several wills have been made and their contents are inconsistent, the will made last in time shall prevail.
立有数份遗嘱，内容相抵触的，以最后的遗嘱为准。
Article 1143 A will made by a person with no or limited capacity for performing for civil juristic acts is void.
第一千一百四十三条 无民事行为能力人或者限制民事行为能力人所立的遗嘱无效。
A will must manifest the genuine intention of the testator, and a will made under fraud or duress is void.
遗嘱必须表示遗嘱人的真实意思，受欺诈、胁迫所立的遗嘱无效。
A forged will is void.
伪造的遗嘱无效。
Where a will has been tampered with, the affected part of the will is void.
遗嘱被篡改的，篡改的内容无效。
Article 1144 Where a testate succession or a testamentary gift is conditioned upon performance of an obligation, the successor or donee-by-will shall perform the obligation. Where a successor or donee-by-will fails to perform such an obligation without just cause, the people’s court may, upon request by an interested person or a relevant organization, deprive him of the right to inherit the portion of the estate to which performance of the obligation is attached.
第一千一百四十四条 遗嘱继承或者遗赠附有义务的，继承人或者受遗赠人应当履行义务。没有正当理由不履行义务的，经利害关系人或者有关组织请求，人民法院可以取消其接受附义务部分遗产的权利。
Chapter IV Disposition of Estates
第四章 遗产的处理
Article 1145 Upon opening of a succession, the executor of the will is the administrator of the estate; where no executor is designated in the will, the successors shall elect an administrator in a timely manner. Where the successors fail to do so, all of the successors are co-administrators. Where there is no successor or where all of the successors disclaim inheritance, the civil affairs department or the villagers’ committee in the place where the decedent was domiciled at the time of his death shall serve as the administrator.
第一千一百四十五条 继承开始后，遗嘱执行人为遗产管理人；没有遗嘱执行人的，继承人应当及时推选遗产管理人；继承人未推选的，由继承人共同担任遗产管理人；没有继承人或者继承人均放弃继承的，由被继承人生前住所地的民政部门或者村民委员会担任遗产管理人。
Article 1146 Where a dispute arises over the determination of an administrator, any interested person may request the people’s court to appoint an administrator.
第一千一百四十六条 对遗产管理人的确定有争议的，利害关系人可以向人民法院申请指定遗产管理人。
Article 1147 An estate administrator shall perform the following duties:
第一千一百四十七条 遗产管理人应当履行下列职责：
(1) verifying and making an inventory of the estate;
（一）清理遗产并制作遗产清单；
(2) reporting to the successors about the inventory of the estate;
（二）向继承人报告遗产情况；
(3) taking necessary measures to prevent the estate from being destructed, damaged, or lost;
（三）采取必要措施防止遗产毁损、灭失；
(4) clearing the decedent’s claims and debts;
（四）处理被继承人的债权债务；
(5) partitioning the estate in accordance with the will, or in accordance with law; and
（五）按照遗嘱或者依照法律规定分割遗产；
(6) performing any other act necessary for managing the estate.
（六）实施与管理遗产有关的其他必要行为。
Article 1148 An estate administrator shall perform his duties in accordance with law, and shall bear civil liability if any successor, donee-by-will, or creditor of the decedent suffers damage caused by his intentional act or gross negligence.
第一千一百四十八条 遗产管理人应当依法履行职责，因故意或者重大过失造成继承人、受遗赠人、债权人损害的，应当承担民事责任。
Article 1149 An estate administrator may receive remuneration in accordance with law or based upon agreement.
第一千一百四十九条 遗产管理人可以依照法律规定或者按照约定获得报酬。
Article 1150 Upon opening of the succession, a successor who has knowledge of the death of the decedent shall notify the other successors and the executor of the will in a timely manner. Where none of the successors knows about the death of the decedent or is able to make the notification upon learning of the death of the decedent, the organization to which the decedent was employed at the time of his death, or the urban residents’ committee or the villagers’ committee in the place where the decedent was domiciled at the time of his death shall make the notification.
第一千一百五十条 继承开始后，知道被继承人死亡的继承人应当及时通知其他继承人和遗嘱执行人。继承人中无人知道被继承人死亡或者知道被继承人死亡而不能通知的，由被继承人生前所在单位或者住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会负责通知。
Article 1151 Anyone who has in his possession the property of a decedent shall properly keep such property, and no organization or individual may misappropriate or contend for it.
第一千一百五十一条 存有遗产的人，应当妥善保管遗产，任何组织或者个人不得侵吞或者争抢。
Article 1152 Where, after a succession opens, a successor who has not disclaimed inheritance dies before the estate is partitioned, the share that he should have inherited shall be inherited by his successors, unless otherwise provided in the will.
第一千一百五十二条 继承开始后，继承人于遗产分割前死亡，并没有放弃继承的，该继承人应当继承的遗产转给其继承人，但是遗嘱另有安排的除外。
Article 1153 When partitioning an estate, where community property of husband and wife is involved, unless otherwise agreed upon, half of the community property shall be allocated first to the surviving spouse as separate property, while the remaining property shall be part of the decedent’s estate.
第一千一百五十三条 夫妻共同所有的财产，除有约定的外，遗产分割时，应当先将共同所有的财产的一半分出为配偶所有，其余的为被继承人的遗产。
When partitioning an estate, where the decedent’s estate is a portion of common property of the family, the portion of the property belonging to the other family members shall first be separated from the decedent’s estate.
遗产在家庭共有财产之中的，遗产分割时，应当先分出他人的财产。
Article 1154 Under any of the following circumstances, the affected portion of an estate shall be disposed of as in an intestate succession:
第一千一百五十四条 有下列情形之一的，遗产中的有关部分按照法定继承办理：
(1) where a successor designated in a will or a donee-by-will disclaims the inheritance or gift;
（一）遗嘱继承人放弃继承或者受遗赠人放弃受遗赠；
(2) where a testamentary successor is disinherited or a donee-by-will is disqualified as such;
（二）遗嘱继承人丧失继承权或者受遗赠人丧失受遗赠权；
(3) where a testamentary successor predeceases the testator, or a donee-by-will predeceases the testator or is terminated prior to the decedent’s death;
（三）遗嘱继承人、受遗赠人先于遗嘱人死亡或者终止；
(4) where a part of a will affecting a portion of the estate is invalidated; or
（四）遗嘱无效部分所涉及的遗产；
(5) where a portion of the estate is not disposed of by the will.
（五）遗嘱未处分的遗产。
Article 1155 When partitioning an estate, a share shall be reserved for a fetus. If the fetus is stillborn, the reserved share shall be disposed of as in an intestate succession.
第一千一百五十五条 遗产分割时，应当保留胎儿的继承份额。胎儿娩出时是死体的，保留的份额按照法定继承办理。
Article 1156 The partitioning of a decedent’s estate shall be conducted in a way beneficial to production and people’s livelihood, and without diminishing its efficacy.
第一千一百五十六条 遗产分割应当有利于生产和生活需要，不损害遗产的效用。
If an estate is unsuitable for partitioning, it may be disposed of by such means as appraisal, appropriate compensation, or coownership.
不宜分割的遗产，可以采取折价、适当补偿或者共有等方法处理。
Article 1157 A surviving spouse who remarries is entitled to disposing of the property he or she has inherited, free from interference by any organization or individual.
第一千一百五十七条 夫妻一方死亡后另一方再婚的，有权处分所继承的财产，任何组织或者个人不得干涉。
Article 1158 A natural person may enter into an agreement on testamentary gift for inter vivos support with an organization or individual other than a successor. Such organization or individual assumes, in accordance with the agreement, a duty to support the said person during his lifetime, and attends to his interment after death, in return for the right to receive the testamentary gift under the agreement.
第一千一百五十八条 自然人可以与继承人以外的组织或者个人签订遗赠扶养协议。按照协议，该组织或者个人承担该自然人生养死葬的义务，享有受遗赠的权利。
Article 1159 Upon partitioning an estate, the taxes and debts payable or owed by the decedent in accordance with law shall be paid out of the estate, provided that a necessary portion of the estate is preserved for any successor who has neither the ability to work nor the source of income.
第一千一百五十九条 分割遗产，应当清偿被继承人依法应当缴纳的税款和债务；但是，应当为缺乏劳动能力又没有生活来源的继承人保留必要的遗产。
Article 1160 An estate with neither a successor nor a donee-by-will shall be escheated to the State for public interest purposes. Where the decedent was a member of a collective organization at the time of his death, the estate shall be escheated to the collective organization.
第一千一百六十条 无人继承又无人受遗赠的遗产，归国家所有，用于公益事业；死者生前是集体所有制组织成员的，归所在集体所有制组织所有。
Article 1161 A successor shall pay the taxes and debts legally payable or owed by the decedent to the extent of the actual value of the portion of the estate he inherits, unless the successor pays voluntarily in excess of such limit.
第一千一百六十一条 继承人以所得遗产实际价值为限清偿被继承人依法应当缴纳的税款和债务。超过遗产实际价值部分，继承人自愿偿还的不在此限。
A successor who disclaims inheritance assumes no responsibility for the payment of taxes and debts legally payable or owed by the decedent.
继承人放弃继承的，对被继承人依法应当缴纳的税款和债务可以不负清偿责任。
Article 1162 The execution of a testamentary gift shall not affect the payment of taxes and debts legally payable or owed by the donor-by-will.
第一千一百六十二条 执行遗赠不得妨碍清偿遗赠人依法应当缴纳的税款和债务。
Article 1163 Where intestate succession, testate succession, and testamentary gift concurrently exist, the taxes and debts legally payable or owed by the decedent shall be paid by the intestate successor(s); such taxes and debts in excess of the actual value of the portion of the estate inherited by the intestate successor(s) shall be paid by the testamentary successor(s) and donee(s)-by-will in proportion to the shares of the estate each of them has received.
第一千一百六十三条 既有法定继承又有遗嘱继承、遗赠的，由法定继承人清偿被继承人依法应当缴纳的税款和债务；超过法定继承遗产实际价值部分，由遗嘱继承人和受遗赠人按比例以所得遗产清偿。