China-based Cross-border Family Matters Services, including Marriage and Succession.
What Happens to Bank Account When Someone Dies in China?
What Happens to Bank Account When Someone Dies in China?

What Happens to Bank Account When Someone Dies in China?

What Happens to Bank Account When Someone Dies in China?

If the owner of a bank account dies, his/her heirs can get the money in the bank account.

When someone dies, who will be his/her heir? Who has the right to inherit his/her property? Please read “When someone dies Who gets his/her property in China?

If you are the heir, how do you get the money in the bank account?

If you know the bank account and its password, you can withdraw the money directly, and share it with other heirs.

But if you can’t withdraw the money, what should you do?

First, you need to obtain the bank account information, then you need to prove your inheritance right to the bank, and finally, the bank will pay you the money in the account at your request.

1. Obtain the bank account information

It would ideal if you know what bank accounts the decedent owns.

But if you don’t, you can request a Chinese court to investigate such information for you.

However, this requires you and other heirs to initiate an inheritance dispute lawsuit first.

Then, the court may carry out such an investigation during litigation.

2. Proof of inheritance right

You can prove your inheritance right in the following two ways:

(1) Notarization

You can apply to a Chinese notary office for notarization of the inheritance right, and provide it with the death certificate of the account owner and the kinship certificate between you and the decedent.

If you are not in China, you can apply to the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for an authenticated death certificate and kinship certificate first, and then go through the notarization of the inheritance right in China.

(2) Litigation

As mentioned above, you and other heirs can lodge a lawsuit for inheritance disputes, that is, to bring a lawsuit before a Chinese court.

Then, the court will decide who has the right to inherit and what property will be inherited.

The court’s judgment can prove your inheritance right.

3. Payment of deposits

You can ask the bank to pay you the deposit that should be inherited by you on the strength of the notarial certificate issued by the notary office or the judgment rendered by the court.


Do you need support in Cross-Border Family Matters (Marriage and Succession)?
CJO Family's team can provide you with China-based consulting service, including case assessment and management, background check, and debt collection (‘Last Mile’ Service). If you encounter any problems in cross-border family matters, or if you wish to share your story, you can contact our Client Manager Julia Yuan (julia.yuan@chinajusticeobserver.com).
If you want to know more about CJO Family, please click here.
If you want to know more about CJO Family cross-border family matters service, please click here.
If you wish to read more CJO Family articles on cross-border family matters, please click here.

Latest Posts on China-Related Cross-Border Succession Matters

  • What Are My Inheritance Rights in China?
    You can inherit the property of your parents, children and spouse. If anyone lists you as the beneficiary in the will, you also have the inheritance rights stated in the will.
  • What Is the Law of Inheritance in China?
    China used to have Inheritance Law (Law on Succession). However, after the promulgation of the Civil Code in 2020, China has only the “Book VI Succession” in the Civil Code. In other words, the inheritance law became a part of the civil code.
  • How to Inherit Properties in China?
    How to Inherit Properties in China? First of all, you need to know whether the decedent has a will and whether you have inheritance rights in the will. If the decedent does not have a will, then you also need to know whether you are the heir in intestate inheritance. That is, whether you are …
  • Is Debt Inherited in China?
    The answer is yes.
  • How Much Does the Average Person Inherit from their Parents in China?
    We will use a fictional succession-related story to illustrate how inheritance works in China.
  • Does China Have Inheritance Tax?
    No, China has no inheritance tax. If you inherit the money, you do not need to pay tax at all. If you inherit the real estate, you need to pay tax for the transfer of the property.
  • How Does Inheritance Work in China?
    During the lifetime, one can specify in the will who inherits his/her house and other heritage. If the person has no will, the decedent’s children, spouse, parents, siblings, paternal grandparents, and maternal grandparents may inherit his/her estate.
  • How Do I Get Money From My Deceased Parent’s Bank Account in China?
    You should first determine whether you are the heir to the money in the bank account of your deceased parent. If you have an inheritance right to the money, you can ask the bank to pay the part inherited by you.
  • What Happens to Bank Account When Someone Dies in China?
    If the owner of a bank account dies, his/her heirs can get the money in the bank account.
  • How Much Tax Will I Pay on My Inheritance in China?
    Generally speaking, there is little inheritance tax payable by heirs in China. Because, in China, heirs do not need to pay inheritance tax, except for some other taxes and fees, which are comparatively small.
  • What Happens When You Inherit a House in China?
    What Happens When You Inherit a House in China? If you and other heirs need to inherit a house jointly at inheritance, there will be three ways: (1) one heir gets the house and all other heirs get cash; (2) All heirs get cash; (3) All heirs share the house on a pro rata basis. …
  • When A Parent Dies Who Gets the House in China?
    The parent can specify in the will who inherits his/her house and other heritage. If he/she has no will, his/her children, spouse, parents, siblings, paternal grandparents, and maternal grandparents may inherit this house and other heritage.
  • When Someone Dies Who Gets His/Her Property in China?
    Before his/her death, he/she can specify in the will who inherits his/her house and other heritage. If the person has no will, his/her children, spouse, parents, siblings, paternal grandparents, and maternal grandparents may inherit this house and other heritage.
  • Can A Foreigner Inherit Property in China?
    The answer is YES. Here’s what to do for foreigners to inherit property in China.

Photo by Jane Marc on Unsplash

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *