An elderly Shanghai woman known only as Ms. Liu has decided to cut her children from her will and leave her substantial $2.8 million fortune to her pets.
According to the elderly woman, the pets have always been there for her during her old age.
The move comes as a result of her three children’s apparent neglect, leading her to exclude them from her will, according to reports from The South China Morning Post.
Originally intending to leave her wealth to her children, Ms. Liu changed her mind due to her children’s lack of contact and care.
In her updated will, she explicitly stated that her entire estate must be utilized for the well-being of her pets and any potential future offspring.
The responsibility for managing this unique inheritance and caring for the animals falls upon a veterinary clinic.
However, Chinese law prohibits leaving money directly to pets, prompting Ms. Liu to explore alternatives.
Chen Kai, an official from the Will Registration Centre headquarters in Beijing.
“However, there are alternatives to solve this issue,” Kai said.
“Liu’s current will is one way and we would have advised her to appoint a person she trusts to supervise the vet clinic to ensure the pets are properly cared for.”
Highlighting the potential risks of allocating all her inheritance to the veterinary clinic, an official involved in the process cautioned Ms. Liu.
“We told Auntie Liu that if her children change their attitude towards her, she could always alter her will again,” they said.
