(Adopted at the Third Session of the Sixth National People's Congress, promulgated by
Order No. 24 of the President of the People's Republic of China on
April 10, 1985, and effective as of October 1, 1985)

Chapter II Statutory Succession

        Article 9 Males and females are equal in their right to inheritance.
        Article 10 The estate of the decedent shall be inherited in the following order:
        First in order: spouse, children, parents.
        Second in order: brothers and sisters, paternal grandparents, maternal grandparents.
        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 in default of any successor first in order.
        The "children" referred to in this Law include legitimate children, illegitimate children and adopted children, as well as step-children who supported or were supported by the decedent.
        The "parents" referred to in this Law include natural parents and adoptive parents, as well as step-parents who supported or were supported by the decedent.