Top court clarifies rules on estate administration

China's top court has reaffirmed the importance of the proper handling of estates following a person's death, disclosing five landmark cases that clarify who can serve as an estate administrator and what duties the role entails.

The Supreme People's Court last week highlighted the importance of correctly applying the estate administrator system under the Civil Code, which took effect in January 2021, and instructed judges nationwide to strictly implement the law.

The estate administrator system is considered a major innovation under the code. It serves as a legal tool to balance the secure management of a decedent's assets, the protection of inheritance rights and the lawful settlement of creditors' claims, according to the top court.