BEIJING (SCMP): A divorce case involving a man from eastern China, who cheated on his wife yet still managed to claim half of his late mother-in-law’s estate, has sparked intense debates on social media.
The man’s mother-in-law passed away from a heart attack while attempting to intervene in a confrontation between her daughter and son-in-law after he was discovered walking hand in hand with his mistress.
According to City Express, both individuals are from Zhejiang province, and their marriage lasted 20 years. The woman’s father had died from an illness three years prior, leaving her mother in poor health following her dad’s passing.
Earlier this year, the daughter took her mother out for a walk to lift her spirits. However, they unexpectedly encountered her husband, who was shopping with another woman, hand in hand.
Furious, the wife confronted her husband, and an argument ensued between the couple in the street. When the mother-in-law attempted to mediate, she suffered a heart attack.
Tragically, the mother-in-law died immediately at the scene.
Three months later, after managing her mother’s funeral arrangements, the daughter sought to divorce her husband. He consented quickly but insisted on an equal division of the two houses inherited from her mother.
“How can you claim a share of my parents’ houses?” the shocked wife retorted.
She refused his demand, prompting both to take the matter to a local court.
Ultimately, the woman lost the case, as the Chinese Civil Code states that assets inherited by a spouse during the marriage are considered joint property. Thus, the man has equal rights over the houses inherited by his wife from her parents, according to the court’s ruling.
Ye Shijuan, an official from the Zhejiang Testament Database, noted that the scenario would have been different if the mother-in-law had left a will stipulating that her property be allocated solely to her daughter.
“The mother-in-law did not write a will, and the daughter received her mother’s houses while still married,” Ye explained to City Express.
One outraged observer on Douyin remarked: “I am appalled and speechless! The mother died because of him, yet he still shares her property.”
Another commenter added: “This case is likely to further decline marriage rates, although the verdict itself poses no fault.” - South China Morning Post
