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" include legitimate children, illegitimate children and adopted children, as well as step-children who supported or were supported by the decedent.

The "parents" include natural parents and adoptive parents, as well as step-parents who supported or were supported by the decedent.

The "brothers and sisters" include blood brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters of half blood, adopted brothers and sisters, as well as step-brothers and step-sisters who supported or were supported by the decedent.

Where a decedent survived his child, the direct lineal descendants of the predeceased child inherit in subrogation. Descendants who inherit in subrogation generally shall take only the share of the estate their father or mother was entitled to.

Widowed daughters-in-law or sons-in-law who have made the predominant contributions in maintaining their parents-in-law shall, in relationship to their parents-in-law, be regarded as successors first in order.

Successors same in order shall, in general, inherit in equal shares.

At the time of distributing the estate, due consideration shall be given to successors who are unable to work and have special financial difficulties.

At the time of distributing the estate, successors who have made the predominant contributions in maintaining the decedent or have lived with the decedent may be given a larger share.

At the time of distributing the estate, successors who had the ability and were in a position to maintain the decedent but failed to fulfil their duties shall be given no share or a smaller share of the estate.

Successors may take unequal shares if an agreement to that effect is reached among them.

An appropriate share of the estate may be given to a person, other than a successor, who depended on the support of the decedent and who neither can work nor has a source of income, or to a person, other than a successor, who was largely responsible for supporting the decedent.

(Lawyer Wu Yingjie)