On December 14, 46-year-old Ms. Jiang, who lived alone in Shanghai, passed away without any legal heirs or a will. Her estate was taken over by the local civil affairs bureau. Her distant cousin who signed paperwork and helped cover medical expenses wanted to use part of the inheritance to hold a memorial service and purchase a burial plot but was obstructed by the local neighborhood committee and civil affairs bureau. Netizens criticized the authorities for their “ugly behavior.”
According to reports from mainland Chinese media outlets such as the Yangcheng Evening News, Shangguan News, Elephant News, and Urban Express Orange Persimmon Interactive, on October 14, Ms. Jiang, a resident of Hongkou District in Shanghai, suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and required a family member to sign for her at the hospital. She had no spouse, children, or living parents.
After being notified, Ms. Jiang’s distant cousin, Mr. Wu (whose grandfather and Ms. Jiang’s grandmother were siblings), rushed to the hospital to sign the papers and together with Ms. Jiang’s company, paid 30,000 yuan in medical expenses for her treatment.
Ms. Jiang’s condition seemed to have improved, but after being transferred to a private rehabilitation hospital in Nanxiang, Jiading, her condition deteriorated rapidly. Unfortunately, on December 14, she passed away.
The community party secretary, Mr. Wangzhenjun, stated that a consultation was scheduled for Ms. Jiang on the previous Sunday (December 14). Mr. Wu paid another 10,000 yuan in cash on the previous Saturday (December 13) for this expert consultation, but unfortunately, Ms. Jiang did not make it.
Mr. Wu questioned the decision to transfer Ms. Jiang to a less well-known rehabilitation hospital from a superior hospital. Mr. Wangzhenjun mentioned that the hospital transfer was recommended by Xinhua Hospital, and the neighborhood committee did not specify a particular hospital.
After Ms. Jiang’s passing, as she had no guardian or heirs, her estate was taken over by the local civil affairs department. Mr. Wu and a close friend of Ms. Jiang hoped to use the inheritance to hold a memorial service for her and buy a burial plot but faced opposition from the neighborhood committee and civil affairs department.
Mr. Wu expressed, “It’s reasonable to use her money for her own affairs. I suggested buying a burial plot, which is necessary. Secretary Wang said it’s not possible, the government would only allow a sea burial. I asked how we could discuss this if there’s no permission to use her money for her own affairs after she passed away. It’s hard for anyone to understand.”
The civil affairs department of Hongkou District stated that, according to the Shanghai Funeral Management Regulations, in typical circumstances, funeral arrangements are handled by the deceased’s close relatives. For individuals like Ms. Jiang with no immediate family, if Mr. Wu is willing to organize the funeral, he can submit a written application, but expenses for purchasing a burial plot must be within a reasonable range, and ongoing maintenance costs are still Mr. Wu’s responsibility.
The civil affairs department also mentioned that cases similar to Ms. Jiang’s were unprecedented, and the determination of what expenses fall within a reasonable range must be decided by the court. As the administrator of the estate, the civil affairs department will act based on the court’s standards.
The incident quickly sparked widespread public attention. Netizens criticized, questioning the legitimacy of a sea burial without the deceased’s consent and expressing outrage at the authorities’ handling of the situation. They condemned the officials for their lack of compassion and transparency in managing Ms. Jiang’s estate and funeral arrangements.
In light of this case, people were advised to plan the distribution of their assets in advance to prevent potential disputes and ensure that their wishes are carried out regarding their estate and funeral arrangements. It highlighted the importance of making clear and specific arrangements for individuals without immediate family members to prevent their assets from being misused or mishandled.