In Shanghai, a man gifted his spouse 99% of a million-yuan property acquired from ancestral home demolition. After six months, she sued for division; the court awarded the house to him and ordered 500,000 RMB compensation.

Social Context

Under China’s ‘Marriage Code Interpretation (III)’, gifts between spouses during marriage are presumed marital property unless documented as personal gifts. This ruling reinforces judicial preference for written agreements specifying intent—especially for high-value assets—and reflects tightening scrutiny of ‘marriage-for-property’ arrangements under anti-fraud initiatives.

Safety Tip

Formalize inter-spousal asset transfers via notarized agreements specifying personal vs. marital designation to prevent future disputes.