Dispute over elder care escalates into lawsuit: Chinese mother files claim against daughter for approximately $680,000 USD
In the heart of Beijing, a family dispute has sparked intense debate on Chinese social media. The case, which is currently ongoing, revolves around a mother suing her daughter to reclaim 4.9 million yuan (US$680,000) given as compensation for the daughter quitting her job to care for her.
The legal battle began in 2021 when the mother, surnamed Jin, facing health issues, asked her daughter, surnamed Lu, to leave her job in Guangzhou and return to Beijing to provide care. As a gesture of goodwill, Jin transferred a total of 4.9 million yuan from the sale of her two-bedroom flat in Beijing's Xisanqi area to her daughter, Lu, as compensation for her lost income.
The written contract, formalized on December 21, 2023, in Beijing, specifies that Lu is responsible for covering all elder care expenses, including hospitalization, medical bills, rent, and other reasonable living costs, for Jin until her passing. The contract also includes provisions for funeral expenses.
However, disputes over unpaid rent led to the lawsuit. The contract does not disclose any conditions or terms for Lu to forfeit the compensation money, and it does not mention any resolution or ongoing legal action regarding the unpaid rent dispute.
The specifics of Lu's job and salary in Guangzhou remain undisclosed. The contract does not disclose any details about Jin's health condition at the time of the agreement. The age of the mother (Jin) is not disclosed in the article.
The Beijing First Intermediate People's Court ruled in favor of the mother, ordering the daughter to return the money. The latest update on this Chinese family drama is that the mother is seeking to reclaim the compensation money, and the case remains unresolved.
[1] Source: China Daily, 2023
- Despite the legal and emotional strain on their family dynamics, the mother's mental health might have been influenced by the ongoing court case, highlighting the importance of mental health and wellness in stressful situations.
- Amidst the dispute, the rigid terms of their health-and-wellness agreement, focusing primarily on elder care, failed to address the unpaid rent issue, thereby affecting the overall relationship health between mother and daughter.
- Given the lack of contract specifics regarding health conditions, job details, and financial responsibilities, it raises questions about the transparency and quality of legal agreements in the maintenance of lifestyle and family commitments.
