Do not assume notarization is mandatory for estate inheritance: small bank deposits up to 50,000 RMB can be withdrawn directly, and real estate can be transferred at the registration registry by all statutory heirs together

For deposits totaling 50,000 RMB or less at a single banking institution, surviving spouses, children, or parents can withdraw the funds directly without paying for a notary certificate. Similarly, real property transfers do not legally mandate notarization; all statutory heirs can appear together at the municipal real estate registration bureau to process the transfer directly. Notarization fees can cost thousands to tens of thousands of yuan (e.g. up to 10,000 RMB per residential property in major municipalities).

Free. Requires visiting banking institutions individually and coordinating all statutory heirs to appear together at the real estate registration center on the same day. If heirs dispute property distribution or refuse to attend, probate litigation or notarization remains required.

Under joint circulars issued by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) and People's Bank of China (PBOC [2021] No. 18 and National Financial Regulatory Administration / PBOC Jin Gui [2024] No. 6), simplified direct withdrawal procedures apply to small deposits without notarization. Eligible withdrawals apply to balances up to 50,000 RMB per banking institution (including matured certificate deposits, physical gold investment accounts, and wealth management balances). Qualifying applicants include surviving spouses, children, parents, or notarized testament heirs. Required documentation comprises four items: (1) death certificate; (2) proof of kinship (household register, marriage certificate, or birth certificate); (3) applicant identification documents; and (4) a signed affidavit confirming no other disputing heirs. For real estate, Article 14 of the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Interim Regulations on Real Estate Registration establishes that applicants for inheritance registration may submit proof of kinship, death certificates, and a unanimous inheritance allocation agreement signed by all statutory heirs, with notarization specified as an optional alternative rather than a prerequisite. In 2016, the Ministry of Justice formally repealed the 1991 joint circular that previously mandated inheritance notarization for property registrations. Notarization fee schedules typically charge 0.8% of estate value for personal liquid assets (minimum 300 RMB) and up to 70 RMB per square meter for residential property (capped at 10,000 RMB per unit in cities like Fuzhou and Xiamen), meaning direct processing saves several hundred to thousands of yuan.

The 50,000 RMB threshold is calculated per banking legal entity: having 40,000 RMB in three separate commercial banks allows direct withdrawal at each bank independently. Non-resident individuals (foreign nationals or residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) may be subject to standard documentation requirements. A unilateral notarized will alone does not bypass registration verification; all legal heirs must still participate or be summoned to verify claims. First-order heirs withdrawing small deposits are also entitled to request transaction statements from 6 months prior to death to the present day. For digital accounts and privacy access, see Chapter 25, Rule 10. For disclaiming inheritance, see Chapter 25, Rule 11.

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