New Cause of Action in China For Elderly People to Sue Children

On Friday, China’s national legislature amended their laws to require adult children visit their aged parents “often” or risk being sued by them.  The amendment does not specifically state what constitutes “often,” but state media says that the new clause allows elderly parents who feel neglected by their children to take them to court.  

The rapid rate at which China is developing is creating difficulties in caring for its aging population.  Market reforms have accelerated the breakup of the traditional extended family in China and there are few affordable alternatives for the elderly to live on their own.  Additionally, the increase in life expectancy coupled with the family planning policies that limit most families to a single child has made supporting the growing number of elderly more difficult as the working population shrinks.

See China Passes Law Requiring People to Visit Their Elderly Parents or Risk Being Sued by Them, The Washington Post, Dec. 28. 2012.  

Special thanks to  Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.