[Direct answer]In principle, it is valid. Article 1133 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China grants natural persons the right to make a will to designate one or several legal heirs to inherit their personal property. Therefore, it is not prohibited by law to leave real estate to one child. However, three prerequisites must be met: First, the form of the will must be legal. A handwritten will must be written, signed, and dated by the testator himself/herself, and a printed will must be signed by two or more witnesses on each page; Second, only the testator's own share of the property can be disposed of. If the property belongs to the couple's joint property, half of it must first be allocated to the spouse, and the remaining part will then become the inheritance; Third, a necessary share of the inheritance should be reserved for heirs who lack the ability to work and have no source of income, that is, the mandatory reserved share. Violation of any of the above may render the will partially or entirely invalid.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

In families with multiple children, parents may wish to leave their property to one of their children out of considerations such as caregiving, emotional ties, or financial circumstances, but they worry about whether such "partiality" is legal. There are three typical scenarios: First, the elderly were cared for more by a particular child during their lifetime, and the parents want to favor that child through a will; Second, the property is a marital jointly owned asset, and one spouse drafts a will to dispose of the entire house; Third, other children claim that the will was induced or that they are entitled to a mandatory reserved share. When handling such cases, Beijing district courts will simultaneously review the formal requirements, property ownership, and mandatory reserved shares.

II. Key points of contention

Firstly, whether the will can exclude other statutory heirs. Secondly, whether the property belongs to the testator's disposable personal share. Thirdly, how to determine the applicable conditions and share of the reserved portion. Fourthly, who should provide evidence in the event of disputes over the authenticity of the will. Fifthly, which version of the will should prevail when multiple wills conflict with each other. Sixthly, how to handle conflicts between the will and a gift made during the testator's lifetime.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

Henglue Law Firm once handled a case involving property inheritance and disputes over purchasing property under another's name: The plaintiff sued for assistance in transferring the house registered under his relative's name to others. The defendant claimed that the house was purchased under his father's name and that he was the actual right holder, providing notarized certificates, gift contracts, and supporting materials. After reviewing the evidence, the lawyer found that the defendant failed to prove the existence of a borrow-under-name agreement. The house was inhabited and renovated by the two elderly people, and the ownership certificates and purchase qualifications all pointed to the elderly. Moreover, the defendant had explicitly waived his inheritance rights to the relevant estate at the notary office. Based on this, the lawyer argued that the purchase under another's name was not valid and that the house should be treated as an estate, citing relevant rules on the validity of wills. Both the first-instance and appellate courts did not support the defendant's claims, and the house was recognized as an estate and inherited by the corresponding heirs in accordance with the valid will. This case shows that whether a will can "leave the property to a certain person" depends on whether the property ownership is clear, whether the will is valid, and whether there are prior acts of waiving inheritance. If the ownership basis is not solid, even the best form of will can hardly achieve its purpose. This case was handled by Beijing Henglue Law Firm.Xue SuhuaThe attorney (practice certificate number: 11101201211769926, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.

IV. Practical Suggestions and Legal Basis

Action suggestions: First, clarify the ownership of the house property and distinguish between personal property and marital joint property; Second, strictly comply with the formal requirements of the will, and if necessary, have a lawyer witness and keep the process materials; Third, reserve a necessary share for the heirs who lack working ability and have no source of living; Fourth, make the content specific and clear, stating the location of the house, the ownership certificate number, and the heirs; Fifth, properly keep the original will and use it as evidence to support the making of the will. For matters involving wills and real estate inheritance, you can refer to the relevant provisions of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China and other laws and regulations.\nInheritance of property and division of family assetsFor disputes involving the ownership and sale of houses, you can refer to the following information for reference.Property sales and construction projectsLegal basis: Articles 1133, 1134, 1136, and 1141 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (all of which came into effect on January 1, 2021). The specific application shall be subject to the currently effective laws, regulations, and judicial rulings.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Advice

Firstly, a will can be revised, but it cannot dispose of shares that do not belong to the testator. Secondly, the mandatory reserved share is a mandatory requirement, and ignoring it may lead to the invalidation of some provisions. Thirdly, the formal requirements are the threshold for effectiveness, and the absence of any one of them may be questioned. Fourthly, the party who disputes the authenticity of the will needs to provide evidence, and the claim will usually not be accepted without evidence. Fifthly, if the testator has previously waived the right of inheritance, it may affect subsequent claims. For disputes involving real estate inheritance and succession, it can be resolved through legal channels.Inheritance of property and division of family assetsThe service provides a comprehensive solution, which involves the integration of housing ownership and transactionsReal estate transactions and construction projectsFor reference, you can check the section on corporate and equity successionBusiness and contract disputes in enterprisesColumn.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: If the house is left to only one child, can the other children object to this?

The testator may, in accordance with the law, designate one or several legal heirs to inherit his personal property, and other children have no right to deny the will solely on the grounds of "partiality". However, if the testator fails to reserve a necessary share for the heir who lacks the ability to work and has no source of livelihood, this part of the provisions may be adjusted; if the real estate belongs to the couple's joint property and the will disposes of the spouse's share, the excess part will be invalid. A legally valid will should be respected.

Q2: If the house is a marital joint asset, can it be left entirely to one child?

Not all of the property can be disposed of. Half of the marital joint property belongs to the spouse, and the testator can only dispose of the share that belongs to him/her. If the couple each make a will to dispose of their own shares, the overall arrangement of the house can be realized. If the whole house is disposed of directly without first dividing the property, the part involving the spouse's share is usually invalid, and the scope of the estate shall be determined after deducting the share that the spouse should receive.

Q3: What is the "mandatory reserved share", and how can it be determined?

The mandatory reserved portion means that the will should reserve a necessary share of the estate for the heirs who lack the ability to work and have no source of livelihood. To determine this, two conditions must be met simultaneously: first, they must lack the ability to work, such as being unable to work due to age or illness; second, they must have no source of livelihood, such as having no income, no savings, and no one to support them. If these conditions are met, the portion of the will that fails to reserve the necessary share will be invalid. Whether these conditions are met shall be determined by the court based on the evidence of each case.

Q4: What should we do if other children say the will is fake?

The party who raises objections shall bear the burden of proof. If the party alleges that the will was forged, altered, or that the testator lacked capacity, they must submit evidence such as a handwriting analysis report, medical records, or witness statements; oral challenges alone are usually not accepted. The party holding the will should properly preserve the original and may submit audio and video recordings of the will-making process, witness statements, and other supporting evidence. In cases where there is significant controversy over the authenticity of the will, the court may, upon request, commission an appraisal.

Q5: If there's a will, what other procedures do I need to go through to transfer the ownership of the property?

It is necessary to complete the confirmation and registration of inheritance. If there is no dispute over the will among the heirs, they can hold the will, death certificate, proof of kinship, real estate ownership certificate, etc. to handle the inheritance notarization or directly apply to the real estate registration authority; if there is a dispute, it is necessary to first confirm the validity and share of the will through litigation, and then handle the transfer registration with the effective legal document. If there is an adjustment of the joint ownership share, it may also be necessary to pay a discounted price.

This article is written based on the common judicial interpretations in the Beijing area. If the case occurs in other regions, it is recommended to consult local lawyers to verify the regional differences.

If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the relevant evidence materials, to avoid missing the statutory time limits. →Legal services for inheritance·Attorney Xue Suhua·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and publicly available adjudication rules, and is provided for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in a timely manner.