[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, the last legally valid will shall prevail. Article 1142 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China stipulates that a testator may revoke or amend the will he or she has made; if there are several wills with conflicting contents, the last will shall prevail. Compared with previous rules, the Civil Code no longer grants notarized wills an automatic priority. When a notarized will coexists with other forms of wills, the rule of "the last one prevails" still applies. However, the prerequisite are that all wills comply with the statutory formal and substantive requirements; if the last will is invalid due to formal defects, fraud, coercion, or the testator's lack of corresponding capacity at the time, the previously valid will shall be recognized. If all wills are invalid, the statutory inheritance shall be handled accordingly.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

The heirs may have made different types of wills at different times, including self-written wills, proxy wills, printed wills, and even notarized wills, which may conflict with each other. The heirs each hold a copy of the will and insist on executing it according to their own version. Typical scenarios include: making a notarized will in one's early years and then writing a new distribution plan by hand in later years; multiple wills disposing of the same property with different shares; and one party claiming that the last will was forged or made under duress. When courts in Beijing handle such cases, they first review the authenticity and legality of each will, and then determine the order of application in accordance with the rules.

II. Key points of contention

Firstly, how to determine the order of precedence of multiple wills, whether the dates are clear, and whether there are any alterations. Secondly, whether notarized wills still take precedence, and how to handle conflicts with other forms of wills. Thirdly, whether the effectiveness of the last will is established, and whether the formal requirements are met. Fourthly, how to determine the testator's capacity for making a will and his true intention when making a will. Fifthly, after the conflicting parts of the will are rejected, how to execute the remaining content.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

Here are the four practical tips from Henglue Lawyers in inheritance cases involving multiple wills: 1. **Priority of order over form**: The Civil Code abolished the priority effect of notarized wills. When the contents of multiple wills conflict, the most recent will prevails, making the time of creation and the integrity of the will crucial. 2. **Effectiveness is the prerequisite**: Only legally valid wills can be compared in order of priority. Will documents with irregular formalities, unqualified witnesses, or those obtained through fraud or coercion may be invalidated. If the authenticity of the will is disputed, handwriting or creation time verification can be requested. 3. **Defining conflicting content**: Only the conflicting parts of multiple wills apply the "most recent prevails" rule, while non-conflicting parts remain valid. This requires a line-by-line comparison of the estate scope and distribution plans. 4. **Evidence and custody**: The party claiming a will's applicability must prove its authenticity and creation time. The original will, witness testimonies, and the creation process records are particularly crucial. Additionally, attention should be paid to whether the testator has revoked or modified the original will through actual disposal of assets. Henglue Lawyers have successfully resolved multiple inheritance cases involving multiple wills by comparing will contents, reviewing creation time and formal requirements, and helping clients determine the applicable will and assert corresponding rights. This case is handled by Beijing Henglue Law Firm.Yuan HangThe attorney (practice license number: 11101202110286151, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

Action recommendations: First, collect and verify all the original wills, focusing on whether the date of execution and the signatures are complete; Second, if there are disputes about the authenticity of the wills, apply for appraisal in time and fix the witness's testimony; Third, compare the contents of each will item by item to clarify the scope of mutual contradictions; Fourth, verify the testator's capacity for action and true intention when making the last will; Fifth, keep the original wills properly and, if necessary, enhance the probative force through notarization or witnessing. For matters involving inheritance and division of family property, you can refer to the relevant provisions.\nInheritance of property and division of family assetsFor matters related to property inheritance and transfer of ownership, you may refer to the following information for reference.Real estate transactions and construction projectsLegal basis: Articles 113 to 139, Article 141, Article 142, and Article 143 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, in the case of multiple wills, the last one that is legally valid shall prevail, and notarized wills will no longer be given priority by default. Secondly, the testator may revoke or modify the original will through a new will or by actually disposing of the property. Thirdly, wills with unclear dates or alterations are prone to disputes, so it is recommended to specify the date and keep the original intact when making the will. Fourthly, if there are doubts about the authenticity of the will, it is necessary to apply for appraisal as soon as possible to avoid the loss of evidence. For matters involving marital and family property, you may refer to the relevant provisions.Divorce litigation and family disputesFor matters involving debt and estate settlement, you can refer to the following for more information.Creditor's rights and debts, and enforcementFor reference, it involves the enterprise's equity and assetsBusiness and contract disputes in enterprises.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is a notarized will the most effective one?

It's no longer a priority by default. The Civil Code abolishes the priority effect of notarized wills. When the contents of multiple wills conflict with each other, the latest will shall prevail. Notarized wills have advantages in terms of evidentiary force, but if there is a new legal and valid will afterwards, the new will shall prevail, subject to the specific provisions of the law.

Q2: All the wills don't have dates written on them. How can we determine their priority?

The absence of a date will increase the difficulty of identification. The chronological order can be inferred from indirect evidence such as witness testimonies, audio and video recordings made at the time of the agreement, paper and printing characteristics, and relevant transaction records. If the date cannot be determined and the content is conflicting, it may affect the applicability of the corresponding will. The court will make a comprehensive judgment based on the evidence.

Q3: If the last will is not legally valid, is the previous one still valid?

This might work. Only legally valid wills can be compared in terms of priority. If the latest will is invalid due to formal defects or fraudulent coercion, the previous valid will should be recognized; if all the wills are invalid, the inheritance shall be handled in accordance with the law, and the specific matters shall be determined by the court.

Q4: If there are conflicts in the content of the will, how should we handle them?

Only the conflicting parts of the wills shall be applied according to the latest will, and the non-conflicting parts shall be effective respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to compare the arrangements of the scope of the estate and the distribution plan in each will item by item, determine the applicable content separately, and avoid simply determining that a certain will is valid as a whole.

Q5: If I suspect that the new will is a forgery, what should I do?

You can file an objection with the court and apply for a handwriting identification or a determination of the time when the document was created, while collecting information about the source of the will, its custody, and the witnesses. If there is forgery involved and the circumstances are serious, you can report the case to the public security organ. Whether the will is valid and how its effectiveness is determined shall be subject to the appraisal opinion and the court's judgment.

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 Yuan Hang·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and public adjudication rules, and is 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. In case of disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.