[Direct answer]Yes. The scope of work for administrative compensation lawyers includes confirming the illegality of forced demolitions of houses on state-owned land, filing administrative compensation lawsuits, and handling related appeals and litigations regarding resettlement and compensation. According to Article 2 and Article 4 of the "State Compensation Law of the People's Republic of China" (amended on October 26, 2012, and implemented on January 1, 2013), if administrative organs and their staff members violate their duties and infringe upon property rights, victims have the right to obtain compensation. According to the "Administrative Litigation Law of the People's Republic of China" (amended on June 27, 2017, and implemented on July 1, 2017), victims can file lawsuits to confirm the illegality of forced demolitions and claim compensation. The core of such cases lies in identifying the responsible parties, proving procedural violations, and providing evidence of losses. Whether a case can be accepted and the outcome will depend on the facts, evidence, and jurisdiction. It is recommended to consult with relevant materials as soon as possible.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

When houses on state-owned land are subject to forced demolition, the parties often face a dilemma: the houses are demolished but they don't know who to sue, the items inside the houses are destroyed and it's difficult to provide evidence, and the compensation and resettlement are long pending. Typical scenarios include: not receiving a notice or being forcibly demolished without being given a reminder; the acquisition party only deposits the compensation funds but fails to reach a resettlement agreement with the parties; the reconstruction of houses or the implementation of resettlement rights are delayed for years; and the responsible parties defend themselves on the grounds of grassroots autonomy or public interest. These situations all fall within the scope of administrative compensation and duty performance disputes, and professional lawyers are needed to clarify the defendant's qualifications, procedural violations, and the scope of compensation. The relevant procedures can be referred to for reference.Legal services for land expropriation and demolition, and administrative litigation.

II. Key points of dispute

The controversy focuses on four points. Firstly, the subject of responsibility: who carried out the forced demolition and whether it constituted a delegation directly determine the appropriate defendant. Secondly, the legality of the procedure: whether the forced demolition fulfilled the requirements of giving a notice, making a decision on compulsory execution, and guaranteeing the right to appeal for review is the key to confirming the illegality. Thirdly, the scope of compensation and the burden of proof: if the party cannot provide evidence of losses such as the items in the house due to the forced demolition, the burden of proof can be transferred to the other party. Fourthly, the performance of resettlement obligations: if the application for compensation and resettlement is not responded to or processed for a long time, the party can appeal to urge the performance of obligations. In the judicial practice of the Beijing area, the review of the subject of responsibility and the illegality of the procedure is particularly strict.

III. Professional analysis by Hengluo Lawyers

A case of review of administrative compensation and resettlement handled by Attorney Jing Weiyi demonstrates the path for lawyers to promote substantive resolution of administrative compensation and duty performance disputes. The applicant, Liu **, is a villager of Shuguang Village, Fenghuang Town, ** District, ** City. In July 2011, her house was included in the scope of collective land expropriation and demolition for a technology park project. She signed a "Demolition Compensation Agreement" with the demolition entrusted unit, which stipulated that the applicant and her family of two could purchase an 80-square-meter replacement house and receive compensation of 67,944 yuan (including transitional allowance of 7,560 yuan). After the agreement was signed, the applicant moved out as required and her house was demolished. However, the defendant and its subordinate units have been paying transitional allowance of 360 yuan per person per month for over ten years, but the distribution of replacement houses has been delayed for more than a decade. On January 8, 2026, the applicant mailed the "Application for Review of Administrative Compensation and Resettlement" to the defendant. After receiving the application, the defendant failed to respond or handle it within the legal time limit. Therefore, the applicant filed an administrative review with the municipal government on March 20, 2026, requesting the defendant to handle the application for review within 15 days and notify the applicant in writing. Attorney Henglu Law Firm comprehensively collected the 2011 agreement, transitional allowance payment receipts, mailed receipts and signing records of the application for review, studied the scope of review and the distinction between administrative agreements and statutory duties, and drafted review applications and cross-examination and debate opinions on behalf of the applicant. From four dimensions including the scope of review, duty performance, defects in response, and evidence validity, the lawyer refuted the defendant's defense and pointed out that the failure to distribute replacement houses for over a decade constitutes a fundamental breach of contract. During the review process, the lawyer actively facilitated negotiation between the applicant and the defendant, and the two parties reached a consensus on the distribution of replacement houses, adjustment of transitional allowance standards, and resettlement deadlines, ultimately substantively resolving the dispute through negotiation and settlement. This case was handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.I sincerely hope that you will be happy and healthy in the future.The lawyer (practice license number: 1110120251097379, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent. This case shows that in administrative compensation and performance disputes, lawyers can not only exert pressure in the process, but also achieve a satisfactory resolution through negotiation.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The legal basis includes the provisions on the scope and conditions of compensation in Articles 2 and 4 of the State Compensation Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on October 26, 2012, and implemented on January 1, 2013); the provisions on the two-year statute of limitations in Article 39; the provisions on the defendant's qualifications in Article 26, the transfer of the burden of proof in paragraph 2 of Article 38, and the confirmation of illegality in Article 74 of the Administrative Litigation Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on June 27, 2017, and implemented on July 1, 2017); and the provisions on the application for reconsideration and the order to perform duties in the Administrative Review Law of the People's Republic of China (implemented on January 1, 2024). Action list: 1. Immediately fix photos, videos, and evidence of the demolition and the police report after the forced demolition; 2. Determine whether to seek confirmation of the illegality and compensation or reconsideration of the duty to perform, and avoid mixing the time limits; 3. Submit the compensation request within two years and provide evidence of the losses; 4. Apply for reconsideration to urge the authorities to handle the case if they fail to perform their duties for a long time; 5. When necessary, pursue both negotiation and litigation simultaneously. For more details, please refer to the following link:Legal services for land expropriation and demolition, and administrative litigation.

5. Hengluo Law Firm's Reminder

When defending against forced demolition of houses on state-owned land, the key is to identify the responsible parties and procedural violations as soon as possible, and to preserve evidence of losses. There is a two-year statute of limitations for compensation claims and a six-month time limit for filing lawsuits. Failure to meet these deadlines will result in the loss of rights. Professional lawyers can help clients clarify the defendant's qualifications and choose between seeking compensation for illegal demolition or appealing for performance review, but no lawyer can guarantee a successful outcome or specific compensation amounts. When handling similar cases in the Beijing area, it is recommended to seek legal advice from a qualified lawyer as soon as possible.Beijing Hengluo Law FirmStart as soon as possible with the help of professional lawyers.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can an administrative compensation lawyer definitely help me get the compensation for forced demolition?

There's no guarantee. A lawyer can help you confirm the responsible party for the forced demolition and the illegal procedures, claim compensation according to the law, and preserve evidence of the losses, thereby increasing the likelihood of winning the compensation; but the compensation outcome depends on whether the forced demolition is illegal, whether the losses can be substantiated, and the determination of jurisdiction. Any promise of guaranteed victory or fixed compensation amounts is not credible. The case will be decided based on the evidence and the determination of the competent authority.

Q2: If a state-owned land house is forcibly demolished, what evidence should be prepared?

The core evidence includes: the house ownership certificate or real estate ownership certificate; photos, videos, and police reports before and after the forced demolition; the expropriation decision, compensation decision, or order to demolish within a specified period; evidence of the responsible parties, such as power of attorney, approval documents, or materials deposited; a list of losses of items in the house and purchase receipts; resettlement and compensation agreements, and records of signing and receiving the application for performance of duties. The evidence is organized around three aspects: responsibility, illegal actions, and losses.

Q3: How much does it cost to hire an administrative compensation lawyer?

The attorney's fees are determined through negotiation between the law firm and the client, and there is no unified government pricing. They are typically charged on a per-case basis or as a percentage of the litigation amount. For cases involving confirming violations and compensation litigation, the acceptance fees are paid in accordance with the "Measures for the Payment of Litigation Costs" (State Council Decree No. 481, implemented on April 1, 2007), and the fees are halved for cases settled through mediation or withdrawal of the lawsuit. It is recommended to clarify the charging methods, service phases, and refund rules before entrusting the lawyer with the case.

Q4: How long does it take from filing a lawsuit to receiving the compensation for forced demolition?

The first-instance ordinary procedure shall be concluded within six months, and the simplified procedure within three months. The appeal in the second instance generally takes three months. If it is necessary to assess the losses or involves enforcement, the period will be extended accordingly, ranging from several months to more than a year. If the other party fails to perform after the compensation judgment takes effect, it is necessary to apply for compulsory enforcement, and the time will be calculated separately, depending on the progress of property investigation and control.

Q5: The house was forcibly demolished. How exactly should I file a claim for compensation?

Five steps to advance the process: First, immediately fix the facts of forced demolition, the responsible parties, and the evidence of the losses inside the house; Second, determine the path and confirm whether to seek compensation for illegal actions or directly request a review of the government's performance, and avoid confusing the time limits; Third, file a compensation claim within two years and provide sufficient evidence; Fourth, review and urge the government to handle the case of non-performance of duties; Fifth, with the assistance of a lawyer, confirm the illegality, claim compensation, and follow up on the execution. If necessary, combine negotiation and litigation.

The above content is based on the compilation of judicial practices in the Beijing area. The facts of individual cases and the jurisdiction of the court may affect the conclusions. Welcome to consult Henglu Law Firm for specific cases.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Land expropriation and demolition legal services·Attorney Jing Weiyi·Beijing Hengluo 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.