Spouses to get access to partners’ assets
- Source: Global Times
- [23:31 June 10 2009]
- Comments
By Ji Beibei
Spouses in Guangzhou might be given the right to check their partners’ assets if a draft regulation submitted by the Guangzhou Women’s Federation wins approval.
The Standing Committee of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress is examining the draft of the Provisions of Guangzhou on the Protection of Women’s Rights, which stipulates both husbands and wives can apply to industrial and commercial bureaus and real estate management departments to find out what property their spouses own.
“This draft is designed to protect women. We have had many complaints about men transferring or hiding properties before filing for divorce,” Li Jianlan, president of the Guangzhou Women’s Federation, told Guangzhou Daily yesterday.
The draft also stipulates that husbands must get written permission from their wives if they want to transfer, confer or mortgage a shared piece of real estate.
“The draft is the first of its kind in China,” Wang Zhaoyang, a Guangzhou lawyer, told the Global Times yesterday.
“In the past, spouses had the right to investigate like this only in divorce proceedings.
Bank savings are exempt from the regulation, however, as the law states that financial service systems are beyond local laws.”
Beijing lawyer Zheng Xiaoming said, “It was difficult to get access to property information as institutions like industrial and commercial bureaus, usually refused to cooperate on personal inquiries. But now they will have to.”
Some people said the draft is too interfering.
“The draft may affect marriage relations, because it violates privacy and promotes mistrust.
Financial independence is what women really need,” Chen Yan, a college teacher in Guangzhou, told the Global Times.
“It (the draft) should not be considered as women-beneficial as it is fair to both sides. But is it necessary to have a law on this?” Huang Yuting, an office worker from Guangzhou, said.
“If the man really wants to transfer or hide his property, he will figure out other ways to do so.”
Wang said, “The draft will help some women, and I feel ok if my wife checks my financial status.
“But I agree that the implementation of the draft will be difficult.”