Their mother died in 2021 leaving a Xuhui flat worth over RMB 5 million and no will. The elder brother sued for 81.25 per cent; the court awarded him 40 per cent and his brother 60 per cent, upheld on appeal. Relations were such that co-ownership could not continue.

Approach

Ma Dehui acted for the elder brother in the partition action, seeking either sale and division of the proceeds or an award of the property with compensation.

Outcome

The court mediated and the brothers settled: one took the property, the other received compensation reflecting his share. The settlement ended a dispute that had already consumed two rounds of litigation.