Shortly after the passing of Taiwanese top star Xu Xiyuan (徐熙媛), a heated debate over estate distribution and custody issues has erupted across the Chinese-speaking world.
What will happen to the custody of Xu Xiyuan's two children after her death?
Xu Xiyuan had a daughter, Wang Xi Yue (汪希玥, 10 years old), and a son, Wang Xi Lin (汪希箖, 8 years old), with her ex-husband Wang Xiaofei (汪小菲). The two children have been raised under Xu Xiyuan's care and have continued to live with her after her remarriage to Gu Junye.
However, according to Taiwan's "Civil Code," if one parent exercises guardianship (custody) after a divorce and then passes away, custody automatically transfers to the surviving parent. This means that legally, the custody of the two children is likely to be transferred to their father, Wang Xiaofei. There are suggestions that Xu Xiyuan's mother or family may request to maintain or change custody, but it is expected to be difficult due to the legal priority favoring the biological father, Wang Xiaofei.
“Who will inherit the remaining estate?”… Intensifying Debate in the Chinese-speaking World
Taiwanese lawyer Lin Zhiqun (林志群) analyzed the estate distribution issue, stating, “If there is no separate will, Xu Xiyuan's estate could be inherited equally by her current husband Gu Junye and her two children, each receiving 1/3.” However, if custody of the two children is transferred to Wang Xiaofei, he will legally have the right to manage the estate belonging to the children. This means that Wang Xiaofei could potentially manage up to 2/3 of the estate, including the children's share.
In this regard, the lawyer mentioned, “If the biological father is a trustworthy person, there is a possibility of entrusting the estate, but there is a high likelihood of legal disputes over the estate,” indicating the possibility of litigation.
In particular, Wang Xiaofei has been a person who has continuously publicly criticized Xu Xiyuan and Gu Junye since their marriage, leading to analyses that he is more likely to get involved in this estate issue.
Xu Xiyuan's Sudden Death… Died of Pneumonia During Family Trip
The late Xu Xiyuan tragically passed away after her health deteriorated during a family trip to Hakone, Japan, for the Lunar New Year holiday. January 29: Arrived in Japan, traveled to Hakone with family, January 31: Symptoms of a cold worsened, received emergency treatment, February 1: Transferred to a Tokyo hospital due to lack of improvement, February 2: Died of acute pneumonia due to influenza complications five days after infection, February 3: Cremation procedures conducted locally in Japan. What initially appeared to be simple cold symptoms tragically escalated to pneumonia in just five days.
Possibility of Legal Disputes Over Custody and Estate… Will Wang Xiaofei Take Action?
Following Xu Xiyuan's death, there are concerns that her ex-husband Wang Xiaofei may take legal action regarding the custody and estate of the two children. Wang Xiaofei has already publicly criticized Gu Junye since Xu Xiyuan's remarriage, indicating the possibility of legal intervention.
On the other hand, attention is focused on how Xu Xiyuan's family and Gu Junye will respond. Whether they will proceed with legal procedures to maintain custody or engage in legal battles with Wang Xiaofei over the estate is being closely watched.
Following Xu Xiyuan's sudden death, the future of her two children and the debate over the estate has become a hot topic across the Chinese-speaking world.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
