China starts first non-profit will registration program

The first non-profit will registration program in China is being offered to Beijing citizens, it was announced Thursday.

The program provides a free service of will registration, storage as well as delivery for people over the age of 60.

Jointly initiated by China Ageing Development Foundation and Beijing Sunny Senior Health Foundation, the program named Happy Message also opened its first registration center in Beijing.

Elders can use the service at the center with their ID cards and original copy of their wills, according to a statement from the program's founders.

The founder did not say whether people outside Beijing will be able to use the service.

The program provides free legal counselling and guidance for those who have not made a will or those not familiar with the will-making process, said the statement.

To ensure authenticity of wills, the program will scan, file and seal related documents as well as adopt fingerprint scanning, plus a lawyer as a witness if necessary.

After registration, the will maker can change or update their wills.

In order to facilitate the process, the program also drafts 14 will templates, including most of the essential arrangements and items in a will, said the statement.

The program provides paper tailor-made for writing important documents such as wills, which is mothproof and sweat-resistant and can be kept for a long period.