Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China

中华人民共和国民事诉讼法

 

Promulgating Institution: Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

Document Number: Order No. 75 of the President of the People's Republic of China

Promulgating Date: 10/28/2007

Effective Date: 04/01/2008

颁布机关: 全国人民代表大会常务委员会

文    号: 中华人民共和国主席令第七十五号

颁布时间: 10/28/2007

实施时间: 04/01/2008

 

Order No. 75 of the President of the People's Republic of China

 

The Decision on Revising the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China Adopted at the 30th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on 28 October 2007 is hereby promulgated, and shall take effect as of 1 April 2008.

 

Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China

 

28 October 2008

中华人民共和国主席令

第七十五号

《全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于修改〈中华人民共和国民事诉讼法〉的决定》已由中华人民共和国第十届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第三十次会议于2007年10月28日通过，现予公布，自2008年4月1日起施行。

中华人民共和国主席　胡锦涛

2007年10月28日

Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China

中华人民共和国民事诉讼法

(Adopted at the Fourth Session of the Seventh National People's Congress on 9 April 1991 and Revised in accordance with the Decision on Revising the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China Adopted at the 30th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on 28 October 2007)

（1991年4月9日第七届全国人民代表大会第四次会议通过 根据2007年10月28日第十届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第三十次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国民事诉讼法〉的决定》修正）

 

Part 1: General Principles

  Chapter 1: Tasks, Scope of Application and Basic Principles

  Chapter 2: Jurisdiction

      Section 1: Hierarchy-based Jurisdiction

      Section 2: Territory-based Jurisdiction

      Section 3: Transfer of Jurisdiction and Designation of Jurisdiction

  Chapter 3: Organization for Trial

  Chapter 4: Withdrawal from Cases

  Chapter 5: Litigation Participants

      Section 1: Parties Concerned

      Section 2: Agent Ad Litem

  Chapter 6: Evidence

  Chapter 7: Time Periods and Service

      Section 1: Time Periods

      Section 2: Service

  Chapter 8: Mediation

  Chapter 9: Property Preservation and Early Enforcement

  Chapter 10: Compulsory Measures against Impairment to Civil Litigation

  Chapter 11: Court Fees

Part 2: Trial Procedures

  Chapter 12: First Instance Ordinary Procedures

      Section 1: Filing and Acceptance of Actions

      Section 2: Pre-trial Preparation

      Section 3: Court Session

      Section 4: Suspension and Termination of Litigation

      Section 5: Rulings and Decisions

  Chapter 13: Summary Procedure

  Chapter 14: Second Instance Procedure

  Chapter 15: Special Procedure

      Section 1: General Provisions

      Section 2: Cases Involving Voter Qualification

      Section 3: Cases Involving Declaration of Persons as Missing or Dead

      Section 4: Cases Involving Determination of Citizens as Having No or Limited Capacity for Civil Conduct

      Section 5: Cases Involving Determination of Property as Ownerless

  Chapter 16: Trial Supervision Procedure

  Chapter 17: Supervision and Admonishment Procedure

  Chapter 18: Procedure of Public Notice for Assertion of Claims

Part 3: Enforcement Procedure

  Chapter 19: General Provisions

  Chapter 20: Application for and Transfer of Enforcement

  Chapter 21: Enforcement Measures

  Chapter 22: Suspension and Termination of Enforcement

Part 4: Special Provisions on Civil Procedure Involving Foreign Elements

  Chapter 23: General Principles

  Chapter 24: Jurisdiction

  Chapter 25: Service and Time Periods

  Chapter 26: Property Preservation

  Chapter 27: Arbitration

  Chapter 28: Judicial Assistance

    

 

目　录

    第一编 总　则

    第一章 任务、适用范围和基本原则

    第二章 管辖

    第一节 级别管辖

    第二节 地域管辖

    第三节 移送管辖和指定管辖

    第三章 审判组织

    第四章 回避

    第五章 诉讼参加人

    第一节 当事人

    第二节 诉讼代理人

    第六章 证据

    第七章 期间、送达

    第一节 期间

    第二节 送达

    第八章 调解

    第九章 财产保全和先予执行

    第十章 对妨害民事诉讼的强制措施

    第十一章 诉讼费用

    第二编 审判程序

    第十二章 第一审普通程序

    第一节 起诉和受理

    第二节 审理前的准备

    第三节 开庭审理

    第四节 诉讼中止和终结

    第五节 判决和裁定

    第十三章 简易程序

    第十四章 第二审程序

    第十五章 特别程序

    第一节 一般规定

    第二节 选民资格案件

    第三节 宣告失踪、宣告死亡案件

    第四节 认定公民无民事行为能力、限制民事行为能力案件

    第五节 认定财产无主案件

    第十六章 审判监督程序

    第十七章 督促程序

    第十八章 公示催告程序

    第三编 执行程序

    第十九章 一般规定

    第二十章 执行的申请和移送

    第二十一章 执行措施

    第二十二章 执行中止和终结

    第四编 涉外民事诉讼程序的特别规定

    第二十三章 一般原则

    第二十四章 管辖

    第二十五章 送达、期间

    第二十六章 财产保全

    第二十七章 仲裁

    第二十八章 司法协助

 

Part 1: General Principles

第一编 总则

Chapter 1: Tasks, Scope of Application and Basic Principles

第一章 任务、适用范围和基本原则

   Article 1   This Law is formulated in accordance with the Constitution and by taken into consideration of the practices and actual situation of civil trial and adjudication work of China.

     第一条 中华人民共和国民事诉讼法以宪法为根据，结合我国民事审判工作的经验和实际情况制定。

   Article 2   The tasks of this Law are to protect the exercise of the litigation rights of the parties concerned, ensure the people's courts' ascertaining of facts, distinction between the right and wrong, correct application of the law, trial of civil cases in a timely manner, confirmation of the relationship of civil rights and obligations, imposition of punishment of civil violations, and protection of the legitimate rights and obligations of the parties concerned, educate citizens to observe the law voluntarily, safeguard social and economic order, and guarantee the smooth progress of socialist construction.

     第二条 中华人民共和国民事诉讼法的任务，是保护当事人行使诉讼权利，保证人民法院查明事实，分清是非，正确适用法律，及时审理民事案件，确认民事权利义务关系，制裁民事违法行为，保护当事人的合法权益，教育公民自觉遵守法律，维护社会秩序、经济秩序，保障社会主义建设事业顺利进行。

   Article 3   A people's court shall apply the provisions of this Law when accepting a civil lawsuit instituted in connection with the property or personal relationship between citizens, legal persons, or other organizations and among citizens, legal persons, and other organizations.

     第三条 人民法院受理公民之间、法人之间、其他组织之间以及他们相互之间因财产关系和人身关系提起的民事诉讼，适用本法的规定。

   Article 4   Any civil litigation conducted within the territory of the People's Republic of China must be in conformity with this Law.

     第四条 凡在中华人民共和国领域内进行民事诉讼，必须遵守本法。

   Article 5   Foreigners, stateless persons, and foreign enterprises and organizations shall have the same litigation rights and obligations as the citizens, legal persons, and other organizations of the People's Republic of China in connection with the institution of actions and response to actions.

Where the courts of a foreign country impose restriction on the civil litigation rights of the citizens, legal persons, and other organizations of the People's Republic of China, the courts of the People's Republic of China shall apply the principle of reciprocity to the civil litigation rights of the citizens, enterprises, and organization of that country.

     第五条 外国人、无国籍人、外国企业和组织在人民法院起诉、应诉，同中华人民共和国公民、法人和其他组织有同等的诉讼权利义务。

    外国法院对中华人民共和国公民、法人和其他组织的民事诉讼权利加以限制的，中华人民共和国人民法院对该国公民、企业和组织的民事诉讼权利，实行对等原则。

   Article 6   People's courts shall exercise the right to try and adjudicate civil cases.

People's courts shall try and adjudicate civil cases in accordance with the provisions of the law independently without any interference from administrative organs, social groups, or individuals.

     第六条 民事案件的审判权由人民法院行使。

    人民法院依照法律规定对民事案件独立进行审判，不受行政机关、社会团体和个人的干涉。

   Article 7   People's courts must take the facts as the basis and the laws as the criterion in trying civil cases.

     第七条 人民法院审理民事案件，必须以事实为根据，以法律为准绳。

   Article 8   The parties in a civil lawsuit shall have equal litigation rights. A people's court, in trying a civil case, shall ensure and facilitate the exercise of the litigation rights by the parties concerned and shall apply the law equally to the parties concerned.

     第八条 民事诉讼当事人有平等的诉讼权利。人民法院审理民事案件，应当保障和便利当事人行使诉讼权利，对当事人在适用法律上一律平等。

   Article 9   A people's court, in trying a civil case, shall conduct mediation in accordance with the principles of voluntariness and legality; if the mediation fails, a ruling shall be made without delay.

     第九条 人民法院审理民事案件，应当根据自愿和合法的原则进行调解；调解不成的，应当及时判决。

   Article 10   A people's court, in trying a civil case, shall follow the systems of collegiate panels, withdrawal from cases, public trial, and second instance being final in accordance with the provisions of the law.

     第十条 人民法院审理民事案件，依照法律规定实行合议、回避、公开审判和两审终审制度。

   Article 11   Citizens of all nationalities shall have the right to use the written or spoken languages of their own nationalities in civil proceedings.

In an area where people of a minority nationality live in a compact community or where people of a number of minority nationalities live, a people's court shall use the written and spoken language commonly used in the area to try cases and publish legal documents.

A people's court shall provide translation or interpretation for litigation participants who are not familiar with the written or spoken language commonly used in the area.

     第十一条 各民族公民都有用本民族语言、文字进行民事诉讼的权利。

    在少数民族聚居或者多民族共同居住的地区，人民法院应当用当地民族通用的语言、文字进行审理和发布法律文书。

    人民法院应当对不通晓当地民族通用的语言、文字的诉讼参与人提供翻译。

   Article 12   When a people's court tries a civil case, the parties concerned shall have the right to argue.

     第十二条 人民法院审理民事案件时，当事人有权进行辩论。

   Article 13   The parties concerned shall have the right to dispose of their own civil rights and litigation rights within the scope specified in the law.

     第十三条 当事人有权在法律规定的范围内处分自己的民事权利和诉讼权利。

   Article 14   People's procuratorates shall have the right to exercise legal supervision over the activities of civil trial and adjudication.

     第十四条 人民检察院有权对民事审判活动实行法律监督。

   Article 15   Government organs, social groups, enterprises, or institutions may provide support to the aggrieved organizations or individuals in their institution of actions with people's courts against the acts that cause harm to the civil rights and interests of the State, the collectives, or the individuals.

     第十五条 机关、社会团体、企业事业单位对损害国家、集体或者个人民事权益的行为，可以支持受损害的单位或者个人向人民法院起诉。

   Article 16   People's mediation committees are the mass organizations that mediate disputes between the people under the guidance of the people's governments at the basic level and the basic people's courts.

A people's mediation committee shall conduct mediation in accordance with the provisions of the law and based on the principle of voluntariness. The parties concerned shall perform the agreement reached by mediation. If the parties concerned are unwilling to enter into mediation, fail to reach agreement by mediation, or repudiate the mediation agreement, they may institute an action with a people's court.

Where a people's mediation committee commits a violation of the law in mediating a dispute between people, a people's court shall make a correction of the violation.

     第十六条 人民调解委员会是在基层人民政府和基层人民法院指导下，调解民间纠纷的群众性组织。

    人民调解委员会依照法律规定，根据自愿原则进行调解。当事人对调解达成的协议应当履行；不愿调解、调解不成或者反悔的，可以向人民法院起诉。

    人民调解委员会调解民间纠纷，如有违背法律的，人民法院应当予以纠正。

   Article 17   The people's congress of a minority nationality autonomous region may formulate adaptive or supplementary provisions in accordance with the principles of the Constitution and this Law, and based on the specific circumstances of the nationality of the region. The provisions adopted by an autonomous region shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for approval. The provisions adopted by an autonomous prefecture or autonomous county shall be reported to the standing committee of the people's congress of the province or autonomous region for approval and to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for record-filing.

     第十七条 民族自治地方的人民代表大会根据宪法和本法的原则，结合当地民族的具体情况，可以制定变通或者补充的规定。自治区的规定，报全国人民代表大会常务委员会批准。自治州、自治县的规定，报省或者自治区的人民代表大会常务委员会批准，并报全国人民代表大会常务委员会备案。

Chapter 2: Jurisdiction

第二章 管辖

Section 1: Hierarchy-based Jurisdiction

第一节 级别管辖

   Article 18   The basic people's courts shall have jurisdiction over the civil cases of the first instance, except otherwise specified in this Law.

     第十八条 基层人民法院管辖第一审民事案件，但本法另有规定的除外。

   Article 19   Intermediate people's courts shall have jurisdiction over the following civil cases of the first instance:

(1) Major and important cases involving foreign elements;

(2) Cases having significant influence in the areas of their respective jurisdiction;

(3) Cases under the jurisdiction of intermediate people's courts as determined by the Supreme People's Court.

     第十九条 中级人民法院管辖下列第一审民事案件：

    （一）重大涉外案件；

    （二）在本辖区有重大影响的案件；

    （三）最高人民法院确定由中级人民法院管辖的案件。

   Article 20   High people's courts shall have jurisdiction over the civil cases of the first instance that have significant influence in the areas of their respective jurisdiction.

     第二十条 高级人民法院管辖在本辖区有重大影响的第一审民事案件。

   Article 21   The Supreme People's Court shall have jurisdiction over the following civil cases of the first instance:

(1) Cases having significant influence nationwide; and

(2) Cases that this court believes should be tried by it.

     第二十一条 最高人民法院管辖下列第一审民事案件：

    （一）在全国有重大影响的案件；

    （二）认为应当由本院审理的案件。

Section 2: Territory-based Jurisdiction

第二节 地域管辖

   Article 22   A civil action filed by a citizen shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the defendant is domiciled; where the place of the defendant's domicile is different from the place of the defendant's habitual residence, the action shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place of the habitual residence.

A civil action filed by a legal person or other organization shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the defendant is domiciled.

Where the places of domicile or habitual residence of the several defendants in the same action are within the areas of the jurisdiction of two or more people's courts, each of such people's courts shall have jurisdiction.

     第二十二条 对公民提起的民事诉讼，由被告住所地人民法院管辖；被告住所地与经常居住地不一致的，由经常居住地人民法院管辖。

    对法人或者其他组织提起的民事诉讼，由被告住所地人民法院管辖。

    同一诉讼的几个被告住所地、经常居住地在两个以上人民法院辖区的，各该人民法院都有管辖权。

   Article 23   Each of the following civil actions shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the plaintiff is domiciled; where the place of the plaintiff's domicile is different from the place of the plaintiff's habitual residence, the people's court of the place of the plaintiff's habitual residence shall have jurisdiction:

(1) An action involving personal status filed against a person not residing within the territory of the People's Republic of China;

(2) An action involving personal status filed against a person whose whereabouts is unknown or who has been declared missing;

(3) An action filed against a person who is undergoing re-education through labor;

(4) An action filed against a person who is imprisoned.

     第二十三条 下列民事诉讼，由原告住所地人民法院管辖；原告住所地与经常居住地不一致的，由原告经常居住地人民法院管辖：

    （一）对不在中华人民共和国领域内居住的人提起的有关身份关系的诉讼；

    （二）对下落不明或者宣告失踪的人提起的有关身份关系的诉讼；

    （三）对被劳动教养的人提起的诉讼；

    （四）对被监禁的人提起的诉讼。

   Article 24   An action filed due to a contract dispute shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the defendant is domiciled or where the contract is performed.

     第二十四条 因合同纠纷提起的诉讼，由被告住所地或者合同履行地人民法院管辖。

   Article 25   The parties to a contract may, through agreement in a written contract, choose the jurisdiction of the people's court at the place where the defendant is domiciled, where the contract is performed, where the contract is executed, where the plaintiff is domiciled, or where the subject matter is located, provided that the provisions of this Law on hierarchy-based jurisdiction and exclusive jurisdiction are not violated.

     第二十五条 合同的双方当事人可以在书面合同中协议选择被告住所地、合同履行地、合同签订地、原告住所地、标的物所在地人民法院管辖，但不得违反本法对级别管辖和专属管辖的规定。

   Article 26   An action filed due to an insurance contract dispute shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the defendant is domiciled or where the subject matter of the insurance is located.

     第二十六条 因保险合同纠纷提起的诉讼，由被告住所地或者保险标的物所在地人民法院管辖。

   Article 27   An action filed due to a dispute over a negotiable instrument shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the payment of the negotiable instrument is made or where the defendant is domiciled.

     第二十七条 因票据纠纷提起的诉讼，由票据支付地或者被告住所地人民法院管辖。

   Article 28   An action filed due to a dispute over a contract on railway, road, water, or air transportation or combined transportation shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court at the place of commencement or destination of the transportation or the place of the defendant's domicile.

     第二十八条 因铁路、公路、水上、航空运输和联合运输合同纠纷提起的诉讼，由运输始发地、目的地或者被告住所地人民法院管辖。

   Article 29   An action filed due to an act of tort shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court at the place of the tort or the place of the defendant's domicile.

     第二十九条 因侵权行为提起的诉讼，由侵权行为地或者被告住所地人民法院管辖。

   Article 30   An action filed to claim compensation for damage arising out of a railway, road, water, or air accident shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the accident occurs, where the vehicle or the vessel first arrives, where the aircraft first lands, or where the defendant is domiciled.

     第三十条 因铁路、公路、水上和航空事故请求损害赔偿提起的诉讼，由事故发生地或者车辆、船舶最先到达地、航空器最先降落地或者被告住所地人民法院管辖。

   Article 31   An action filed to claim compensation for damage arising out of a vessel collision or any other maritime accident shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the collision occurs, the vessel involved in the collision first arrives, the vessel causing the damage is detained, or the defendant is domiciled.

     第三十一条 因船舶碰撞或者其他海事损害事故请求损害赔偿提起的诉讼，由碰撞发生地、碰撞船舶最先到达地、加害船舶被扣留地或者被告住所地人民法院管辖。

   Article 32   An action filed concerning salvage expenses shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the salvage service is provided or where the salvaged vessel first arrives.

     第三十二条 因海难救助费用提起的诉讼，由救助地或者被救助船舶最先到达地人民法院管辖。

   Article 33   An action filed concerning general average shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the vessel concerned first arrives, where the adjustment of general average is made, or where the voyage ends.

     第三十三条 因共同海损提起的诉讼，由船舶最先到达地、共同海损理算地或者航程终止地的人民法院管辖。

   Article 34   The following cases shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the people's courts:

(1) An action filed due to a dispute over real property shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the real property is located;

(2) An action filed due to a dispute arising out of a harbor operation shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the harbor is located;

(3) An action filed due to inheritance shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the person whose property is inherited is domiciled at the time of death, or where the main property is located.

     第三十四条 下列案件，由本条规定的人民法院专属管辖：

    （一）因不动产纠纷提起的诉讼，由不动产所在地人民法院管辖；

    （二）因港口作业中发生纠纷提起的诉讼，由港口所在地人民法院管辖；

    （三）因继承遗产纠纷提起的诉讼，由被继承人死亡时住所地或者主要遗产所在地人民法院管辖。

   Article 35   When two or more people's courts have jurisdiction over an action, the plaintiff may file the action with one of the courts; when the plaintiff files the action with two or more people's courts with jurisdiction, the people's court that first initiates the case shall have jurisdiction.

     第三十五条 两个以上人民法院都有管辖权的诉讼，原告可以向其中一个人民法院起诉；原告向两个以上有管辖权的人民法院起诉的，由最先立案的人民法院管辖。

Section 3: Transfer of Jurisdiction and Designation of Jurisdiction

第三节 移送管辖和指定管辖

   Article 36   When a people's court finds that a case it has accepted does not fall under its jurisdiction, it shall transfer the case to the competent people's court of jurisdiction, and the people's court to which the case is transferred shall accept the case. If the people's court to which the case is transferred finds that the transferred case does not fall under its jurisdiction according to relevant provisions, it shall report the case to the people's court at a higher level for designation of jurisdiction, and shall not make any further transfer of the case at its discretion.

     第三十六条 人民法院发现受理的案件不属于本院管辖的，应当移送有管辖权的人民法院，受移送的人民法院应当受理。受移送的人民法院认为受移送的案件依照规定不属于本院管辖的，应当报请上级人民法院指定管辖，不得再自行移送。

   Article 37   When the competent people's court of jurisdiction is unable to exercise the jurisdiction due to special causes, the people's court at a higher level shall designate the jurisdiction.

When people's courts have a dispute over jurisdiction, the dispute shall be resolved by the parties concerned through consultation; if the parties concerned fail to resolve the dispute through consultation, they shall report the dispute to the people's court at their common higher level for designation of jurisdiction.

  

     第三十七条 有管辖权的人民法院由于特殊原因，不能行使管辖权的，由上级人民法院指定管辖。

    人民法院之间因管辖权发生争议，由争议双方协商解决；协商解决不了的，报请它们的共同上级人民法院指定管辖。

   Article 38   When a party concerned opposes jurisdiction after a people's court has accepted a case, the party shall submit the opposition during the time period for filing the statement of answer. The people's court shall examine the opposition submitted by the party concerned. If the opposition is tenable, a decision shall be made to transfer the case to the competent people's court of jurisdiction; if the opposition is not tenable, a decision shall be made to reject the opposition.

     第三十八条 人民法院受理案件后，当事人对管辖权有异议的，应当在提交答辩状期间提出。人民法院对当事人提出的异议，应当审查。异议成立的，裁定将案件移送有管辖权的人民法院；异议不成立的，裁定驳回。

   Article 39   A people's court at a higher level shall have the right to try a civil case of the first instance that is under the jurisdiction of a court at a lower level and may also transfer a civil case of the first instance that is under its jurisdiction to a people's court at a lower level for trial.

A people's court at a lower level may report a civil case of the first instance under that is under its jurisdiction to a people's court at a higher level for trial if it believes that it is necessary for the people's court at a higher level to try the case.

     第三十九条 上级人民法院有权审理下级人民法院管辖的第一审民事案件，也可以把本院管辖的第一审民事案件交下级人民法院审理。

    下级人民法院对它所管辖的第一审民事案件，认为需要由上级人民法院审理的，可以报请上级人民法院审理。

Chapter 3: Organization for Trial

第三章 审判组织

   Article 40   When a people's court tries a civil case of the first instance, a collegiate panel consisting of judges and assessors or consisting of judges shall be formed. A collegiate panel must have an odd number of members.

When summary procedure is applied to try a civil case, the trial shall be conducted by a single judge.

Assessors shall have equal rights and obligations with judges when performing their duties as assessors.

     第四十条 人民法院审理第一审民事案件，由审判员、陪审员共同组成合议庭或者由审判员组成合议庭。合议庭的成员人数，必须是单数。

    适用简易程序审理的民事案件，由审判员一人独任审理。

    陪审员在执行陪审职务时，与审判员有同等的权利义务。

   Article 41   When a people's court tries a civil case of the second instance, a collegiate panel consisting of judges shall be formed. A collegiate panel shall have an odd number of members.

When a case is remanded for a new trial, the people's court of the original instance shall form a collegiate panel separately in accordance with the first instance procedure.

When a case for retrial is tried, a collegiate panel shall be formed separately in accordance with the first instance procedure if the case is originally a case of the first instance; a collegiate panel shall be formed separately in accordance with the second instance procedure if the case is originally a case of the second instance or a case brought up by the people's court at a higher level for review.

     第四十一条 人民法院审理第二审民事案件，由审判员组成合议庭。合议庭的成员人数，必须是单数。

    发回重审的案件，原审人民法院应当按照第一审程序另行组成合议庭。

    审理再审案件，原来是第一审的，按照第一审程序另行组成合议庭；原来是第二审的或者是上级人民法院提审的，按照第二审程序另行组成合议庭。

   Article 42   The president of a court or the chief judge of a division of the court shall designate one judge to serve as the presiding judge; when the president or the chief judge participates in the trial, the president or the chief judge shall be the presiding judge.

     第四十二条 合议庭的审判长由或者庭长指定审判员一人担任；院长或者庭长参加审判的，由院长或者庭长担任。

   Article 43  When a collegiate panel deliberates a case, it shall follow the principle of the minority yielding to the majority. The deliberation shall be recorded in writing, and such record shall be signed by the members of the collegiate panel. The dissenting opinions in the deliberation must be recorded faithfully in writing.

     第四十三条 合议庭评议案件，实行少数服从多数的原则。评议应当制作笔录，由合议庭成员签名。评议中的不同意见，必须如实记入笔录。

Article 44   Judicial officers shall handle cases impartially in accordance with the law.

No judicial officer may accept any treat or gift from the parties concerned or their agents ad litem.

Any judicial officer who commits graft, takes bribes, practices favoritism and other irregularities, or perverts the law in making judgment shall be subject to legal liability. If such act constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be imposed in accordance with the law.

     第四十四条 审判人员应当依法秉公办案。

    审判人员不得接受当事人及其诉讼代理人请客送礼。

    审判人员有贪污受贿，徇私舞弊，枉法裁判行为的，应当追究法律责任；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

Chapter 4: Withdrawal from Cases

第四章 回避

Article 45   In any of the following circumstances, a judicial officer must withdraw from a case and a party concerned shall have the right to apply for his or her withdrawal orally or in writing:

(1) The judicial officer is a party in the case concerned or a close relative of the party concerned or the agent ad litem;

(2) The judicial officer has an interest in the case;

(3) The judicial officer has any other relationship with the parties in the case, which may affect the impartial trial of the case.

The above provisions shall apply to court clerks, interpreters or translators, expert witnesses, and inspectors.

     第四十五条 审判人员有下列情形之一的，必须回避，当事人有权用口头或者书面方式申请他们回避：

    （一）是本案当事人或者当事人、诉讼代理人的近亲属；

    （二）与本案有利害关系；

    （三）与本案当事人有其他关系，可能影响对案件公正审理的。

    前款规定，适用于书记员、翻译人员、鉴定人、勘验人。

Article 46   When a party concerned applies for the withdrawal of a judicial officer from a case, the party shall state reasons and make the application at the beginning of the trial of the case; the party may make the application before the close of the court debate if the causes for the withdrawal become known after the beginning of the trial of the case.

A person required to withdraw from the case under the application shall temporarily suspend his or her participation in the case before the people's court makes a decision on his or her withdrawal, except where emergency measures are required for the case.

     第四十六条 当事人提出回避申请，应当说明理由，在案件开始审理时提出；回避事由在案件开始审理后知道的，也可以在法庭辩论终结前提出。

    被申请回避的人员在人民法院作出是否回避的决定前，应当暂停参与本案的工作，但案件需要采取紧急措施的除外。

Article 47   The withdrawal of the president of a court serving as presiding judge from a case shall be decided by the judicial committee; the withdrawal of a judicial officer from a case shall be decided by the president of the court; the withdrawal of any other personnel shall be decided by the presiding judge.

     第四十七条 院长担任审判长时的回避，由审判委员会决定；审判人员的回避，由院长决定；其他人员的回避，由审判长决定。

Article 48   When a party concerned applies for the withdrawal of any judicial officer from a case, the people's court shall make a decision orally or in writing within three days after the application is made. The applicant, if dissatisfied with the decision, may make a request for review once. During the period of review, the person required to withdraw from the case under the application shall not cease his or her participation in the case. The people's court shall, within three days, make a decision of review and notify the review applicant.

     第四十八条 人民法院对当事人提出的回避申请，应当在申请提出的三日内，以口头或者书面形式作出决定。申请人对决定不服的，可以在接到决定时申请复议一次。复议期间，被申请回避的人员，不停止参与本案的工作。人民法院对复议申请，应当在三日内作出复议决定，并通知复议申请人。

Chapter 5: Litigation Participants

第五章 诉讼参加人

Section 1: Parties Concerned

第一节 当事人

Article 49   Citizens, legal persons and other organizations may be parties concerned in civil litigation.

A legal person shall be represented by its legal representative in litigation. Any other organization shall be represented by the person bearing primary responsibility of the organization.

     第四十九条 公民、法人和其他组织可以作为民事诉讼的当事人。

    法人由其法定代表人进行诉讼。其他组织由其主要负责人进行诉讼。

Article 50  Parties concerned shall have the right to appoint agents, make application for withdrawal of judicial officers from the case, collect and present evidence, engage in debate, request mediation, file appeals and apply for enforcement.

Parties may have access to materials relating to the case concerned, and may reproduce materials and legal documents relating to the case concerned. The scope and method for accessing and reproducing the materials relating to the case concerned shall be formulated by the Supreme People's Court.

The parties concerned must exercise their litigation rights in accordance with the law, observe the litigation order and perform the written ruling, written decision and mediation document that have taken effect.

     第五十条 当事人有权委托代理人，提出回避申请，收集、提供证据，进行辩论，请求调解，提起上诉，申请执行。

    当事人可以查阅本案有关材料，并可以复制本案有关材料和法律文书。查阅、复制本案有关材料的范围和办法由最高人民法院规定。

    当事人必须依法行使诉讼权利，遵守诉讼秩序，履行发生法律效力的判决书、裁定书和调解书。

Article 51   The parties concerned may reach settlement on their own.

     第五十一条 双方当事人可以自行和解。

Article 52   A plaintiff may waive or modify the claims. A defendant may admit or rebut the claims and shall have the right to file a counterclaim.

     第五十二条 原告可以放弃或者变更诉讼请求。被告可以承认或者反驳诉讼请求，有权提起反诉。

Article 53   If one or both parties concerned consist(s) of two or more persons having a common or the same type of subject matter in their actions, and a consolidated trial can be conducted in the opinion of the people's court and is approved by the parties concerned, the case shall be a joint action.

When one party in a joint action has common rights and obligations with respect to the subject matter of the action, the procedural act of a member of the party shall be effective for all other members if admitted by all other members; the procedural act of a member of the party shall not be effective for other members if the party has no common rights and obligations with respect to the subject matter of the action.

     第五十三条 当事人一方或者双方为二人以上，其诉讼标的是共同的，或者诉讼标的是同一种类、人民法院认为可以合并审理并经当事人同意的，为共同诉讼。

    共同诉讼的一方当事人对诉讼标的有共同权利义务的，其中一人的诉讼行为经其他共同诉讼人承认，对其他共同诉讼人发生效力；对诉讼标的没有共同权利义务的，其中一人的诉讼行为对其他共同诉讼人不发生效力。

Article 54   If a party in a joint action consists of numerous persons, the party may appoint representatives to conduct the action. The procedural acts of the representatives shall be effective for the party they represent, provided that the representatives must obtain the consent of the party they represent when they modify or waive claims of the party, admit the claims of the other party or enter into a settlement.

     第五十四条 当事人一方人数众多的共同诉讼，可以由当事人推选代表人进行诉讼。代表人的诉讼行为对其所代表的当事人发生效力，但代表人变更、放弃诉讼请求或者承认对方当事人的诉讼请求，进行和解，必须经被代表的当事人同意。

Article 55   If the subject matters of the actions are of the same type and a party concerned consists of numerous persons the number of which remains undetermined at the time of the filing of the case, the people's court may produce a public notice describing the particulars of the case and the claims and notifying the claimants to register with the people's court within a specific period of time.

Claimants who have registered with the people's court may appoint representatives for the action. If claimants fail to appoint representatives, the people's court may consult with the registered claimants to determine representatives.

The procedural acts of the representatives shall be effective for the party they represent, provided that the representatives must obtain the consent of the party they represent when they modify or waive claims of the party, admit the claims of the other party or enter into a settlement.

The ruling or decision made by the people's court shall be effective for all the registered claimants. Such ruling or decision shall apply to the unregistered claimants who file actions within the period of limitation of action.

     第五十五条 诉讼标的是同一种类、当事人一方人数众多在起诉时人数尚未确定的，人民法院可以发出公告，说明案件情况和诉讼请求，通知权利人在一定期间向人民法院登记。

    向人民法院登记的权利人可以推选代表人进行诉讼；推选不出代表人的，人民法院可以与参加登记的权利人商定代表人。

    代表人的诉讼行为对其所代表的当事人发生效力，但代表人变更、放弃诉讼请求或者承认对方当事人的诉讼请求，进行和解，必须经被代表的当事人同意。

    人民法院作出的判决、裁定，对参加登记的全体权利人发生效力。未参加登记的权利人在诉讼时效期间提起诉讼的，适用该判决、裁定。

Article 56   Third persons who believe that they have independent claims with respect to the subject matter of the action between the parties concerned shall have the right to file an action.

If third persons have no independent claims with respect to the subject matter of the action between the parties concerned but are legally interested in the result of the case, the third persons may apply or be notified by the people's court to participate in the litigation. A third person who shall bear civil liability in accordance with the ruling of the people's court shall have the litigation rights and obligations of a party concerned.

     第五十六条 对当事人双方的诉讼标的，第三人认为有独立请求权的，有权提起诉讼。

    对当事人双方的诉讼标的，第三人虽然没有独立请求权，但案件处理结果同他有法律上的利害关系的，可以申请参加诉讼，或者由人民法院通知他参加诉讼。人民法院判决承担民事责任的第三人，有当事人的诉讼权利义务。

Section 2: Agents Ad Litem

第二节 诉讼代理人

Article 57   A person without the capacity to conduct an action shall be represented by his or her guardian as a statutory agent. When statutory agents shift onto one another the responsibility of serving as an agent, the people's court shall designate one of them to represent the person for the action.

     第五十七条 无诉讼行为能力人由他的监护人作为法定代理人代为诉讼。法定代理人之间互相推诿代理责任的，由人民法院指定其中一人代为诉讼。

Article 58   A party concerned or a statutory agent may appoint one or two agents ad litem.

A lawyer, a close relative of the party concerned, a person recommended by the relevant social group or the employer of the party concerned, or any other citizen approved by the people's court can be appointed as an agent ad litem.

     第五十八条 当事人、法定代理人可以委托一至二人作为诉讼代理人。

    律师、当事人的近亲属、有关的社会团体或者所在单位推荐的人、经人民法院许可的其他公民，都可以被委托为诉讼代理人。

Article 59   When another person is appointed to represent a party concerned in an action, a power of attorney signed or sealed by the principal must be submitted to the people's court.

The power of attorney must specify the authorized matters and the limit of authority. The agent ad litem must obtain the special authorization of the principal if the agent admits, waives, or modify the claims concerned, enters into a settlement or files a counterclaim or appeal on the behalf of his or her principal.

The power of attorney delivered by mail or delivered under entrustment by a citizen of the People's Republic of China residing in a foreign country must be certified by the embassy or consulate of the People's Republic of China in that country; if there is no embassy or consulate of the people's Republic of China in that country, the power of attorney shall be certified by the embassy or consulate in that country of a third country that has diplomatic relation with the People's Republic of China and then be certified by the embassy or consulate of the People's Republic of China in such third country or be certified by a local patriotic overseas Chinese group.

     第五十九条 委托他人代为诉讼，必须向人民法院提交由委托人签名或者盖章的授权委托书。

    授权委托书必须记明委托事项和权限。诉讼代理人代为承认、放弃、变更诉讼请求，进行和解，提起反诉或者上诉，必须有委托人的特别授权。

    侨居在国外的中华人民共和国公民从国外寄交或者托交的授权委托书，必须经中华人民共和国驻该国的使领馆证明；没有使领馆的，由与中华人民共和国有外交关系的第三国驻该国的使领馆证明，再转由中华人民共和国驻该第三国使领馆证明，或者由当地的爱国华侨团体证明。

Article 60   When the authority of an agent ad litem is modified or revoked, the party concerned shall notify the people's court in writing and the people's court shall notify the other party.

     第六十条 诉讼代理人的权限如果变更或者解除，当事人应当书面告知人民法院，并由人民法院通知对方当事人。

Article 61   The lawyer representing a party concerned in the action and the other agents ad litem shall have the right to investigate and collect evidence and may have access to the materials of the case concerned. The scope and method for accessing the materials relating to the case concerned shall be formulated by the Supreme People's Court.

     第六十一条 代理诉讼的律师和其他诉讼代理人有权调查收集证据，可以查阅本案有关材料。查阅本案有关材料的范围和办法由最高人民法院规定。

Article 62   In a divorce case, a party who is represented by his or her agent ad litem shall appear before court except that the party is incapable of expressing his or her own will; where the party is indeed unable to appear before court, the party must submit written opinions to the people's court.

     第六十二条 离婚案件有诉讼代理人的，本人除不能表达意志的以外，仍应出庭；确因特殊情况无法出庭的，必须向人民法院提交书面意见。

Chapter 6: Evidence

第六章 证据

Article 63   Evidence shall be classified as follows:

(1) Documentary evidence;

(2) Physical evidence,

(3) Audio-visual materials;

(4) Witness testimony;

(5) Statements of the parties;

(6) Expert conclusions; and

(7) Inspection Records.

Any of the above evidence must be verified before it can be taken as the basis for ascertaining facts.

     第六十三条 证据有下列几种：

    （一）书证；

    （二）物证；

    （三）视听资料；

    （四）证人证言；

    （五）当事人的陈述；

    （六）鉴定结论；

    （七）勘验笔录。

    以上证据必须查证属实，才能作为认定事实的根据。

Article 64   The parties concerned shall be responsible for providing evidence for their respective allegations.

Where a party concerned and the agent ad litem of the party are unable to collect evidence themselves due to objective causes or where the people's court believes that the evidence is necessary for the trial of the case concerned, the people's court shall investigate and collect the evidence.

A people's court shall examine and verify evidence comprehensively and objectively in accordance with statutory procedures.

     第六十四条 当事人对自己提出的主张，有责任提供证据。

    当事人及其诉讼代理人因客观原因不能自行收集的证据，或者人民法院认为审理案件需要的证据，人民法院应当调查收集。

    人民法院应当按照法定程序，全面地、客观地审查核实证据。

Article 65   A people's court shall have the right to investigate and collect evidence from relevant organizations and individuals, and the relevant organizations and individuals shall not refuse.

A people's court shall examine the authenticity and determine the force of the certification documents provided by the relevant organizations and individuals.

     第六十五条 人民法院有权向有关单位和个人调查取证，有关单位和个人不得拒绝。

    人民法院对有关单位和个人提出的证明文书，应当辨别真伪，审查确定其效力。

Article 66   Evidence shall be displayed before the court and examined by each of the parties. Evidence involving State secrets, business secrets or personal privacy shall be kept confidential and shall not be displayed during a public court session if it is necessary to present the evidence before the court.

     第六十六条 证据应当在法庭上出示，并由当事人互相质证。对涉及国家秘密、商业秘密和个人隐私的证据应当保密，需要在法庭出示的，不得在公开开庭时出示。

Article 67   A people's court shall take as the basis for ascertaining facts the legal action, legal facts and documents that are certified by notarization in accordance with statutory procedures, unless there is contrary evidence sufficient to reverse the notarized certification.

     第六十七条 经过法定程序公证证明的法律行为、法律事实和文书，人民法院应当作为认定事实的根据。但有相反证据足以推翻公证证明的除外。

Article 68   Documentary evidence submitted shall be the original documents. Physical evidence submitted shall be the original objects. Where it is indeed difficult to submit original documents or original objects, reproductions, photographs, duplicated copies or extracts of the original may be submitted.

When documentary evidence in a foreign language is submitted, it must be accompanied by a Chinese translation.

     第六十八条 书证应当提交原件。物证应当提交原物。提交原件或者原物确有困难的，可以提交复制品、照片、副本、节录本。

    提交外文书证，必须附有中文译本。

Article 69   A people's court shall examine the authenticity of audio-visual materials and determine, by taking other evidence in the case concerned into consideration, whether it can be used as a basis for ascertaining facts.

     第六十九条 人民法院对视听资料，应当辨别真伪，并结合本案的其他证据，审查确定能否作为认定事实的根据。

Article 70   Any organization or individual with knowledge of the particulars of a case is obliged to appear before the court to give testimony. The persons that bear responsibility in the relevant organizations shall support the witnesses to testify. Where a witness has difficulty in appearing before court, the witness may submit a written testimony subject to the approval of the people's court.

A person who is unable to express his or her will correctly is not allowed to give testimony.

     第七十条 凡是知道案件情况的单位和个人，都有义务出庭作证。有关单位的负责人应当支持证人作证。证人确有困难不能出庭的，经人民法院许可，可以提交书面证言。

    不能正确表达意志的人，不能作证。

Article 71   A people's court shall examine and determine whether the statements of a party concerned can be taken as the basis for ascertaining facts by taking other evidence of the case concerned into consideration.

The refusal of a party concerned to give statements shall not affect the ascertaining of the facts of a case by a people's court based on the evidence.

     第七十一条 人民法院对当事人的陈述，应当结合本案的其他证据，审查确定能否作为认定事实的根据。

    当事人拒绝陈述的，不影响人民法院根据证据认定案件事实。

Article 72   When a people's court believes that expert evaluation is required for a specialized problem, the problem shall be referred to a statutory expert evaluation department. If there is no statutory expert evaluation department available, the evaluation shall be conducted by an expert evaluation department designated by the people's court.

The expert evaluation department and its designated expert witnesses shall have the right to be acquainted with the case materials for which expert evaluation is needed and may make inquiries of the parties concerned and witnesses when necessary.

The expert evaluation department and the expert witnesses shall make a written expert conclusion and affix their signatures or seals thereto. If the evaluation is conducted by expert witnesses, the employer of the expert witnesses shall affix its seal to the written expert conclusion to certify the identity of the expert witnesses.

     第七十二条 人民法院对专门性问题认为需要鉴定的，应当交由法定鉴定部门鉴定；没有法定鉴定部门的，由人民法院指定的鉴定部门鉴定。

    鉴定部门及其指定的鉴定人有权了解进行鉴定所需要的案件材料，必要时可以询问当事人、证人。

    鉴定部门和鉴定人应当提出书面鉴定结论，在鉴定书上签名或者盖章。鉴定人鉴定的，应当由鉴定人所在单位加盖印章，证明鉴定人身份。

Article 73   An inspector, when carrying out an inspection of physical objects or the scene, must present the credentials of the people's court concerned and invite the representatives of the local basic organization or from the employer of the party concerned to participate in the inspection. The party concerned or an adult family member of the party concerned shall be present, and the refusal of the party or the adult family member to be present shall not affect the inspection.

The relevant organizations and individuals shall be obligated to protect the scene and assist in the inspection according to the notice of the people's court.

The inspectors shall make a written record of the particulars and results of the inspection which shall be signed or sealed by the inspectors, the party concerned and the persons invited to participate in the inspection.

     第七十三条 勘验物证或者现场，勘验人必须出示人民法院的证件，并邀请当地基层组织或者当事人所在单位派人参加。当事人或者当事人的成年家属应当到场，拒不到场的，不影响勘验的进行。

    有关单位和个人根据人民法院的通知，有义务保护现场，协助勘验工作。

    勘验人应当将勘验情况和结果制作笔录，由勘验人、当事人和被邀参加人签名或者盖章。

Article 74   Where the evidence may possibly be destroyed or lost or be difficult to obtain later, any of the lawsuit participants may apply to the people's court concerned with evidence preservation, and the people's court concerned may take the initiative in adopting preservation measures.

     第七十四条 在证据可能灭失或者以后难以取得的情况下，诉讼参加人可以向人民法院申请保全证据，人民法院也可以主动采取保全措施。

Chapter 7: Time Periods and Service

第七章 期间、送达

Section 1: Time Periods

第一节 期间

Article 75   Time periods shall include statutory time periods and time periods designated by people's courts.

Time periods shall be calculated in hours, days, months and years. The hour and day when a time period commences shall be excluded from the time period.

When the last day of the expiry of a time period falls on a holiday, the first day following the holiday shall be the day when the time period expires.

The transit time shall be excluded from the relevant time period and a litigation document that is mailed before the expiry of the relevant time period shall not be deemed as overdue.

     第七十五条 期间包括法定期间和人民法院指定的期间。

    期间以时、日、月、年计算。期间开始的时和日，不计算在期间内。

    期间届满的最后一日是节假日的，以节假日后的第一日为期间届满的日期。

    期间不包括在途时间，诉讼文书在期满前交邮的，不算过期。

Article 76   Where a party concerned fails to meet a time period due to unavoidable causes or for any other justified reasons, the party may apply to extend the time period within ten days after the removal of obstacles. The relevant people's court shall decide whether to approve the extension.

     第七十六条 当事人因不可抗拒的事由或者其他正当理由耽误期限的，在障碍消除后的十日内，可以申请顺延期限，是否准许，由人民法院决定。

Section 2: Service

第二节 送达

Article 77   When a litigation document is served, an acknowledgement of the service shall be required, and the person on whom the service is made shall specify the date of receipt on the acknowledgement, and sign or seal it.

The date of receipt specified in the acknowledgement of service by the person on whom the service is made shall be the date of the service.

  

     第七十七条 送达诉讼文书必须有送达回证，由受送达人在送达回证上记明收到日期，签名或者盖章。

    受送达人在送达回证上的签收日期为送达日期。

Article 78   When a litigation document is served, the document shall be delivered directly to the person on whom the service is to be made. Where the person on whom the service is made is a citizen, the document shall be delivered to an adult family member living with him or her for receipt in the absence of the person. Where the person on whom the service is made is a legal person or other organization, the document shall be delivered to the legal representative of the legal person, the person bearing primary responsibility of the organization or the person responsible for receiving documents of the legal person or the organization for receipt. Where the person on whom the service is to be made has appointed an agent ad litem, the document may be delivered to the agent ad litem for receipt. Where the person on whom the service is to be made has designated a person to receive documents from the people's court concerned and made such designation known to the people's court, the document shall be delivered to the designated person for receipt.

The date specified on the acknowledgement of service for receipt by the adult family member of the person on whom the service is made, the person of the legal person or other organization responsible for receiving documents, the agent ad litem or the person designated to receive documents shall be the date of service.

     第七十八条 送达诉讼文书，应当直接送交受送达人。受送达人是公民的，本人不在交他的同住成年家属签收；受送达人是法人或者其他组织的，应当由法人的法定代表人、其他组织的主要负责人或者该法人、组织负责收件的人签收；受送达人有诉讼代理人的，可以送交其代理人签收；受送达人已向人民法院指定代收人的，送交代收人签收。

    受送达人的同住成年家属，法人或者其他组织的负责收件的人，诉讼代理人或者代收人在送达回证上签收的日期为送达日期。

Article 79   If the person on whom the service is made or an adult family member living with the person refuses to receive a litigation document concerned, the person making the service shall invite the representatives from the relevant basic organizations or from the person's employer to be present, and shall describe the situation to the representatives and specify the reason and date of the refusal in the acknowledgment of service. The litigation document shall be deemed to have been served when the person making the service and the witnesses sign or seal the acknowledgment of service and the litigation document is left at the domicile of the person on whom the service is made.

     第七十九条 受送达人或者他的同住成年家属拒绝接收诉讼文书的，送达人应当邀请有关基层组织或者所在单位的代表到场，说明情况，在送达回证上记明拒收事由和日期，由送达人、见证人签名或者盖章，把诉讼文书留在受送达人的住所，即视为送达。

Article 80   When it is difficult for a people's court to serve a litigation document directly, it may entrust another people's court with the service or make the service by post. When the service is made by post, the date of receipt indicated on the acknowledgement of service shall be the date of service.

     第八十条 直接送达诉讼文书有困难的，可以委托其他人民法院代为送达，或者邮寄送达。邮寄送达的，以回执上注明的收件日期为送达日期。

Article 81   When the person on whom the service is made is a serviceman, the litigation document concerned shall be forwarded to the person by the political agency of the organization at or above the regiment level in the army to which the person belongs.

     第八十一条 受送达人是军人的，通过其所在部队团以上单位的政治机关转交。

Article 82   When the person on whom the service is made is imprisoned, the litigation document concerned shall be forwarded to the person by the prison or the institution of reform through labor.

When the person on whom the service is made is undergoing re-education through labor, the litigation document concerned shall be forwarded to the person by the institution of re-education through labor.

     第八十二条 受送达人是被监禁的，通过其所在监所或者劳动改造单位转交。

    受送达人是被劳动教养的，通过其所在劳动教养单位转交。

Article 83   When a forwarding agency or institution receives the litigation document concerned, it shall immediately deliver the document to the person on whom the service is to be made for receipt, and the date of receipt stated on the acknowledgement of service shall be the date of service.

     第八十三条 代为转交的机关、单位收到诉讼文书后，必须立即交受送达人签收，以在送达回证上的签收日期，为送达日期。

Article 84   When the whereabouts of the person on whom the service is made are unknown or the litigation document concerned cannot be served by any other method specified in this Section, service can be made by public notice. The document shall be deemed to have been served upon the expiry of 60 days after the date of the public notice.

When service is made through public notice, the reasons and process thereof shall be recorded in the case file.

     第八十四条 受送达人下落不明，或者用本节规定的其他方式无法送达的，公告送达。自发出公告之日起，经过六十日，即视为送达。

    公告送达，应当在案卷中记明原因和经过。

Chapter 8: Mediation

第八章 调解

Article 85   When trying a civil case, a people's court shall distinguish right from wrong and conduct mediation in accordance with the principle of the voluntariness of the parties concerned and on the basis that the facts of the case are clear.

     第八十五条 人民法院审理民事案件，根据当事人自愿的原则，在事实清楚的基础上，分清是非，进行调解。

Article 86   When a people's court mediates a case, the mediation may be presided over by a single judge or by a collegiate panel and shall be conducted on site if possible.

When conducting mediation, a people's court may use simplified methods to notify the parties concerned and the witnesses to appear before court.

     第八十六条 人民法院进行调解，可以由审判员一人主持，也可以由合议庭主持，并尽可能就地进行。

    人民法院进行调解，可以用简便方式通知当事人、证人到庭。

Article 87   When a people's court mediates a case, it may invite the relevant organizations and individuals to assist. The invited organizations and individuals shall assist the people's court to conduct the mediation.

     第八十七条 人民法院进行调解，可以邀请有关单位和个人协助。被邀请的单位和个人，应当协助人民法院进行调解。

Article 88   Reaching of a mediation agreement shall be based on the two parties' voluntariness and be free from any compulsion. The contents of a mediation agreement shall not violate the provisions of the law.

     第八十八条 调解达成协议，必须双方自愿，不得强迫。调解协议的内容不得违反法律规定。

Article 89   When an agreement is reached through mediation, the people's court concerned shall prepare a mediation document. The mediation document shall specify the claims, the facts of the case concerned and the result of the mediation.

The mediation document shall be signed by the relevant judicial officers and the court clerk with the seal of the people's court concerned affixed thereto and served to the parties concerned.

The mediation document shall be legally effective after being signed by the parties concerned as a receipt.

     第八十九条 调解达成协议，人民法院应当制作调解书。调解书应当写明诉讼请求、案件的事实和调解结果。

    调解书由审判人员、书记员署名，加盖人民法院印章，送达双方当事人。

    调解书经双方当事人签收后，即具有法律效力。

Article 90   When an agreement is reached through mediation in any of following cases, a people's court need not to prepare a mediation document:

(1) Divorce cases where the parties become reconciled through mediation;

(2) Cases where an adoptive relationship is maintained through mediation;

(3) Cases where the agreement can be performed immediately;

(4) Other cases where it is not necessary to prepare mediation documents.

An agreement for which it is not necessary to prepare a mediation document shall be recorded in writing and shall become legally effective after being signed or sealed by the parties, the judicial officers and court clerk concerned.

     第九十条 下列案件调解达成协议，人民法院可以不制作调解书：

    （一）调解和好的离婚案件；

    （二）调解维持收养关系的案件；

    （三）能够即时履行的案件；

    （四）其他不需要制作调解书的案件。

    对不需要制作调解书的协议，应当记入笔录，由双方当事人、审判人员、书记员签名或者盖章后，即具有法律效力。

Article 91   When no agreement is reached through mediation, or any of the parties concerned repudiates the mediation document before the service thereof, the people's court shall immediately make a ruling.

     第九十一条 调解未达成协议或者调解书送达前一方反悔的，人民法院应当及时判决。

Chapter 9: Property Preservation and Early Enforcement

第九章 财产保全和先予执行

Article 92   With regard to a case where the ruling may be impossible or difficult to be enforced due to the behavior of a party concerned or any other reason, the relevant people's court may make a decision on property preservation based on the application of the other party; the relevant people's court may decide to adopt a property preservation measure when necessary in the absence of an application by a party concerned.

When adopting a property preservation measure, a people's court may order the applicant to provide a guarantee; if the applicant fails to provide a guarantee, the application shall be rejected.

When a people's court accepts an application, it must make a decision within 48 hours if the case is urgent; if a decision is made to adopt the property preservation measure, enforcement of the decision shall be commenced immediately.

     第九十二条 人民法院对于可能因当事人一方的行为或者其他原因，使判决不能执行或者难以执行的案件，可以根据对方当事人的申请，作出财产保全的裁定；当事人没有提出申请的，人民法院在必要时也可以裁定采取财产保全措施。

    人民法院采取财产保全措施，可以责令申请人提供担保；申请人不提供担保的，驳回申请。

    人民法院接受申请后，对情况紧急的，必须在四十八小时内作出裁定；裁定采取财产保全措施的，应当立即开始执行。

Article 93   An interested party may apply to the relevant people's court for the adoption of a property preservation measure prior to filing an action if, due to an urgent situation, the absence of an immediate application for property preservation would result in irreparable harm to the party's lawful rights and interests. The applicant shall provide a guarantee, and the application shall be rejected if no guarantee is provided.

When a people's court accepts an application, it must make a decision within 48 hours if the case is urgent; if a decision is made to adopt the property preservation measure, enforcement of the decision shall be commenced immediately.

If the applicant fails to file an action within 15 days after the relevant people's court has adopted the property preservation measure, the people's court shall lift the property preservation measure.

     第九十三条 利害关系人因情况紧急，不立即申请财产保全将会使其合法权益受到难以弥补的损害的，可以在起诉前向人民法院申请采取财产保全措施。申请人应当提供担保，不提供担保的，驳回申请。

    人民法院接受申请后，必须在四十八小时内作出裁定；裁定采取财产保全措施的，应当立即开始执行。

    申请人在人民法院采取保全措施后十五日内不起诉的，人民法院应当解除财产保全。

Article 94   Property preservation shall be limited to the scope as requested or the property relating to the case concerned.

Property preservation shall be carried out through seal-up, detainment, freezing or any other methods stated in the law.

After freezing property, a people's court shall immediately give notice to the person whose property is frozen.

When property has already been sealed up or frozen, no repetitive seal-up or freezing shall be carried out with respect to the property.

     第九十四条 财产保全限于请求的范围，或者与本案有关的财物。

    财产保全采取查封、扣押、冻结或者法律规定的其他方法。

    人民法院冻结财产后，应当立即通知被冻结财产的人。

    财产已被查封、冻结的，不得重复查封、冻结。

Article 95   Where the respondent provides a guarantee, the people's court shall lift property preservation.

     第九十五条 被申请人提供担保的，人民法院应当解除财产保全。

Article 96   If an application contains an error, the applicant shall compensate the respondent for the losses incurred due to property preservation.

     第九十六条 申请有错误的，申请人应当赔偿被申请人因财产保全所遭受的损失。

Article 97   A people's court may, based on the application of a party concerned, make a decision for early enforcement in any of the following cases:

(1) Cases involving claims for payment of maintenance, support, or child support fees, pensions for the disabled or the family of a decedent, or medical treatment expenses;

(2) Cases involving claims for payment of labor remuneration;

(3) Cases where early enforcement is necessary due to an urgent situation.

     第九十七条 人民法院对下列案件，根据当事人的申请，可以裁定先予执行：

    （一）追索赡养费、扶养费、抚育费、抚恤金、医疗费用的；

    （二）追索劳动报酬的；

    （三）因情况紧急需要先予执行的。

Article 98   The decision of a people's court for early enforcement shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The relationship of rights and obligations between the parties concerned is clear, and the absence of early enforcement will seriously affect the life, production or business operation of the applicant;

(2) The respondent has the capability for performance.

The people's court may order the applicant to provide a guarantee and shall reject the application if the applicant fails to provide such guarantee. Where the applicant loses the case concerned, the applicant shall compensate the respondent for property losses incurred due to early enforcement.

     第九十八条 人民法院裁定先予执行的，应当符合下列条件：

    （一）当事人之间权利义务关系明确，不先予执行将严重影响申请人的生活或者生产经营的；

    （二）被申请人有履行能力。

    人民法院可以责令申请人提供担保，申请人不提供担保的，驳回申请。申请人败诉的，应当赔偿被申请人因先予执行遭受的财产损失。

Article 99   If dissatisfied with the decision for property preservation or early enforcement, a party concerned may apply once for a review. Enforcement of the decision shall not be suspended during the review period.

     第九十九条 当事人对财产保全或者先予执行的裁定不服的，可以申请复议一次。复议期间不停止裁定的执行。

Chapter 10: Compulsory Measures against Impairment to Civil Litigation

第十章 对妨害民事诉讼的强制措施

Article 100   A people's court may summon a defendant by force if the defendant is required, but refuses, to appear before the court without justified reasons after being summoned twice.

     第一百条 人民法院对必须到庭的被告，经两次传票传唤，无正当理由拒不到庭的，可以拘传。

Article 101   Litigation participants and others shall observe court rules.

Where any person violates court rules, a people's court may reprimand the person or order the person to leave the courtroom or may impose a fine or detention on the person.

Where a person causes noise or violent disturbance in the courtroom or insults, slanders, threatens or assaults a judicial officer, seriously disrupting court order, a people's court shall impose criminal liability on the person; the person shall be fined or detained if the circumstance is minor.

     第一百零一条 诉讼参与人和其他人应当遵守法庭规则。

    人民法院对违反法庭规则的人，可以予以训诫，责令退出法庭或者予以罚款、拘留。

    人民法院对哄闹、冲击法庭，侮辱、诽谤、威胁、殴打审判人员，严重扰乱法庭秩序的人，依法追究刑事责任；情节较轻的，予以罚款、拘留。

Article 102   Where a litigation participant or any other person commits any of the following acts, a people's court may, based on the seriousness of the circumstance, impose a fine or detention on the person; criminal liability shall be imposed on the person if a criminal offense is committed:

(1) Forging or destroying importance evidence, causing obstruction to the trial of cases by a people's court;

(2) Preventing a witness from giving evidence by means of violence, threatening or subornation or inciting, suborning or threatening any others to commit perjury;

(3) Concealing, transferring, selling or destroying property that is already sealed up or detained, the property that is already checked and of which the person is ordered to take custody, or transferring property that is already frozen;

(4) Insulting, slandering, framing, assaulting or retaliating judicial personnel, litigation participants, witnesses, translators or interpreters, expert witnesses, inspectors or the persons assisting with enforcement;

(5) Using violence, threats or any other means to obstruct judicial personnel from carrying out their duties;

(6) Refusing to perform a ruling or decision of a people's court that has become legally effective.

Where the person committing any of the above acts is an organization, a people's court may impose a fine or detention on the person bearing primary responsibility or the person subject to direct liability for the organization; where a criminal offense is committed, criminal liability shall be imposed in accordance with the law.

     第一百零二条 诉讼参与人或者其他人有下列行为之一的，人民法院可以根据情节轻重予以罚款、拘留；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任：

    （一）伪造、毁灭重要证据，妨碍人民法院审理案件的；

    （二）以暴力、威胁、贿买方法阻止证人作证或者指使、贿买、胁迫他人作伪证的；

    （三）隐藏、转移、变卖、毁损已被查封、扣押的财产，或者已被清点并责令其保管的财产，转移已被冻结的财产的；

    （四）对司法工作人员、诉讼参加人、证人、翻译人员、鉴定人、勘验人、协助执行的人，进行侮辱、诽谤、诬陷、殴打或者打击报复的；

    （五）以暴力、威胁或者其他方法阻碍司法工作人员执行职务的；

    （六）拒不履行人民法院已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定的。

    人民法院对有前款规定的行为之一的单位，可以对其主要负责人或者直接责任人员予以罚款、拘留；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

Article 103   Where an organization obliged to assist with an investigation or enforcement commits any of the following acts, a people's court may impose a fine on the organization in addition to ordering it to perform its obligation to assist:

(1) The relevant organization refuses to assist the people's court with, or obstructs the people's court in the investigation and collection of evidence;

(2) A bank, credit cooperative or any other organization engaging in deposit business, after receiving notice from a people's court to assist with enforcement, refuses to assist with a deposit inquiry, freezing or transfer;

(3) The relevant organization, after receiving notice from a people's court to assist with enforcement, refuses to assist in withholding the income of the person subject to enforcement, handling the formalities for transferring relevant property right certificates or turning over relevant negotiable instruments, certificates, licenses or other property;

(4) Other acts of refusing to assist with enforcement.

Where an organization commits any of the acts specified in the preceding paragph, , a people's court may impose fines on the person bearing primary responsibility or the person subject to direct liability of the organization, and may impose detention on such person if the organization fails to perform the obligation to assist thereafter; The people's court may also make a judicial proposal to the supervisory or relevant authorities for the imposition of disciplinary measures.

     第一百零三条 有义务协助调查、执行的单位有下列行为之一的，人民法院除责令其履行协助义务外，并可以予以罚款：

    （一）有关单位拒绝或者妨碍人民法院调查取证的；

    （二）银行、信用合作社和其他有储蓄业务的单位接到人民法院协助执行通知书后，拒不协助查询、冻结或者划拨存款的；

    （三）有关单位接到人民法院协助执行通知书后，拒不协助扣留被执行人的收入、办理有关财产权证照转移手续、转交有关票证、证照或者其他财产的；

    （四）其他拒绝协助执行的。

    人民法院对有前款规定的行为之一的单位，可以对其主要负责人或者直接责任人员予以罚款；对仍不履行协助义务的，可以予以拘留；并可以向监察机关或者有关机关提出予以纪律处分的司法建议。

Article 104   The amount of the fines imposed on an individual shall be not more than RMB10,000. The amount of the fines imposed on an organization shall be not less than RMB10,000 and below RMB300,000.

The time period for detention shall be not more than 15 days.

A people's court shall deliver a detained person to a public security organ for custody. Where a detained person admits and corrects his or her mistakes during the period of detention, the people's court may decide to lift the detention in advance.

     第一百零四条 对个人的罚款金额，为人民币一万元以下。对单位的罚款金额，为人民币一万元以上三十万元以下。

    拘留的期限，为十五日以下。

    被拘留的人，由人民法院交公安机关看管。在拘留期间，被拘留人承认并改正错误的，人民法院可以决定提前解除拘留。

Article 105   Summoning by force or the imposition of fines or detention must be subject to the approval of the president of a court.

A summons shall be required for summoning by force.

A written decision shall be required for the imposition of fines or detention. If the party concerned is dissatisfied with the decision, the party may apply to the people's court at the next higher level for review once. Enforcement shall not be suspended during the period of review.

     第一百零五条 拘传、罚款、拘留必须经院长批准。

    拘传应当发拘传票。

    罚款、拘留应当用决定书。对决定不服的，可以向上一级人民法院申请复议一次。复议期间不停止执行。

Article 106   The adoption of any compulsory measure against the impairment of civil litigation must be subject to the decision of a people's court. Where any organization or individual seeks the repayment of debts by illegally detaining any others or illegally detaining the property of any others, the organization or individual shall be subject to criminal liability or be detained or fined in accordance with the law.

     第一百零六条 采取对妨害民事诉讼的强制措施必须由人民法院决定。任何单位和个人采取非法拘禁他人或者非法私自扣押他人财产追索债务的，应当依法追究刑事责任，或者予以拘留、罚款。

Chapter 11: Court Fees

第十一章 诉讼费用

Article 107   When proceeding with civil litigation, a party concerned shall pay for the acceptance of a case in accordance with the relevant provisions. For a case involving property, other court fees shall be paid in accordance with the relevant provisions in addition to the fee for case acceptance.

If it is indeed difficult for a party concerned to pay court fees, the party may apply to a people's court for the deferment or reduction of, or exemption from the payment.

Methods for collecting court fees shall be formulated separately.

     第一百零七条 当事人进行民事诉讼，应当按照规定交纳案件受理费。财产案件除交纳案件受理费外，并按照规定交纳其他诉讼费用。

    当事人交纳诉讼费用确有困难的，可以按照规定向人民法院申请缓交、减交或者免交。

    收取诉讼费用的办法另行制定。

Part 2: Trial Procedures

第二编 审判程序

Chapter 12: First Instance Ordinary Procedure

第十二章 第一审普通程序

Section 1: Filing and Acceptance of Actions

第一节 起诉和受理

Article 108   To file an action, the following requirements must be satisfied:

(1) The plaintiff is a citizen, legal person or other organization having a direct interest in the case;

(2) There is a definite defendant;

(3) There are specific claims as well as facts and reasons therefor;

(4) The action falls within the scope of civil lawsuits to be accepted by people's courts and under the jurisdiction of the people's court accepting the action.

     第一百零八条 起诉必须符合下列条件：

    （一）原告是与本案有直接利害关系的公民、法人和其他组织；

    （二）有明确的被告；

    （三）有具体的诉讼请求和事实、理由；

    （四）属于人民法院受理民事诉讼的范围和受诉人民法院管辖。

Article 109   To file an action, a party concerned shall submit a complaint to a people's court together with a duplicate copy thereof for each defendant.

Where it is difficult to compose a written complaint, the action may be filed orally. The people's court shall make a written record and inform the other party thereof.

     第一百零九条 起诉应当向人民法院递交起诉状，并按照被告人数提出副本。

    书写起诉状确有困难的，可以口头起诉，由人民法院记入笔录，并告知对方当事人。

Article 110   A complaint shall specify the following matters:

(1) The name, gender, age, nationality, occupation, employer and domicile of the parties concerned, or the name and address of the legal person or other organization and the name and title of the legal representative or the person bearing primary responsibility of the legal person or other organization;

(2) The claims and the facts and reasons on which they are based;

(3) The evidence and source of evidence, and the names and domiciles of witnesses.

     第一百一十条 起诉状应当记明下列事项：

    （一）当事人的姓名、性别、年龄、民族、职业、工作单位和住所，法人或者其他组织的名称、住所和法定代表人或者主要负责人的姓名、职务；

    （二）诉讼请求和所根据的事实与理由；

    （三）证据和证据来源，证人姓名和住所。

Article 111   A people's court must accept an action filed in accordance with Article 108 hereof. A people's court shall handle the following actions according to the specific circumstance:

(1) Where an action is within the scope of administrative actions that can be accepted as provided for in the Administrative Litigation Law, the plaintiff shall be notified to file an administrative action;

(2) Where the two parties concerned voluntarily reach a written arbitration agreement, in accordance with the law, on a contractual dispute, thereby agree to apply to an arbitration institution for arbitration and preclude filing of action with a people's court, the plaintiff shall be notified to apply to an arbitration institution for arbitration;

(3) Where a dispute shall be handled by another authority as specified in the provisions of law, the plaintiff shall be notified to apply to the relevant authority for resolution;

(4) With regard to a case that is not under the jurisdiction of the court concerned, the plaintiff shall be notified to file an action with the competent people's court;

(5) With regard to a case for which the ruling or decision has become legally effective, if a party concerned files a new action, the plaintiff shall be notified to handle the case as a petition, except for any decision for which the action is permitted to be withdrawn by the relevant people's court;

(6) With regard to a case for which no action is allowed to be filed within a certain time limit in accordance with the law, and an action has been filed for that case within that time limit during which filing of such action is prohibited, such case shall not be accepted;

(7) With regard to a divorce case for which a ruling is made to the effect that the divorce application shall be denied or 'mediation for reconciliation shall be conducted or a case for which a ruling is made, or mediation is conducted, to the effect that an adoptive relationship shall be maintained, the action shall not be accepted in so far as no new development or reason arises and the plaintiff files a new action within six months.

     第一百一十一条 人民法院对符合本法第一百零八条的起诉，必须受理；对下列起诉，分别情形，予以处理：

    （一）依照行政诉讼法的规定，属于行政诉讼受案范围的，告知原告提起行政诉讼；

    （二）依照法律规定，双方当事人对合同纠纷自愿达成书面仲裁协议向仲裁机构申请仲裁、不得向人民法院起诉的，告知原告向仲裁机构申请仲裁；

    （三）依照法律规定，应当由其他机关处理的争议，告知原告向有关机关申请解决；

    （四）对不属于本院管辖的案件，告知原告向有管辖权的人民法院起诉；

    （五）对判决、裁定已经发生法律效力的案件，当事人又起诉的，告知原告按照申诉处理，但人民法院准许撤诉的裁定除外；

    （六）依照法律规定，在一定期限内不得起诉的案件，在不得起诉的期限内起诉的，不予受理；

    （七）判决不准离婚和调解和好的离婚案件，判决、调解维持收养关系的案件，没有新情况、新理由，原告在六个月内又起诉的，不予受理。

Article 112   After receiving a complaint or oral pleading, a people's court shall initiate the case within seven days and notify the parties concern if, upon examination, it believes that the case complies with the requirements for filing an action, and shall make a decision to refuse to accept the case within seven days if it believes that the case fails to comply with the requirements of filing an action. The plaintiff may file an appeal if dissatisfied with the decision.

     第一百一十二条 人民法院收到起诉状或者口头起诉，经审查，认为符合起诉条件的，应当在七日内立案，并通知当事人；认为不符合起诉条件的，应当在七日内裁定不予受理；原告对裁定不服的，可以提起上诉。

Section 2: Pre-trial Preparation

第二节 审理前的准备

Article 113   A people's court shall deliver a duplicate copy of the complaint to the defendant within five days after the date of initiation of the case, and the defendant shall submit a statement of answer within 15 days of receipt thereof.

When the defendant submits a statement of answer, the people's court shall deliver a duplicate copy of the statement of answer to the plaintiff within five days of the receipt thereof. Failure of the defendant to submit a statement of answer shall not affect the trial by the people's court.

     第一百一十三条 人民法院应当在立案之日起五日内将起诉状副本发送被告，被告在收到之日起十五日内提出答辩状。

    被告提出答辩状的，人民法院应当在收到之日起五日内将答辩状副本发送原告。被告不提出答辩状的，不影响人民法院审理。

Article 114   When a people's court decides to accept a case, it shall inform the parties concerned of their litigation rights and obligations either in the notice for case acceptance and the notice for responding to action or orally.

     第一百一十四条 人民法院对决定受理的案件，应当在受理案件通知书和应诉通知书中向当事人告知有关的诉讼权利义务，或者口头告知。

Article 115   After the members of a collegiate panel are determined, the parties shall be notified thereof within three days.

     第一百一十五条 合议庭组成人员确定后，应当在三日内告知当事人。

Article 116   Judicial personnel must examine litigation materials carefully and investigate and collect the necessary evidence.

     第一百一十六条 审判人员必须认真审核诉讼材料，调查收集必要的证据。

Article 117   When the personnel of a people's court conduct an investigation, they shall present their credentials to the persons subject to investigation.

The written record of the investigation shall be signed or sealed by the persons subject to investigation and the persons conducting the investigation after being checked by the person subject to investigation.

     第一百一十七条 人民法院派出人员进行调查时，应当向被调查人出示证件。

    调查笔录经被调查人校阅后，由被调查人、调查人签名或者盖章。

Article 118   A people's court may entrust a people's court in another place with an investigation when necessary.

To entrust an investigation with another people's court, there must be definite matters and requirements for the investigation. The entrusted people's court may make supplementary investigations on its own initiative.

The entrusted people's court shall complete an investigation within 30 days after receiving the letter of entrustment. When it is unable to complete the investigation within 30 days due to reasons, it shall send a written notification to the entrusting people's court within the above time period.

     第一百一十八条 人民法院在必要时可以委托外地人民法院调查。

    委托调查，必须提出明确的项目和要求。受委托人民法院可以主动补充调查。

    受委托人民法院收到委托书后，应当在三十日内完成调查。因故不能完成的，应当在上述期限内函告委托人民法院。

Article 119  Where, in a joint action, a party concerned must, but fails to, participate in the action, the people's court concerned shall notify the party to participate in the action.

     第一百一十九条 必须共同进行诉讼的当事人没有参加诉讼的，人民法院应当通知其参加诉讼。

Section 3: Court Session

第三节 开庭审理

Article 120   When trying a civil case, a people's court shall conduct the trial in public, unless the case involves State secrets, individual privacy, or the law specifies otherwise.

For a divorce case or a case involving trade secrets, if the parties concerned apply for a non-public trial, a people's court may decide not to conduct the trial in public.

     第一百二十条 人民法院审理民事案件，除涉及国家秘密、个人隐私或者法律另有规定的以外，应当公开进行。

    离婚案件，涉及商业秘密的案件，当事人申请不公开审理的，可以不公开审理。

Article 121   When trying a civil case, a people's court shall conduct a circuit trial and handle the case on site when necessary.

  

     第一百二十一条 人民法院审理民事案件，根据需要进行巡回审理，就地办案。

Article 122   When trying a civil case, a people's court shall notify the parties concerned and other litigation participants within three days prior to the court session. When a public trial is conducted, the name of the parties concerned, the cause of action, and the time and place of the court session shall be announced publicly.

     第一百二十二条 人民法院审理民事案件，应当在开庭三日前通知当事人和其他诉讼参与人。公开审理的，应当公告当事人姓名、案由和开庭的时间、地点。

Article 123   Before a court session is conducted, the court clerk shall ascertain whether the parties concerned and other litigation participants are present, and announce court disciplines.

When a court session is conducted, the presiding judge shall check to verify the parties concerned, announce the name list of the judicial officers and court clerk, inform the parties concerned of their relevant litigation rights and obligations, and inquire whether the parties concerned request any relevant person to withdraw from the case.

     第一百二十三条 开庭审理前，书记员应当查明当事人和其他诉讼参与人是否到庭，宣布法庭纪律。

    开庭审理时，由审判长核对当事人，宣布案由，宣布审判人员、书记员名单，告知当事人有关的诉讼权利义务，询问当事人是否提出回避申请。

Article 124   A court investigation shall be conducted according to the following sequences:

(1) Making statements by the parties concerned;

(2) Informing the witnesses of their rights and obligations, giving testimony by the witnesses and reading out the testimony of the witnesses who are not present;

(3) Displaying documentary evidence, physical evidence and audio-visual materials;

(4) Reading out the expert conclusions;

(5) Reading out the written record of inspection.

     第一百二十四条 法庭调查按照下列顺序进行：

    （一）当事人陈述；

    （二）告知证人的权利义务，证人作证，宣读未到庭的证人证言；

    （三）出示书证、物证和视听资料；

    （四）宣读鉴定结论；

    （五）宣读勘验笔录。

Article 125   A party concerned may present new evidence before a court.

A party concerned may question the witnesses and the expert witnesses with the permission of the court.

When a party concerned makes a request for a new investigation, expert evaluation or inspection, a people's court shall decide whether to approve the request.

     第一百二十五条 当事人在法庭上可以提出新的证据。

    当事人经法庭许可，可以向证人、鉴定人、勘验人发问。

    当事人要求重新进行调查、鉴定或者勘验的，是否准许，由人民法院决定。

Article 126   When the plaintiff makes additional claims, the defendant files a counterclaim, and the third person submits claims relating to the case concerned, a consolidated trial may be conducted.

     第一百二十六条 原告增加诉讼请求，被告提出反诉，第三人提出与本案有关的诉讼请求，可以合并审理。

Article 127   A court debate shall be conducted according to the following routine:

(1) Presentation by the plaintiff and the plaintiff's agent ad litem;

(2) Answer by the defendant and the defendant's agent ad litem;

(3) Presentation or answer by the third person and the third person's agent ad litem;

(4) Debate between the parties.

When the court debate is closed, the presiding judge shall consult the final opinions of the parties concerned according to the order of priority of the plaintiff, defendant and third person.

     第一百二十七条 法庭辩论按照下列顺序进行：

    （一）原告及其诉讼代理人发言；

    （二）被告及其诉讼代理人答辩；

    （三）第三人及其诉讼代理人发言或者答辩；

    （四）互相辩论。

    法庭辩论终结，由审判长按照原告、被告、第三人的先后顺序征询各方最后意见。

Article 128   When the court debate is closed, a ruling shall be made in accordance with the law. When mediation is possible before the ruling is made, mediation may be conducted, and a ruling shall be made immediately if the mediation fails.

     第一百二十八条 法庭辩论终结，应当依法作出判决。判决前能够调解的，还可以进行调解，调解不成的，应当及时判决。

Article 129   When the plaintiff refuses to appear before a court upon being summoned and without justified reasons or leaves the courtroom during the court session without the approval of the court, the plaintiff may be deemed to have withdrawn the action; when the defendant files a counterclaim, a default judgment may be made.

     第一百二十九条 原告经传票传唤，无正当理由拒不到庭的，或者未经法庭许可中途退庭的，可以按撤诉处理；被告反诉的，可以缺席判决。

Article 130   When the defendant refuses to appear before court upon being summoned and without justified reasons or leaves the courtroom during the court session without the approval of the court, a default judgment may be made.

     第一百三十条 被告经传票传唤，无正当理由拒不到庭的，或者未经法庭许可中途退庭的，可以缺席判决。

Article 131   When the plaintiff applies to withdraw the action before the pronouncement of the judgment, a people's court shall decide whether to approve the withdrawal.

When a people's court decides not to approve the withdrawal and the plaintiff refuses to appear before the court upon being summonsed and without justified reasons, a default judgment may be made.

     第一百三十一条 宣判前，原告申请撤诉的，是否准许，由人民法院裁定。

    人民法院裁定不准许撤诉的，原告经传票传唤，无正当理由拒不到庭的，可以缺席判决。

Article 132   In any of the following circumstances, a court session may be postponed:

(1) A party concerned or any other litigation participant that must appear before court fails to appear before the court with justified reasons;

(2) A party concerned applies for the withdrawal of a relevant person from the case during the court session;

(3) It is necessary to notify new witnesses to appear before the court, investigate and collect new evidence, make new expert evaluation or inspection, or conduct a supplementary investigation;

(4) Other circumstances where the court session shall be postponed.

     第一百三十二条 有下列情形之一的，可以延期开庭审理：

    （一）必须到庭的当事人和其他诉讼参与人有正当理由没有到庭的；

    （二）当事人临时提出回避申请的；

    （三）需要通知新的证人到庭，调取新的证据，重新鉴定、勘验，或者需要补充调查的；

    （四）其他应当延期的情形。

Article 133   The court clerk shall make a written record of all the activities of the court session, and the written record shall be signed by the judicial officers and the court clerk.

The court record shall be read out at the court session and the parties concerned and other litigation participants may be advised to read the record either at or within five days after the court session. Where the parties concerned or litigation participants believe that the court record contains omissions or errors with respect to their statements, they shall have the right to apply for the supplement or correction of the record. If the application for supplement or correction is rejected, the application shall be recorded in the case file.

The court records shall be signed or sealed by the parties concerned and the other participants in the action. Any refusal to sign or seal the court records shall be stated in the case file.

     第一百三十三条 书记员应当将法庭审理的全部活动记入笔录，由审判人员和书记员签名。

    法庭笔录应当当庭宣读，也可以告知当事人和其他诉讼参与人当庭或者在五日内阅读。当事人和其他诉讼参与人认为对自己的陈述记录有遗漏或者差错的，有权申请补正。如果不予补正，应当将申请记录在案。

    法庭笔录由当事人和其他诉讼参与人签名或者盖章。拒绝签名盖章的，记明情况附卷。

Article 134   A people's court shall pronounce the ruling in a case publicly no matter whether the case is tried publicly or non-publicly.

When the ruling is pronounced at the court session, the written ruling shall be delivered within ten days. When the ruling is pronounced at a fixed time, the written ruling shall be delivered immediately after the pronouncement of the ruling.

When a ruling is pronounced, the parties concerned must be informed of their right to file an appeal, the time limit for filing an appeal and the court with which such appeal is filed.

When a ruling on divorce is pronounced, the parties concerned must be informed that they are prohibited from getting remarried before the ruling comes into force.

     第一百三十四条 人民法院对公开审理或者不公开审理的案件，一律公开宣告判决。

    当庭宣判的，应当在十日内发送判决书；定期宣判的，宣判后立即发给判决书。

    宣告判决时，必须告知当事人上诉权利、上诉期限和上诉的法院。

    宣告离婚判决，必须告知当事人在判决发生法律效力前不得另行结婚。

Article 135   When a people's court applies ordinary procedure to try a case, it shall close the case within six months from the date of the initiation of the case. When the time period needs to be extended due to special circumstances, the time limit can be extended for six months subject to the approval of the president of the court; when a further extension is required, the extension shall be reported to the people's court at a higher level for approval.

     第一百三十五条 人民法院适用普通程序审理的案件，应当在立案之日起六个月内审结。有特殊情况需要延长的，由本院院长批准，可以延长六个月；还需要延长的，报请上级人民法院批准。

Section 4: Suspension and Termination of Actions

第四节 诉讼中止和终结

Article 136   An action shall be suspended in any of the following circumstances:

(1) One of the parties concerned dies and it is necessary to wait for the heir of the party to indicate whether to participate in the action;

(2) One of the parties concerned loses the capacity to conduct the action and the statutory agent has not been determined;

(3) The legal person or other organization acting as one of the parties concerned terminates and the successor to its rights and obligations has not been determined;

(4) One of the parties concerned is unable to participate in the action because of unavoidable causes;

(5) The result of the trial of another case is the basis of the case concerned, and that other case is still pending;

(6) Other circumstances where the suspension of an action is required.

An action shall be resumed after the cause for the suspension of the action is removed.

  

     第一百三十六条 有下列情形之一的，中止诉讼：

    （一）一方当事人死亡，需要等待继承人表明是否参加诉讼的；

    （二）一方当事人丧失诉讼行为能力，尚未确定法定代理人的；

    （三）作为一方当事人的法人或者其他组织终止，尚未确定权利义务承受人的；

    （四）一方当事人因不可抗拒的事由，不能参加诉讼的；

    （五）本案必须以另一案的审理结果为依据，而另一案尚未审结的；

    （六）其他应当中止诉讼的情形。

    中止诉讼的原因消除后，恢复诉讼。

Article 137   An action shall be terminated in any of the following circumstances:

(1) The plaintiff dies and has no heir, or the heir waives the litigation right;

(2) The defendant dies and has neither heritage nor person that should bear the obligations.

(3) One of the parties in a divorce case dies;

(4) One of the parties in a case involving claims for payment of maintenance, support, or child support fees or involving the revocation of an adoptive relationship dies.

     第一百三十七条 有下列情形之一的，终结诉讼：

    （一）原告死亡，没有继承人，或者继承人放弃诉讼权利的；

    （二）被告死亡，没有遗产，也没有应当承担义务的人的；

    （三）离婚案件一方当事人死亡的；

    （四）追索赡养费、扶养费、抚育费以及解除收养关系案件的一方当事人死亡的。

Section 5: Rulings and Decisions

第五节 判决和裁定

Article 138   A written ruling shall specify:

(1) The cause of action, claims, disputed facts and reasons therefor;

(2) The facts ascertained by the ruling as well as the reasons and applicable laws;

(3) The result of the ruling and the bearing of court fees;

(4) The time period for appeal and the court with which an appeal is to be filed.

A written ruling shall be signed by the judicial officers and court clerk with the seal of the people's court affixed thereto.

     第一百三十八条 判决书应当写明：

    （一）案由、诉讼请求、争议的事实和理由；

    （二）判决认定的事实、理由和适用的法律依据；

    （三）判决结果和诉讼费用的负担；

    （四）上诉期间和上诉的法院。

    判决书由审判人员、书记员署名，加盖人民法院印章。

Article 139   When trying a case, a people's court may first make a ruling regarding part of the facts that have been ascertained.

     第一百三十九条 人民法院审理案件，其中一部分事实已经清楚，可以就该部分先行判决。

Article 140   A decision shall be applicable to the following:

(1) Refusal to accept a case;

(2) Opposition to jurisdiction;

(3) Rejection of an action;

(4) Property preservation and early enforcement;

(5) Approval and non-approval of the withdrawal of an action;

(6) Suspension or termination of an action;

(7) Correction of clerical errors in a written ruling;

(8) Suspension or termination of enforcement;

(9) Refusal to enforce an arbitration award;

(10) Refusal to enforce a document on creditor's right with enforceability notarized by a notary agency; and

(11) Other matters that need to be settled by a decision.

Decision on the matters set forth in the Items (1), (2) and (3) are appealable.

A written decision shall be signed by the judicial officers and court clerk with the seal of the people's court affixed thereto. An oral decision shall be recorded in writing.

     第一百四十条 裁定适用于下列范围：

    （一）不予受理；

    （二）对管辖权有异议的；

    （三）驳回起诉；

    （四）财产保全和先予执行；

    （五）准许或者不准许撤诉；

    （六）中止或者终结诉讼；

    （七）补正判决书中的笔误；

    （八）中止或者终结执行；

    （九）不予执行仲裁裁决；

    （十）不予执行公证机关赋予强制执行效力的债权文书；

    （十一）其他需要裁定解决的事项。

    对前款第（一）、（二）、（三）项裁定，可以上诉。

    裁定书由审判人员、书记员署名，加盖人民法院印章。口头裁定的，记入笔录。

Article 141   The rulings and decisions of the Supreme People's Court and the rulings and decisions that are prohibited from being appealed in accordance with the law or that exceed the period of appeal shall be the rulings and decisions that have come into force.

     第一百四十一条 最高人民法院的判决、裁定，以及依法不准上诉或者超过上诉期没有上诉的判决、裁定，是发生法律效力的判决、裁定。

Chapter 13: Summary Procedure

第十三章 简易程序

Article 142   A basic people's court or its dispatched tribunal shall apply the provisions of this Chapter to try a simple civil case where the facts are clear, the relationship of rights and obligations are definite and the dispute is trivial.

     第一百四十二条 基层人民法院和它派出的法庭审理事实清楚、权利义务关系明确、争议不大的简单的民事案件，适用本章规定。

Article 143   For a simple civil case, the plaintiff may file an oral pleading.

The parties concerned may go to a basic people's court or its dispatched tribunal at the same time to request a settlement of their dispute. The basic people's court or its dispatched tribunal may either try the case immediately or fix another date for trying the case.

     第一百四十三条 对简单的民事案件，原告可以口头起诉。

    当事人双方可以同时到基层人民法院或者它派出的法庭，请求解决纠纷。基层人民法院或者它派出的法庭可以当即审理，也可以另定日期审理。

Article 144   When trying a simple civil case, a basis people's court or its dispatched tribunal may summon the parties concerned at any time in simplified ways.

     第一百四十四条 基层人民法院和它派出的法庭审理简单的民事案件，可以用简便方式随时传唤当事人、证人。

Article 145   A simple civil case shall be tried by a single judge without being subject to the provisions of Articles 122, 124 and 127 of this Law.

     第一百四十五条 简单的民事案件由审判员一人独任审理，并不受本法第一百二十二条、第一百二十四条、第一百二十七条规定的限制。

Article 146   When applying summary procedure to try a case, a people's court shall complete the trial of the case within three months from the date of its initiation.

     第一百四十六条 人民法院适用简易程序审理案件，应当在立案之日起三个月内审结。

Chapter 14: Second Instance Procedure

第十四章 第二审程序

Article 147   If a party concerned is dissatisfied with a ruling of a local people's court of the first instance, the party concerned shall have the right to file an appeal with the people's court at the next higher level within 15 days from the date when the written ruling is served. If a party concerned is dissatisfied with a decision of a local people's court of the first instance, the party concerned shall have the right to file an appeal with the people's court of the next higher level within ten days from the date when the written decision is served.

     第一百四十七条 当事人不服地方人民法院第一审判决的，有权在判决书送达之日起十五日内向上一级人民法院提起上诉。

    当事人不服地方人民法院第一审裁定的，有权在裁定书送达之日起十日内向上一级人民法院提起上诉。

Article 148   An appeal petition shall be submitted for an appeal. The contents of an appeal petition shall include the names of the parties concerned, the names of a legal person of its legal representative or the names of any other organization and the person bearing primary responsibility of the organization, the name of the people's court of original instance, the case number and cause of action as well as the claims and reasons for the appeal.

     第一百四十八条 上诉应当递交上诉状。上诉状的内容，应当包括当事人的姓名，法人的名称及其法定代表人的姓名或者其他组织的名称及其主要负责人的姓名；原审人民法院名称、案件的编号和案由；上诉的请求和理由。

Article 149   An appeal petition shall be filed through the people's court of the original instance and the duplicate copies thereof shall be submitted to each of the persons in the other party concerned or their representatives.

If a party concerned files an appeal with the people's court of the second instance directly, the people's court of the second instance shall transfer the appeal petition to the people's court of the original instance within five days.

  

     第一百四十九条 上诉状应当通过原审人民法院提出，并按照对方当事人或者代表人的人数提出副本。

    当事人直接向第二审人民法院上诉的，第二审人民法院应当在五日内将上诉状移交原审人民法院。

Article 150   When a people's court of the original instance receives an appeal petition, it shall serve the duplicated copy thereof on the other party concerned within five days, and the other party concerned shall file a statement of answer within 15 days from the date of receipt thereof. The people's court shall serve a duplicate copy of the statement of answer on the appellant within five days from the date of receipt thereof. Failure of the other party concerned to file a statement of answer shall not affect the trial by the people's court.

A people's court of the original instance shall submit an appeal petition and the statement of answer to the people's court of the second instance, together with the whole case file and evidence, within five days from the date of receipt thereof.

     第一百五十条 原审人民法院收到上诉状，应当在五日内将上诉状副本送达对方当事人，对方当事人在收到之日起十五日内提出答辩状。人民法院应当在收到答辩状之日起五日内将副本送达上诉人。对方当事人不提出答辩状的，不影响人民法院审理。

    原审人民法院收到上诉状、答辩状，应当在五日内连同全部案卷和证据，报送第二审人民法院。

Article 151   A people's court of the second instance shall conduct an examination of the facts and the application of the law with regard to the claims of appeal.

  

     第一百五十一条 第二审人民法院应当对上诉请求的有关事实和适用法律进行审查。

Article 152   A people's court of the second instance shall form a collegiate panel and conduct the court session for an appeal case. A people's court of the second instance may make a ruling or decision immediately without conducting a court session if it believes that a court session is not necessary after examining the case file, conducting an investigation, making inquiries of the parties concerned and verifying the facts.

When trying an appeal case, a people's court of the second instance may conduct the trial in its own location or in the place where the case arises, or where the people's court of the original instance is located.

     第一百五十二条 第二审人民法院对上诉案件，应当组成合议庭，开庭审理。经过阅卷和调查，询问当事人，在事实核对清楚后，合议庭认为不需要开庭审理的，也可以径行判决、裁定。

    第二审人民法院审理上诉案件，可以在本院进行，也可以到案件发生地或者原审人民法院所在地进行。

Article 153   A people's court of the second instance shall handle appeal cases after trial in accordance with the following respective circumstances:

(1) Where facts are ascertained and the law is applied correctly in the original ruling, a ruling shall be made to reject the appeal and maintain the original ruling;

(2) Where the law is wrongly applied in the original ruling, a ruling shall be made to amend the original ruling;

(3) Where the facts are wrongly or unclearly ascertained and evidence is not sufficient in the original ruling, a decision shall be made to revoke the original ruling and the case shall be remanded to the people's court of the original instance for new trial or a ruling shall be made to amend the original ruling after the facts are ascertained;

(4) Where the original ruling violates the statutory procedures liable to affect the correct judgment of the case, a decision shall be made to revoke the original ruling and the case shall be remanded to the people's court of the original instance for new trial.

A party concerned may appeal a ruling or decision of a case made in a new trial.

     第一百五十三条 第二审人民法院对上诉案件，经过审理，按照下列情形，分别处理：

    （一）原判决认定事实清楚，适用法律正确的，判决驳回上诉，维持原判决；

    （二）原判决适用法律错误的，依法改判；

    （三）原判决认定事实错误，或者原判决认定事实不清，证据不足，裁定撤销原判决，发回原审人民法院重审，或者查清事实后改判；

    （四）原判决违反法定程序，可能影响案件正确判决的，裁定撤销原判决，发回原审人民法院重审。

    当事人对重审案件的判决、裁定，可以上诉。

Article 154   People's courts of the second instance shall decide to handle all the appeal cases concerning dissatisfaction with the decisions of people's courts of the first instance.

     第一百五十四条 第二审人民法院对不服第一审人民法院裁定的上诉案件的处理，一律使用裁定。

Article 155   When trying an appeal case, a people's court of the second instance may conduct mediation. When agreement is reached upon mediation, a mediation document shall be prepared and signed by the judicial officers and court clerk with the seal of the people's court affixed thereto. The ruling of the people's court shall be deemed as revoked upon the service of the mediation document.

     第一百五十五条 第二审人民法院审理上诉案件，可以进行调解。调解达成协议，应当制作调解书，由审判人员、书记员署名，加盖人民法院印章。调解书送达后，原审人民法院的判决即视为撤销。

Article 156   When an appellant applies to withdraw an appeal before a people's court of the second instance pronounces a ruling, the people's court of the second instance shall decide whether to approve the withdrawal.

     第一百五十六条 第二审人民法院判决宣告前，上诉人申请撤回上诉的，是否准许，由第二审人民法院裁定。

Article 157   When trying appeal cases, people's courts of the second instance shall apply first instance ordinary procedure except as stated in this Chapter.

     第一百五十七条 第二审人民法院审理上诉案件，除依照本章规定外，适用第一审普通程序。

Article 158   The rulings and decisions of people's courts of the second instance shall be final rulings and decisions.

     第一百五十八条 第二审人民法院的判决、裁定，是终审的判决、裁定。

Article 159   When trying an appeal case concerning a ruling, a people's court shall close the case within three months from the date of initiation of the case. When the time period needs to be extended due to special circumstance, the extension shall be subject the approval of the president of the court.

When trying an appeal case concerning a decision, a people's court shall make a final decision within 30 days from the date of initiation of the case.

     第一百五十九条 人民法院审理对判决的上诉案件，应当在第二审立案之日起三个月内审结。有特殊情况需要延长的，由本院院长批准。

    人民法院审理对裁定的上诉案件，应当在第二审立案之日起三十日内作出终审裁定。

Chapter 15: Special Procedure

第十五章 特别程序

Section 1: General Provisions

第一节 一般规定

Article 160   When trying cases concerning voter qualification, declaration of persons as missing or dead, determination of citizens as having no or limited capacity for civil conduct and determination of property as ownerless, people's courts shall apply the provisions of this Chapter. In the absence of the provisions of this Chapter, the relevant provisions of this Law and any other law shall be applied.

     第一百六十条 人民法院审理选民资格案件、宣告失踪或者宣告死亡案件、认定公民无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力案件和认定财产无主案件，适用本章规定。本章没有规定的，适用本法和其他法律的有关规定。

Article 161   When a case is tried in accordance with the procedures of this Chapter, the first instance shall be final. A case involving voter qualification or a major or complicated case shall be tried by a collegiate panel consisting of judges; any other case shall be tried by a single judge.

     第一百六十一条 依照本章程序审理的案件，实行一审终审。选民资格案件或者重大、疑难的案件，由审判员组成合议庭审理；其他案件由审判员一人独任审理。

Article 162   When, during the course of the trial of a case in accordance with the procedures of this Chapter, a people's court finds that the case involves a dispute over civil rights and interests, it shall make a decision to terminate the special procedure and notify the interested parties to file another action.

     第一百六十二条 人民法院在依照本章程序审理案件的过程中，发现本案属于民事权益争议的，应当裁定终结特别程序，并告知利害关系人可以另行起诉。

Article 163   When applying special procedure to try a case, a people's court shall close the case within 30 days from the date of initiation of the case or within 30 days after the expiration of the period of public notice. When the time period needs to be extended due to special circumstances, the extension shall be subject to the approval of the president of the court except where the case involves voter qualification.

     第一百六十三条 人民法院适用特别程序审理的案件，应当在立案之日起三十日内或者公告期满后三十日内审结。有特殊情况需要延长的，由本院院长批准。但审理选民资格的案件除外。

Section 2: Cases Involving Voter Qualification

第二节 选民资格案件

Article 164   When a citizen is dissatisfied with a election committee's decision on handling a petition concerning voter qualification, he or she may file an action with the basic people's court in the election district five days prior to the election date.

     第一百六十四条 公民不服选举委员会对选民资格的申诉所作的处理决定，可以在选举日的五日以前向选区所在地基层人民法院起诉。

Article 165   After accepting a case involving voter qualification, a people's court must close the case before the election date.

The person filing the action, the representatives of the election committee and the relevant citizens must present at the trial.

A written ruling of a people's court shall be served on the election committee and the person filing the action and before the date of election, and the relevant citizens shall be notified thereof.

     第一百六十五条 人民法院受理选民资格案件后，必须在选举日前审结。

    审理时，起诉人、选举委员会的代表和有关公民必须参加。

    人民法院的判决书，应当在选举日前送达选举委员会和起诉人，并通知有关公民。

Section 3: Cases Involving Declaration of Persons as Missing or Dead

第三节 宣告失踪、宣告死亡案件

Article 166   Where the whereabouts of a citizen have been unknown for two years and an interested person applies for a declaration that the citizen is missing, the application shall be filed with the basic people's court of the domicile of the person whose whereabouts are unknown.

The written application shall clearly state the facts and the time the person went missing, as well as the request accompanied by the written certification of the public security organ concerned or other relevant agencies showing that the whereabouts of the citizen are unknown.

     第一百六十六条 公民下落不明满二年，利害关系人申请宣告其失踪的，向下落不明人住所地基层人民法院提出。

    申请书应当写明失踪的事实、时间和请求，并附有公安机关或者其他有关机关关于该公民下落不明的书面证明。

Article 167   Where the whereabouts of a citizen have been unknown for four years, or unknown for two years due to an accident, or unknown due to accident and the relevant agency certifies that it is impossible for the citizen to have survived, and an interested person applies for a declaration that the citizen is dead, the application shall be filed in the basic people's court of the place of the domicile of the person whose whereabouts are unknown.

The written application shall clearly state the fact that and the time when the whereabouts were unknown as well as the request accompanied by the written certification of the public security organ concerned or other relevant organs showing that the whereabouts of the citizen are unknown.

     第一百六十七条 公民下落不明满四年，或者因意外事故下落不明满二年，或者因意外事故下落不明，经有关机关证明该公民不可能生存，利害关系人申请宣告其死亡的，向下落不明人住所地基层人民法院提出。

    申请书应当写明下落不明的事实、时间和请求，并附有公安机关或者其他有关机关关于该公民下落不明的书面证明。

Article 168   After accepting a case involving a declaration that a person is missing or dead, a people's court shall issue a public notice for looking for the person whose whereabouts are unknown. The period of public notice for declaring a person missing shall be three months, and the period of public notice for declaring a person dead shall be one year. Where the whereabouts of a citizen become unknown due to an accident and the relevant authority certifies that it is impossible for the citizen to have survived, the period of public notice for declaring the citizen dead shall be three months.

Upon the expiration of the time period of public notice, a people's court shall, based on whether or not the facts regarding the declaration that a person is missing or dead are verified, make a ruling declaring the person missing or dead, or make a ruling rejecting the application.

     第一百六十八条 人民法院受理宣告失踪、宣告死亡案件后，应当发出寻找下落不明人的公告。宣告失踪的公告期间为三个月，宣告死亡的公告期间为一年。因意外事故下落不明，经有关机关证明该公民不可能生存的，宣告死亡的公告期间为三个月。

    公告期间届满，人民法院应当根据被宣告失踪、宣告死亡的事实是否得到确认，作出宣告失踪、宣告死亡的判决或者驳回申请的判决。

Article 169   Where a citizen who is declared missing or dead reappears, a people's court shall make a new ruling revoking the original ruling upon the application of the citizen or an interested person.

     第一百六十九条 被宣告失踪、宣告死亡的公民重新出现，经本人或者利害关系人申请，人民法院应当作出新判决，撤销原判决。

Section 4: Cases Involving Determination of Citizens as Having No or Limited Capacity for Civil Conduct

第四节 认定公民无民事行为能力、限制民事行为能力案件

Article 170   The application for determination of a citizen as having no or limited capacity for civil conduct shall be filed by a close relative of the citizen or any other interested person with the basic people's court of the place of the citizen's domicile.

The written application shall clearly state the facts and basis that the citizen has no or limited capacity for civil conduct.

     第一百七十条 申请认定公民无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力，由其近亲属或者其他利害关系人向该公民住所地基层人民法院提出。

    申请书应当写明该公民无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力的事实和根据。

Article 171   After accepting an application for determination of a citizen as having no or limited capacity for civil conduct, a people's court shall conduct an expert evaluation of the citizen when necessary. When the applicant has provided an expert evaluation assessment, the people's court shall conduct an examination thereof.

  

     第一百七十一条 人民法院受理申请后，必要时应当对被请求认定为无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力的公民进行鉴定。申请人已提供鉴定结论的，应当对鉴定结论进行审查。

Article 172   When a people's court tries a case involving the determination of a citizen as having no or limited capacity for civil conduct, his or her close relatives, excluding the applicant, shall be his or her agent. When the close relatives shift onto one another the responsibility to serve as an agent, the people's court shall designate one of them to represent the person for the action. Where the health condition of the citizen permits, his or her opinions shall be consulted.

When a people's court, after conducting trial, determines that there are factual basis for the application, it shall make a ruling that the citizen has no or limited capacity for civil conduct; when a people's court determines that there are no factual basis for the application, it shall make a ruling rejecting the application.

     第一百七十二条 人民法院审理认定公民无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力的案件，应当由该公民的近亲属为代理人，但申请人除外。近亲属互相推诿的，由人民法院指定其中一人为代理人。该公民健康情况许可的，还应当询问本人的意见。

    人民法院经审理认定申请有事实根据的，判决该公民为无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力人；认定申请没有事实根据的，应当判决予以驳回。

Article 173   When, based on the application of a citizen who is determined as having no or limited capacity for civil conduct or his or her guardian, a people's court ascertains that the causes for the citizen's having no or limited capacity for civil conduct have been removed, it shall make a new ruling to revoke the original ruling.

     第一百七十三条 人民法院根据被认定为无民事行为能力人、限制民事行为能力人或者他的监护人的申请，证实该公民无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力的原因已经消除的，应当作出新判决，撤销原判决。

Section 5: Cases Involving Determination of Property as Ownerless

第五节 认定财产无主案件

Article 174   An application for determination of property as ownerless shall be filed by a citizen, legal person or other organization with the basic people's court of the place where the property is located.

The written application shall clearly state the type and quantity of the property as well as the basis for requesting determination of the property as ownerless.

  

     第一百七十四条 申请认定财产无主，由公民、法人或者其他组织向财产所在地基层人民法院提出。

    申请书应当写明财产的种类、数量以及要求认定财产无主的根据。

Article 175   After accepting an application, a people's court shall, upon examination and verification, issue a public notice for claiming the property. If no one claims the property upon the expiration of a one-year period after publication of the notice, a ruling shall be made to determine the property as ownerless, and the property shall be owned by the State or collectives.

     第一百七十五条 人民法院受理申请后，经审查核实，应当发出财产认领公告。公告满一年无人认领的，判决认定财产无主，收归国家或者集体所有。

Article 176   When the original owner or heir of the property that has been determined as ownerless by a ruling appears and claims the property within the period of limitation of action as laid down in the General Principles of the Civil Law, a people's court shall make a new ruling to revoke the original ruling upon examination and verification.

     第一百七十六条 判决认定财产无主后，原财产所有人或者继承人出现，在民法通则规定的诉讼时效期间可以对财产提出请求，人民法院审查属实后，应当作出新判决，撤销原判决。

Chapter 16: Trial Supervision Procedure

第十六章 审判监督程序

Article 177   The president of a people's court at any level shall submit a ruling or decision of the court that has come into force to the judicial committee for discussion and decision if he or she finds that the ruling or decision contains an error and needs to be retried.

When the Supreme People's Court finds that a ruling or decision of a people's court at any level that has come into force contains an error, or when a people's court at a higher level finds that a ruling or decision of a people's court at a lower level that has come into force contains an error, it shall have the right to bring the case up for retrial or instruct a people's court at a lower level to conduct retrial.

  

     第一百七十七条 各级人民法院院长对本院已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定，发现确有错误，认为需要再审的，应当提交审判委员会讨论决定。

    最高人民法院对地方各级人民法院已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定，上级人民法院对下级人民法院已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定，发现确有错误的，有权提审或者指令下级人民法院再审。

Article 178   When a party concerned believes that a ruling or decision that has come into force contains an error, the party may apply to the people's court at the next higher level for retrial, provided, however, that the enforcement of the ruling or decision shall not be ceased.

     第一百七十八条 当事人对已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定，认为有错误的，可以向上一级人民法院申请再审，但不停止判决、裁定的执行。

Article 179   A people's court shall conduct retrial if the application of a party concerned satisfies any of the following circumstances:

(1) There is new evidence sufficient to reverse the original ruling or decision;

(2) There is no evidence to prove the basic facts ascertained in the original ruling or decision;

(3) The main evidence used by the original ruling or decision to ascertain facts is forged;

(4) The main evidence used by the original ruling or decision to ascertain facts is not examined by the each of the parties;

(5) The parties concerned are unable to collect the evidence required for the trial of the case concerned due to objective reasons and applies to the people's court in writing for investigation and collection thereof, but the people's court fails to investigate and collect such evidence;

(6) The original ruling or decision contains an error in the application of the law;

(7) There is violation of the law and the jurisdiction is exercised wrongly;

(8) The trial organization is not formed lawfully or an judicial officer who is required to withdraw from the case in accordance with the law fails to withdraw from the case;

(9) A person without capacity for procedural act is not presented by his or her statutory agent for the action, or a party concerned fails to participate in the action due to reasons not attributable to the party or the agent ad litem of the party;

(10) The parties concerned are deprived of the right to debate in violation of the law;

(11) A default judgment is made without issuing a summons;

(12) The original ruling or decision contains an omission or exceeds the claims;

(13) The legal document based on which the original ruling or decision is made is revoked or amended; 

A people's court shall conduct a retrial of a case where the violation of statutory procedures is likely to affect the correct ruling or decision in the case, or where the judicial officers commit graft, take bribes, practice favoritism and other irregularities, or pervert the law in trying the case.

     第一百七十九条 当事人的申请符合下列情形之一的，人民法院应当再审：

    （一）有新的证据，足以推翻原判决、裁定的；

    （二）原判决、裁定认定的基本事实缺乏证据证明的；

    （三）原判决、裁定认定事实的主要证据是伪造的；

    （四）原判决、裁定认定事实的主要证据未经质证的；

    （五）对审理案件需要的证据，当事人因客观原因不能自行收集，书面申请人民法院调查收集，人民法院未调查收集的；

    （六）原判决、裁定适用法律确有错误的；

    （七）违反法律规定，管辖错误的；

    （八）审判组织的组成不合法或者依法应当回避的审判人员没有回避的；

    （九）无诉讼行为能力人未经法定代理人代为诉讼或者应当参加诉讼的当事人，因不能归责于本人或者其诉讼代理人的事由，未参加诉讼的；

    （十）违反法律规定，剥夺当事人辩论权利的；

    （十一）未经传票传唤，缺席判决的；

    （十二）原判决、裁定遗漏或者超出诉讼请求的；

    （十三）据以作出原判决、裁定的法律文书被撤销或者变更的。

    对违反法定程序可能影响案件正确判决、裁定的情形，或者审判人员在审理该案件时有贪污受贿，徇私舞弊，枉法裁判行为的，人民法院应当再审。

Article 180   When applying for the retrial of a case, a party concerned shall submit a written application for retrial and other relevant materials. A people's court shall, within five days after receiving the written application for retrial, deliver a duplicate copy thereof to the other party concerned. The other party concerned shall submit a written opinion within 15 days after receiving the duplicate copy of the written application for retrial. Failure of the other party concerned to submit written opinions shall not affect the examination by the people's court. The people's court may require the applicant and the other party concerned to supplement relevant materials and make inquiry about relevant matters.

     第一百八十条 当事人申请再审的，应当提交再审申请书等材料。人民法院应当自收到再审申请书之日起五日内将再审申请书副本发送对方当事人。对方当事人应当自收到再审申请书副本之日起十五日内提交书面意见；不提交书面意见的，不影响人民法院审查。人民法院可以要求申请人和对方当事人补充有关材料，询问有关事项。

Article 181   A people's court shall conduct an examination within three months after the receipt of the written application for retrial and shall make a decision for retrial if any of the circumstances set forth in Article 179 of this Law is satisfied. The application shall be rejected if it fails to comply with Article 179 of this Law. If an extension of the time period is necessary due to special circumstances, the extension shall be subject to the approval of the president of the court.

When a decision for the retrial of a case is made upon the application of a party concerned, the case shall be retried by a people's court at or above the intermediate level. When a decision for the retrial of a case is made by the Supreme People's Court or a high people's court, the case shall be retried by the Supreme People's Court or the high people's court or may be transferred to any other people's court or to the people's court of the original instance for retrial.

  

     第一百八十一条 人民法院应当自收到再审申请书之日起三个月内审查，符合本法第一百七十九条规定情形之一的，裁定再审；不符合本法第一百七十九条规定的，裁定驳回申请。有特殊情况需要延长的，由本院院长批准。

    因当事人申请裁定再审的案件由中级人民法院以上的人民法院审理。最高人民法院、高级人民法院裁定再审的案件，由本院再审或者交其他人民法院再审，也可以交原审人民法院再审。

Article 182   When a mediation document has come into force and a party concerned provides evidence showing that the mediation violates the principle of voluntariness, or the contents of the mediation document violates the law, the party may apply for retrial. The people's court concerned shall conduct a retrial upon examination and verification.

     第一百八十二条 当事人对已经发生法律效力的调解书，提出证据证明调解违反自愿原则或者调解协议的内容违反法律的，可以申请再审。经人民法院审查属实的，应当再审。

Article 183   A party concerned is not allowed to apply for the retrial of a ruling cancelling a marriage relationship that has come into force.

     第一百八十三条 当事人对已经发生法律效力的解除婚姻关系的判决，不得申请再审。

Article 184   If applying for retrial, a party concerned shall file the application within two years after the ruling or decision has come into force. If the legal document based on which the original ruling or decision is revoked or amended or any judicial officer is found to have committed graft, takes bribes, practices favoritism and other irregularities, or perverts the law after the expiry of the two year period, the application shall be filed within three months from the date when the party knows or should know of such revocation, amendment or act. 

     第一百八十四条 当事人申请再审，应当在判决、裁定发生法律效力后二年内提出；二年后据以作出原判决、裁定的法律文书被撤销或者变更，以及发现审判人员在审理该案件时有贪污受贿，徇私舞弊，枉法裁判行为的，自知道或者应当知道之日起三个月内提出。

Article 185   When the retrial of a case is decided according to trial supervision procedure, a decision shall be made to suspend the enforcement of the original ruling. The decision shall be signed by the president of the court with the seal of the people's court affixed thereto.

     第一百八十五条 按照审判监督程序决定再审的案件，裁定中止原判决的执行。裁定由院长署名，加盖人民法院印章。

Article 186   With regard to a case retried by a people's court according to trial supervision procedure, the trial shall be conducted according to first instance procedure if the ruling or decision that has come into force is made by a court of the first instance and a party concerned may appeal the ruling or decision made in the retrial; the trial shall be conducted according to second instance procedure if the ruling or decision that has come into force is made by a court of the second instance and the ruling or decision made in the retrial shall have legal force and effect; the trial shall be conducted according to second instance procedure if the case is brought up by a people's court at a higher level for trial and the ruling or decision made in the retrial shall have legal force and effect.

When conducting the retrial of a case, a people's court shall form a new collegiate panel.

     第一百八十六条 人民法院按照审判监督程序再审的案件，发生法律效力的判决、裁定是由第一审法院作出的，按照第一审程序审理，所作的判决、裁定，当事人可以上诉；发生法律效力的判决、裁定是由第二审法院作出的，按照第二审程序审理，所作的判决、裁定，是发生法律效力的判决、裁定；上级人民法院按照审判监督程序提审的，按照第二审程序审理，所作的判决、裁定是发生法律效力的判决、裁定。

    人民法院审理再审案件，应当另行组成合议庭。

Article 187   When the Supreme People's Procuratorate finds that a ruling or decision of a people's court at any level that has come into force, or a people's procuratorate at a higher level finds that a ruling or decision of a people's court at a lower level that has come into force, is under any of the circumstances set forth in Article 179 of this Law, it shall raise a protest.

When a local people's procuratorate at any level finds that a ruling or decision of a people's court at the same level that has come into force is under any of the circumstances set forth in Article 179 of this Law, it shall submit a request to the people's procuratorate at a higher level for filing a protest with the people's court at the same level.

     第一百八十七条 最高人民检察院对各级人民法院已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定，上级人民检察院对下级人民法院已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定，发现有本法第一百七十九条规定情形之一的，应当提出抗诉。

    地方各级人民检察院对同级人民法院已经发生法律效力的判决、裁定，发现有本法第一百七十九条规定情形之一的，应当提请上级人民检察院向同级人民法院提出抗诉。

Article 188   When a people's procuratorate files protest in respect of a case, the people's court accepting the protest shall make a decision for retrial within 30 days after receiving the written protest; the case may be delivered to the people's court at a lower level for retrial in any of the circumstances set forth in Items (1) through (5) of Article 179 of this Law.

     第一百八十八条 人民检察院提出抗诉的案件，接受抗诉的人民法院应当自收到抗诉书之日起三十日内作出再审的裁定；有本法第一百七十九条第一款第（一）项至第（五）项规定情形之一的，可以交下一级人民法院再审。

Article 189   When protesting against a ruling or decision of a people's court, a people's procuratorate shall prepare a written protest.

     第一百八十九条 人民检察院决定对人民法院的判决、裁定提出抗诉的，应当制作抗诉书。

Article 190   When a people's court retries a case for which a people's procuratorate raises a protest, it shall notify the people's procuratorate to send personnel to be present at the court.

     第一百九十条 人民检察院提出抗诉的案件，人民法院再审时，应当通知人民检察院派员出席法庭。

Chapter 17: Supervision and Admonishment Procedure

第十七章 督促程序

Article 191   When a creditor requests payment of money or negotiable securities from a debtor and the following requirements are satisfied, the creditor may apply to the competent basic people's court of jurisdiction for a payment order:

(1) The creditor and debtor have no other debt disputes;

(2) The payment order can be served on the debtor.

The written application shall clearly state the amount of the money or negotiable securities to be paid under the application and the facts and evidence therefor.

     第一百九十一条 债权人请求债务人给付金钱、有价证券，符合下列条件的，可以向有管辖权的基层人民法院申请支付令：

    （一）债权人与债务人没有其他债务纠纷的；

    （二）支付令能够送达债务人的。

    申请书应当写明请求给付金钱或者有价证券的数量和所根据的事实、证据。

Article 192   After a creditor files an application, a people's court shall, within five days, notify the creditor of acceptance or non-acceptance of the application.

     第一百九十二条 债权人提出申请后，人民法院应当在五日内通知债权人是否受理。

Article 193   When a people's court accepts an application and determines, upon the examination of the facts and evidence provided by the creditor, the credit-debt relationship is definite and lawful, it shall issue a payment order to the debtor within 15 days from the date of acceptance; a decision shall be made to reject an application that is not tenable.

A debtor shall either make repayment of debts or raise written opposition with a people's court within 15 days from the date of receipt of the payment order.

When a debtor neither raises opposition to nor obeys the payment order within the time period specified in the preceding paragraph, a creditor may apply to a people's court for enforcement.

     第一百九十三条 人民法院受理申请后，经审查债权人提供的事实、证据，对债权债务关系明确、合法的，应当在受理之日起十五日内向债务人发出支付令；申请不成立的，裁定予以驳回。

    债务人应当自收到支付令之日起十五日内清偿债务，或者向人民法院提出书面异议。

    债务人在前款规定的期间不提出异议又不履行支付令的，债权人可以向人民法院申请执行。

Article 194   After receiving the written opposition filed by a debtor, a people's court shall make a decision to terminate the supervision and admonishment procedure, and the payment order shall automatically become null and void. In such case, a creditor may file an action.

     第一百九十四条 人民法院收到债务人提出的书面异议后，应当裁定终结督促程序，支付令自行失效，债权人可以起诉。

Chapter 18: Procedure of Public Notice for Assertion of Claims

第十八章 公示催告程序

Article 195   When a negotiable instrument that is transferable through endorsement under relevant provisions is stolen, lost or destroyed, its holder may apply to the people's court of the place where the payment of the negotiable instrument is made, for a public notice for the assertion of claims. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to other matters for which an application can be filed for a public notice for the assertion of claims under the relevant provisions of the law.

An applicant shall file a written application with a people's court stating clearly the main contents of the negotiable instrument concerned such as the face value, issuer, holder and endorser thereof as well as reasons and facts of the application.

     第一百九十五条 按照规定可以背书转让的票据持有人，因票据被盗、遗失或者灭失，可以向票据支付地的基层人民法院申请公示催告。依照法律规定可以申请公示催告的其他事项，适用本章规定。

    申请人应当向人民法院递交申请书，写明票面金额、发票人、持票人、背书人等票据主要内容和申请的理由、事实。

Article 196   When a people's court decides to accept an application, it shall, at the same time, notify the payer to cease payment and issue a public notice within three days urging the interested persons to assert their claims. The period of public notice for the assertion of claims shall be determined by a people's court according to the circumstance, and shall not be less than 60 days.

     第一百九十六条 人民法院决定受理申请，应当同时通知支付人停止支付，并在三日内发出公告，催促利害关系人申报权利。公示催告的期间，由人民法院根据情况决定，但不得少于六十日。

Article 197   When receiving the order of a people's court for ceasing payment, a payer shall cease the payment until the termination of the procedure of public notice for assertion of claims.

Any act of transferring the negotiable instrument shall be null and void during the period of public notice for the assertion of claims.

  

     第一百九十七条 支付人收到人民法院停止支付的通知，应当停止支付，至公示催告程序终结。

    公示催告期间，转让票据权利的行为无效。

Article 198   Interested persons shall assert their claims with a people's court during the period of public notice for the assertion of claims.

When receiving the assertion of interested persons, a people's court shall make a decision to terminate the procedure of public notice for the assertion of claims and shall notify the applicant and the payer thereof.

The applicant or a claimant may file an action with a people's court.

     第一百九十八条 利害关系人应当在公示催告期间向人民法院申报。

    人民法院收到利害关系人的申报后，应当裁定终结公示催告程序，并通知申请人和支付人。

    申请人或者申报人可以向人民法院起诉。

Article 199   When receiving no assertion of claims, a people's court shall make a ruling according to the application of the applicant and declare the negotiable instrument null and void. The ruling shall be announced publicly and the payer shall be notified thereof. The applicant shall have the right to request the payer to make payments beginning from the date when the ruling is announced publicly.

     第一百九十九条 没有人申报的，人民法院应当根据申请人的申请，作出判决，宣告票据无效。判决应当公告，并通知支付人。自判决公告之日起，申请人有权向支付人请求支付。

Article 200   When an interested person is unable to assert claims with a people's court prior to the making of a ruling with justified reasons, the person may file an action with the people's court that has made the ruling within one year from the date when the person knows or should know of the public notice of the ruling.

     第二百条 利害关系人因正当理由不能在判决前向人民法院申报的，自知道或者应当知道判决公告之日起一年内，可以向作出判决的人民法院起诉。

Part 3: Enforcement Procedure

第三编 执行程序

Chapter 19: General Provisions

第十九章 一般规定

Article 201   A civil ruling or decision or the property under a criminal ruling or decision that has come into force shall be enforced by the people's court of the first instance or the people's court which is at the same level as the people's court of the first instance and at the place where the property subject to enforcement is located.

Any other legal document required to be enforced under the provisions of the law shall be enforced by the people's court of the place where the person subject to enforcement is domiciled or the property subject to enforcement is located.

     第二百零一条 发生法律效力的民事判决、裁定，以及刑事判决、裁定中的财产部分，由第一审人民法院或者与第一审人民法院同级的被执行的财产所在地人民法院执行。

    法律规定由人民法院执行的其他法律文书，由被执行人住所地或者被执行的财产所在地人民法院执行。

Article 202   If a party concerned or an interested person believes that the act of enforcement violates the provisions of the law, the party or the person may file opposition in writing with the people's court carrying out the enforcement. A people's court shall conduct examination within 15 days form the date when it receives the written opposition from a party concerned or an interested person and shall make a decision for revocation or amendment if the reasons for the opposition are tenable; a decision shall be made to reject the opposition if the reasons for the opposition are not tenable. The party concerned or the interested party may apply to a people's court at a higher level for review within ten days from the date of service of a decision if dissatisfied with the decision.

     第二百零二条 当事人、利害关系人认为执行行为违反法律规定的，可以向负责执行的人民法院提出书面异议。当事人、利害关系人提出书面异议的，人民法院应当自收到书面异议之日起十五日内审查，理由成立的，裁定撤销或者改正；理由不成立的，裁定驳回。当事人、利害关系人对裁定不服的，可以自裁定送达之日起十日内向上一级人民法院申请复议。

Article 203   If a people's court fails to carry out the enforcement upon the expiration of a six-month period after receiving the application for enforcement, the enforcement applicant may apply to a people's court at a higher level for enforcement. The people's court at a higher level may, upon examination, order the people's court of the original instance to carry out the enforcement within a specific time period or make a decision for it to carry out the enforcement or ordering any other people's court to carry out the enforcement.

     第二百零三条 人民法院自收到申请执行书之日起超过六个月未执行的，申请执行人可以向上一级人民法院申请执行。上一级人民法院经审查，可以责令原人民法院在一定期限内执行，也可以决定由本院执行或者指令其他人民法院执行。

Article 204   When an outside party raises opposition to the subject matter of enforcement during the course of enforcement, the people's court shall conduct an examination within 15 days after the receipt of the written opposition and shall make a decision to suspend the enforcement of the subject matter if the reasons for the opposition are tenable. If the reasons are not tenable, the opposition shall be rejected; When an outside party or a party concerned is dissatisfied with the decision and believes that the original ruling or decision contains errors, the matter shall be handled in accordance with the trial supervision procedure; if the original ruling or decision is not involved, such party or person may file an action with the people's court within 15 days after the date of service of the decision.

     第二百零四条 执行过程中，案外人对执行标的提出书面异议的，人民法院应当自收到书面异议之日起十五日内审查，理由成立的，裁定中止对该标的的执行；理由不成立的，裁定驳回。案外人、当事人对裁定不服，认为原判决、裁定错误的，依照审判监督程序办理；与原判决、裁定无关的，可以自裁定送达之日起十五日内向人民法院提起诉讼。

Article 205   Enforcement shall be carried out by enforcement personnel. Enforcement personnel shall present credentials when adopting compulsory enforcement measures. When the enforcement is completed, the particulars of the enforcement shall be recorded in writing and the written record shall be signed or sealed by the relevant persons present.

People's courts may establish enforcement sectors when necessary.

     第二百零五条 执行工作由执行员进行。

    采取强制执行措施时，执行员应当出示证件。执行完毕后，应当将执行情况制作笔录，由在场的有关人员签名或者盖章。

    人民法院根据需要可以设立执行机构。

Article 206   When the person subject to enforcement or the property subject to enforcement is in another place, a people's court in that place may be entrusted with the enforcement. The entrusted people's court, after receiving the letter of entrustment, must commence the enforcement within 15 days, and is not allowed to refuse. When the enforcement is completed, the entrusted people's court shall inform in writing the entrusting people's court of the enforcement results in a timely manner; the entrusted people's court shall still inform in writing the entrusting people's court of the particulars of the enforcement if it fails to complete it within 30 days.

When the entrusted people's court fails to commence the enforcement within 15 days from the date of receipt of the letter of entrustment, the entrusting people's court may request the people's court at the higher level of the entrusted people's court to instruct the entrusted people's court to carry out the enforcement.

     第二百零六条 被执行人或者被执行的财产在外地的，可以委托当地人民法院代为执行。受委托人民法院收到委托函件后，必须在十五日内开始执行，不得拒绝。执行完毕后，应当将执行结果及时函复委托人民法院；在三十日内如果还未执行完毕，也应当将执行情况函告委托人民法院。

    受委托人民法院自收到委托函件之日起十五日内不执行的，委托人民法院可以请求受委托人民法院的上级人民法院指令受委托人民法院执行。

Article 207   When the parties concerned reach a settlement agreement on their own during enforcement, the enforcement personnel shall enter the contents of the agreement into a written record which shall be signed and sealed by the parties concerned.

If one of the parties concerned fails to perform the settlement agreement, the people's court may resume the enforcement of the original legal document that has come into force, upon the application of the other party concerned.

     第二百零七条 在执行中，双方当事人自行和解达成协议的，执行员应当将协议内容记入笔录，由双方当事人签名或者盖章。

    一方当事人不履行和解协议的，人民法院可以根据对方当事人的申请，恢复对原生效法律文书的执行。

Article 208   When the person subject to enforcement provides a guarantee to a people's court during the enforcement, the people's court may decide to suspend the enforcement or the period of enforcement with the approval of the enforcement applicant. If the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the enforcement within the specified time limit, the people's court shall have the right to enforce the guaranteed property of the person subject to enforcement or the property of the guarantor.

     第二百零八条 在执行中，被执行人向人民法院提供担保，并经申请执行人同意的，人民法院可以决定暂缓执行及暂缓执行的期限。被执行人逾期仍不履行的，人民法院有权执行被执行人的担保财产或者担保人的财产。

Article 209   When a citizen who is the person subject to enforcement dies, the property of the person shall be used for the repayment of debts. When a legal person or other organization that is the person subject to enforcement ceases to exist, the successor to its rights and obligations shall perform the obligations.

     第二百零九条 作为被执行人的公民死亡的，以其遗产偿还债务。作为被执行人的法人或者其他组织终止的，由其权利义务承受人履行义务。

Article 210   When the enforcement is completed and the ruling, decision or any other legal document on which the enforcement is based is found to be erroneous and revoked by a people's court, the people's court shall make a decision in connection with the property that has been enforced, ordering the person taking possession of the property to return the property. Compulsory enforcement shall be carried out if the person refuses to return the property.

     第二百一十条 执行完毕后，据以执行的判决、裁定和其他法律文书确有错误，被人民法院撤销的，对已被执行的财产，人民法院应当作出裁定，责令取得财产的人返还；拒不返还的，强制执行。

Article 211   The provisions of this Part shall apply to the enforcement of the mediation documents prepared by people's courts.

     第二百一十一条 人民法院制作的调解书的执行，适用本编的规定。

Chapter 20: Application for and Transfer of Enforcement

第二十章 执行的申请和移送

Article 212   The parties concerned must perform a civil ruling or decision that has come into force. When one of the parties concerned refuses to perform, the other party concerned may apply to a people's court for enforcement, or a judicial officer may transfer the enforcement to the enforcement personnel.

The parties concerned must perform a mediation document or any other legal document required to be enforced by a people's court. When one of the parties concerned refuses to do so, the other party concerned may apply to a people's court for enforcement.

     第二百一十二条 发生法律效力的民事判决、裁定，当事人必须履行。一方拒绝履行的，对方当事人可以向人民法院申请执行，也可以由审判员移送执行员执行。

    调解书和其他应当由人民法院执行的法律文书，当事人必须履行。一方拒绝履行的，对方当事人可以向人民法院申请执行。

Article 213   When one of the parties concerned fails to perform an award of an arbitration institution established in accordance with the law, the other party concerned may apply to the competent people's court of jurisdiction for enforcement. The people's court in which the application is filed shall carry out the enforcement.

When the respondent provides evidence showing that an arbitration award is under any of the following circumstances, a people's court shall, upon examination and verification by a collegiate panel, decides not to carry out the enforcement:

(1) The parties concerned fail to include an arbitration clause in their contract or fail to reach a written arbitration agreement subsequently;

(2) The arbitrated matters are beyond the scope of the arbitration agreement or the authority of the arbitration institution;

(3) The formation of the arbitration tribunal or the arbitration procedure violates statutory procedures;

(4) The main evidence used to ascertain the facts is not sufficient;

(5) The application of the law contains an error;

(6) The arbitrators commit graft, take bribes, practice favoritism and other irregularities, or pervert the law in making the award.

When a people's court determines that the enforcement of an award is contrary to the social public interest, it shall make a decision to reject the enforcement.

The written decision shall be served on the parties concerned and the arbitration institution. When a people's court decides not to enforce an arbitration award, a party concerned may file a new application for arbitration according to the written arbitration agreement reached by the parties concerned or may file an action with a people's court.

     第二百一十三条 对依法设立的仲裁机构的裁决，一方当事人不履行的，对方当事人可以向有管辖权的人民法院申请执行。受申请的人民法院应当执行。

    被申请人提出证据证明仲裁裁决有下列情形之一的，经人民法院组成合议庭审查核实，裁定不予执行：

    （一）当事人在合同中没有订有仲裁条款或者事后没有达成书面仲裁协议的；

    （二）裁决的事项不属于仲裁协议的范围或者仲裁机构无权仲裁的；

    （三）仲裁庭的组成或者仲裁的程序违反法定程序的；

    （四）认定事实的主要证据不足的；

    （五）适用法律确有错误的；

    （六）仲裁员在仲裁该案时有贪污受贿，徇私舞弊，枉法裁决行为的。

    人民法院认定执行该裁决违背社会公共利益的，裁定不予执行。

    裁定书应当送达双方当事人和仲裁机构。

    仲裁裁决被人民法院裁定不予执行的，当事人可以根据双方达成的书面仲裁协议重新申请仲裁，也可以向人民法院起诉。

Article 214   When one of the parties concerned fails to perform a document on creditor's right with enforceability notarized by a notary agency, the other party concerned may apply to the competent people's court of jurisdiction for enforcement and the people's court with which the application is filed shall carry out the enforcement.

     第二百一十四条 对公证机关依法赋予强制执行效力的债权文书，一方当事人不履行的，对方当事人可以向有管辖权的人民法院申请执行，受申请的人民法院应当执行。

    公证债权文书确有错误的，人民法院裁定不予执行，并将裁定书送达双方当事人和公证机关。

Article 215   The time period for applying for enforcement shall be two years. The provisions of the law regarding the suspension or interruption of limitation of action shall be applicable to the suspension or interruption of the time period for applying for enforcement

The time period specified in the preceding paragraph shall be calculated from the last day of the performance period set forth in a legal document, or from the last day of each performance period if a legal document provides for performance by stages, or from the date of effectiveness of the legal document if no time period for performance is specified in the legal document.

     第二百一十五条 申请执行的期间为二年。申请执行时效的中止、中断，适用法律有关诉讼时效中止、中断的规定。

    前款规定的期间，从法律文书规定履行期间的最后一日起计算；法律文书规定分期履行的，从规定的每次履行期间的最后一日起计算；法律文书未规定履行期间的，从法律文书生效之日起计算。

Article 216   When receiving the written application for enforcement or the transferred letter of enforcement, enforcement personnel shall issue an enforcement notice to the person subject to enforcement ordering the person to perform during the specified time limit. Compulsory enforcement shall be carried out in the event of failure to perform within the specified time limit.

When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligations specified in a legal document and may conceal or transfer the property concerned, enforcement personnel may adopt compulsory measures for enforcement immediately.

     第二百一十六条 执行员接到申请执行书或者移交执行书，应当向被执行人发出执行通知，责令其在指定的期间履行，逾期不履行的，强制执行。

    被执行人不履行法律文书确定的义务，并有可能隐匿、转移财产的，执行员可以立即采取强制执行措施。

Chapter 21: Enforcement Measures

第二十一章 执行措施

Article 217   If the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligations specified in a legal document in accordance with the enforcement notice, the report about the person's current property situation and the property situation one year prior to the receipt of the performance notice shall be submitted. If the person subject to enforcement refuses to report or makes a false report, a people's court may, based on the seriousness of the circumstances, impose fines or detention on the person subject to enforcement or the statutory agent of the person, or the person bearing primary responsibility, or the person subject to direct liability for the relevant organization.

     第二百一十七条 被执行人未按执行通知履行法律文书确定的义务，应当报告当前以及收到执行通知之日前一年的财产情况。被执行人拒绝报告或者虚假报告的，人民法院可以根据情节轻重对被执行人或者其法定代理人、有关单位的主要负责人或者直接责任人员予以罚款、拘留。

Article 218   When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligations laid down in the legal document in accordance with the enforcement notice, a people's court shall have the right to make inquiry of a bank, credit cooperative or other organization engaging in deposit business about the deposit of the person subject to enforcement, and shall have the right to freeze or transfer the deposit of the person subject to enforcement, provided that the inquiry, freezing or transfer of such deposit shall not exceed the scope of the obligations that the person subject to enforcement is required to perform.

When a people's court decides to freeze or transfer any deposit, it shall make a decision and issue a notice to assist enforcement, and the banks, credit cooperatives and other organizations engaging in deposit business must handle the freezing or transfer.

     第二百一十八条 被执行人未按执行通知履行法律文书确定的义务，人民法院有权向银行、信用合作社和其他有储蓄业务的单位查询被执行人的存款情况，有权冻结、划拨被执行人的存款，但查询、冻结、划拨存款不得超出被执行人应当履行义务的范围。

    人民法院决定冻结、划拨存款，应当作出裁定，并发出协助执行通知书，银行、信用合作社和其他有储蓄业务的单位必须办理。

Article 219   When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligations laid down in the legal document in accordance with the enforcement notice, a people's court shall have the right to withhold or withdraw the income of the person subject to enforcement equivalent to the obligations required to be performed by the person. However, necessary living expenses required by the person subject to enforcement and the family members supported by the person shall be retained.

When a people's court withholds or withdraws any income, it shall make a decision and issue a notice for assistance with the enforcement, and the organization, bank, credit cooperative or other organization engaging in deposit business that employs the person subject to enforcement must handle the withholding or withdrawal.

     第二百一十九条 被执行人未按执行通知履行法律文书确定的义务，人民法院有权扣留、提取被执行人应当履行义务部分的收入。但应当保留被执行人及其所扶养家属的生活必需费用。

    人民法院扣留、提取收入时，应当作出裁定，并发出协助执行通知书，被执行人所在单位、银行、信用合作社和其他有储蓄业务的单位必须办理。

Article 220   When a person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligations laid down in the legal document in accordance with the enforcement notice, a people's court shall have the right to seal up, detain, freeze, auction or sell the property of the person subject to enforcement equivalent to the obligations required to be performed by the person. However, the daily necessities required by the person subject to enforcement and the family members supported by the person shall be retained.

A people's court shall make a decision for adopting the above measures.

     第二百二十条 被执行人未按执行通知履行法律文书确定的义务，人民法院有权查封、扣押、冻结、拍卖、变卖被执行人应当履行义务部分的财产。但应当保留被执行人及其所扶养家属的生活必需品。

    采取前款措施，人民法院应当作出裁定。

Article 221   When a people's court seals up or detains property, and the person subject to enforcement is a citizen, the people's court shall notify the person subject to enforcement or an adult family member of the person to be present; when the person subject to enforcement is a legal person or other organization, the people's court shall notify its legal representative or person bearing primary responsibility to be present. Failure of the above person to be present shall not affect the enforcement. When the person is a citizen, the employer of the person, basic organization at the place where the property of the person is located shall dispatch personnel to participate.

Enforcement personnel must make a list of the property that is sealed up or detained, and the list shall be signed or sealed by the persons present, and a copy given to the person subject to enforcement. When the person subject to enforcement is a citizen, a copy may also be delivered to an adult family member of the person.

     第二百二十一条 人民法院查封、扣押财产时，被执行人是公民的，应当通知被执行人或者他的成年家属到场；被执行人是法人或者其他组织的，应当通知其法定代表人或者主要负责人到场。拒不到场的，不影响执行。被执行人是公民的，其工作单位或者财产所在地的基层组织应当派人参加。

    对被查封、扣押的财产，执行员必须造具清单，由在场人签名或者盖章后，交被执行人一份。被执行人是公民的，也可以交他的成年家属一份。

Article 222   Enforcement personnel may designate the person subject to enforcement to take custody of the property that is sealed up. The person subject to enforcement shall be responsible for any losses resulting from the fault of the person.

     第二百二十二条 被查封的财产，执行员可以指定被执行人负责保管。因被执行人的过错造成的损失，由被执行人承担。

Article 223   After property is sealed up or detained, enforcement personnel shall order the person subject to enforcement to perform the obligations laid down in the legal document during the specified time limit. When a person subject to enforcement fails to perform such obligations within the specified time limit, the people's court may, in accordance with the relevant provisions, deliver the sealed or detained property to the relevant organization for auction or sale. Items that the State prohibits from being traded freely shall be delivered to the relevant organizations for purchase at the price specified by the State.

     第二百二十三条 财产被查封、扣押后，执行员应当责令被执行人在指定期间履行法律文书确定的义务。被执行人逾期不履行的，人民法院可以按照规定交有关单位拍卖或者变卖被查封、扣押的财产。国家禁止自由买卖的物品，交有关单位按照国家规定的价格收购。

Article 224   When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligations laid down in the legal document and conceals the property, a people's court shall have the right to issue a search warrant to search the domicile of the person subject to enforcement or the place where the property is concealed.

A search warrant shall be issued by the president of the court concerned for adopting the above measures.

     第二百二十四条 被执行人不履行法律文书确定的义务，并隐匿财产的，人民法院有权发出搜查令，对被执行人及其住所或者财产隐匿地进行搜查。

    采取前款措施，由院长签发搜查令。

Article 225   The property, negotiable instruments or certificates to be delivered under a legal document shall be delivered by the parties concerned as summoned by the enforcement personnel or be delivered by the enforcement personnel, and the person taking delivery shall sign for it.

Any relevant organization taking possession of such property, negotiable instruments or certificates shall make delivery thereof according to the notice of the people's court for assistance with enforcement, and the person taking delivery shall sign for it.

A people's court shall notify the relevant citizens having possession of such property, negotiable instruments or certificates to surrender them. Compulsory enforcement shall be carried out in the event of refusal to surrender.

     第二百二十五条 法律文书指定交付的财物或者票证，由执行员传唤双方当事人当面交付，或者由执行员转交，并由被交付人签收。

    有关单位持有该项财物或者票证的，应当根据人民法院的协助执行通知书转交，并由被交付人签收。

    有关公民持有该项财物或者票证的，人民法院通知其交出。拒不交出的，强制执行。

Article 226   In the event of compulsory removal from a house or land, a public notice shall be issued by the president of the court concerned and the person subject to enforcement shall be ordered to perform within the specified time limit. The enforcement personnel shall carry out compulsory enforcement if the person subject to enforcement fails to perform within the specified time limit.

When compulsory enforcement is carried out, the person subject to enforcement or an adult family member of the person shall be notified to be present if the person is a citizen; if the person subject to enforcement is a legal person or other organization, its legal representative or the person bearing primary responsibility shall be notified to be present. Failure of such person to be present shall not affect the enforcement. When the person subject to enforcement is a citizen, the person's employer or the basic organization at the place where the house or land is located shall dispatch personnel to participate. The enforcement personnel shall enter the particulars of the compulsory enforcement in a written record which shall be signed or sealed by the persons present.

Property that is compulsorily removed from the house shall be carried to the designated place by the persons dispatched by the people's court and delivered to the person subject to enforcement. If the person subject to enforcement is a citizen, the property may also be delivered to an adult family member of the person. The person subject to enforcement shall be responsible for any losses resulting from refusal to take delivery.

     第二百二十六条 强制迁出房屋或者强制退出土地，由院长签发公告，责令被执行人在指定期间履行。被执行人逾期不履行的，由执行员强制执行。

    强制执行时，被执行人是公民的，应当通知被执行人或者他的成年家属到场；被执行人是法人或者其他组织的，应当通知其法定代表人或者主要负责人到场。拒不到场的，不影响执行。被执行人是公民的，其工作单位或者房屋、土地所在地的基层组织应当派人参加。执行员应当将强制执行情况记入笔录，由在场人签名或者盖章。

    强制迁出房屋被搬出的财物，由人民法院派人运至指定处所，交给被执行人。被执行人是公民的，也可以交给他的成年家属。因拒绝接收而造成的损失，由被执行人承担。

Article 227   During enforcement, a people's court may, when necessary, issue a notice for assistance with enforcement to the relevant organizations for handling formalities for transferring the relevant property right certificates and the relevant organizations must comply.

     第二百二十七条 在执行中，需要办理有关财产权证照转移手续的，人民法院可以向有关单位发出协助执行通知书，有关单位必须办理。

Article 228   When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the act specified in a ruling, decision or any other legal document according to the enforcement notice, a people's court may carry out enforcement or entrust the relevant organizations or any other person with the performance, and the person subject to enforcement shall bear the relevant expenses.

     第二百二十八条 对判决、裁定和其他法律文书指定的行为，被执行人未按执行通知履行的，人民法院可以强制执行或者委托有关单位或者其他人完成，费用由被执行人承担。

Article 229   When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligation to make a payment of money within the time period specified in a ruling, decision or any other legal document, the person shall pay twice the amount of the interest on the debts for the period during which performance is delayed. When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform any other obligation within the time period specified in a ruling, decision or any other legal document, the person shall pay fines for the delay in performance.

     第二百二十九条 被执行人未按判决、裁定和其他法律文书指定的期间履行给付金钱义务的，应当加倍支付迟延履行期间的债务利息。被执行人未按判决、裁定和其他法律文书指定的期间履行其他义务的，应当支付迟延履行金。

Article 230   If a people's court has adopted the enforcement measures specified in Articles 221, 222 and 223 of this Law and the person subject to enforcement is still unable to repay the debts, the person shall continue to perform the obligation. When a creditor discovers that the person subject to enforcement has any other property, the creditor may apply to a people's court for enforcement at any time.

     第二百三十条 人民法院采取本法第二百一十八条、第二百一十九条、第二百二十条规定的执行措施后，被执行人仍不能偿还债务的，应当继续履行义务。债权人发现被执行人有其他财产的，可以随时请求人民法院执行。

Article 231   When the person subject to enforcement fails to perform the obligations specified in a legal document, a people's court may adopt, or notify the relevant organizations to adopt, measures against the person such as restricting the person from leaving the country, recording in a credit system or publishing through the media the information of the person's failure to perform those obligations, and other measures specified in the law.

     第二百三十一条 被执行人不履行法律文书确定的义务的，人民法院可以对其采取或者通知有关单位协助采取限制出境，在征信系统记录、通过媒体公布不履行义务信息以及法律规定的其他措施。

Chapter 22: Suspension and Termination of Enforcement

第二十二章 执行中止和终结

Article 232  Under any of the following circumstances, a people's court shall make a decision to suspend enforcement:

(1) The applicant indicates that enforcement may be postponed;

(2) An outside party raises justified opposition to the subject matter of the enforcement;

(3) A citizen serving as one of the parties concerned dies, and it is necessary to wait for his or her heir to inherit rights or bear obligations;

(4) The legal person serving as one of the parties concerned ceases to exist and the successor to its rights and obligations has not been determined;

(5) Other circumstances where people's courts believe that enforcement shall be suspended.

Enforcement shall be resumed when the circumstance causing the suspension is removed.

     第二百三十二条 有下列情形之一的，人民法院应当裁定中止执行：

    （一）申请人表示可以延期执行的；

    （二）案外人对执行标的提出确有理由的异议的；

    （三）作为一方当事人的公民死亡，需要等待继承人继承权利或者承担义务的；

    （四）作为一方当事人的法人或者其他组织终止，尚未确定权利义务承受人的；

    （五）人民法院认为应当中止执行的其他情形。

    中止的情形消失后，恢复执行。

Article 233   Under any of the following circumstances, a people's court shall make a decision to terminateenforcement:

(1) The applicant withdraws the application;

(2) The legal document on which the enforcement is based is revoked;

(3) The citizen acting as the person subject to enforcement dies and has neitherassets for enforcement nor a person that should bear the obligations.

(4) One of the parties in a case involving claims for payment of maintenance, support, or child support fees dies;

(5) The citizen acting as the person subject to enforcement is unable to repay a loan due to financial difficulty, has no source of income and loses ability to work; and

(6) Other circumstanceswhere people's courts believe that enforcement shall be terminated.

     第二百三十三条 有下列情形之一的，人民法院裁定终结执行：

    （一）申请人撤销申请的；

    （二）据以执行的法律文书被撤销的；

    （三）作为被执行人的公民死亡，无遗产可供执行，又无义务承担人的；

    （四）追索赡养费、扶养费、抚育费案件的权利人死亡的；

    （五）作为被执行人的公民因生活困难无力偿还借款，无收入来源，又丧失劳动能力的；

    （六）人民法院认为应当终结执行的其他情形。

Article 234   A decision to suspend or terminate enforcement shall take effect immediately after being served on the parties concerned.

     第二百三十四条 中止和终结执行的裁定，送达当事人后立即生效。

Part 4: Special Provisions on Civil Litigation Procedures Involving Foreign Elements

第四编 涉外民事诉讼程序的特别规定

Chapter 23: General Principles

第二十三章 一般原则

Article 235   The provisions of this Part shall apply to the civil actions conducted within the territory of the People's Republic of China. In the absence of the provisions in this Part, the other relevant provisions of this Law shall apply.

     第二百三十五条 在中华人民共和国领域内进行涉外民事诉讼，适用本编规定。本编没有规定的，适用本法其他有关规定。

Article 236   Where an international treaty that the People's Republic of China has concluded or acceded to contains any provision different from that of this Law, the provisions of the international treaty shall apply unless the People's Republic of China has declared a reservation about the provision.

     第二百三十六条 中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约同本法有不同规定的，适用该国际条约的规定，但中华人民共和国声明保留的条款除外。

Article 237   An action filed against a foreigner, foreign organization or international organization that has diplomatic privileges and exemptions shall be handled in accordance with the relevant laws of the People's Republic of China and the international treaties that the People's Republic of China has concluded or acceded to.

     第二百三十七条 对享有外交特权与豁免的外国人、外国组织或者国际组织提起的民事诉讼，应当依照中华人民共和国有关法律和中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约的规定办理。

Article 238   People's courts shall use the spoken or written language commonly used in the People's Republic of China to try civil cases involving foreign elements. When a party concerned requests a translation or interpretation, the translation or interpretation may be provided, and the party concerned shall bear the expenses.

     第二百三十八条 人民法院审理涉外民事案件，应当使用中华人民共和国通用的语言、文字。当事人要求提供翻译的，可以提供，费用由当事人承担。

Article 239   When foreigners, stateless persons or foreign enterprises or organizations need to appoint lawyers as their agents for filing or responding to actions in people's courts, they must appoint lawyers of the People's Republic of China.

     第二百三十九条 外国人、无国籍人、外国企业和组织在人民法院起诉、应诉，需要委托律师代理诉讼的，必须委托中华人民共和国的律师。

Article 240   When foreigners, stateless persons or foreign enterprises or organizations without domiciles within the territory of the People's Republic of China appoint lawyers or any other persons of the People's Republic of China as agents for actions, a power of attorney mailed or forwarded from outside the territory of the People's Republic of China shall become effective only after it has been certified by a notary organof their respective country and has been authenticated by the embassy or a consulate of the People's Republic of China in that country, or after it has gone through the certification formalities provided in the relevant treaties concluded between the People's Republic of China and that country.

     第二百四十条 在中华人民共和国领域内没有住所的外国人、无国籍人、外国企业和组织委托中华人民共和国律师或者其他人代理诉讼，从中华人民共和国领域外寄交或者托交的授权委托书，应当经所在国公证机关证明，并经中华人民共和国驻该国使领馆认证，或者履行中华人民共和国与该所在国订立的有关条约中规定的证明手续后，才具有效力。

Chapter 24: Jurisdiction

第二十四章 管辖

Article 241    With regard to a dispute over a contract other property rights and interests, an action filed by a defendant not domiciled within the territory of the People's Republic of China may be under the jurisdiction of the people's court of the place where the contract is concluded or performed, the subject-matter of the action is located, the property available for detainment is located, the tortious act is committed, or the representative office is located if the contract is concluded or performed within the territory of the People's Republic of China, the subject matter of the action is located within the territory of the People's Republic of China, or the defendant has property available for detainment, or a representative office within the territory of the People's Republic of China.

     第二百四十一条 因合同纠纷或者其他财产权益纠纷，对在中华人民共和国领域内没有住所的被告提起的诉讼，如果合同在中华人民共和国领域内签订或者履行，或者诉讼标的物在中华人民共和国领域内，或者被告在中华人民共和国领域内有可供扣押的财产，或者被告在中华人民共和国领域内设有代表机构，可以由合同签订地、合同履行地、诉讼标的物所在地、可供扣押财产所在地、侵权行为地或者代表机构住所地人民法院管辖。

Article 242   The parties concerned in a dispute over a contract or property rights and interests involving foreign elements may reach a written agreement to choose a court in the place having an actual connection with the dispute to have jurisdiction. When a people's court of the People's Republic of China is chosen to have jurisdiction, the provisions of this Law regarding hierarchy-based jurisdiction or exclusive jurisdiction shall not be violated.

     第二百四十二条 涉外合同或者涉外财产权益纠纷的当事人，可以用书面协议选择与争议有实际联系的地点的法院管辖。选择中华人民共和国人民法院管辖的，不得违反本法关于级别管辖和专属管辖的规定。

Article 243   When a defendant in a civil action involving foreign elements does not raise an apposition to the jurisdiction of a people's court and responds to the action by filing an answer, the defendant shall be deemed to have recognized the jurisdiction of the people's court.

     第二百四十三条 涉外民事诉讼的被告对人民法院管辖不提出异议，并应诉答辩的，视为承认该人民法院为有管辖权的法院。

Article 244   Actions filed concerning disputes arising from the performance in the People's Republic of China of Sino-foreign equity joint venture contracts, Sino-foreign cooperative joint venture contracts or contracts for Sino-foreign cooperative exploration and development of natural resources shall be under the jurisdiction of the people's courts of the People's Republic of China.

     第二百四十四条 因在中华人民共和国履行中外合资经营企业合同、中外合作经营企业合同、中外合作勘探开发自然资源合同发生纠纷提起的诉讼，由中华人民共和国人民法院管辖。

Chapter 25: Service and Time Periods

第二十五章 送达、期间

Article 245   A people's court may use any of the following methods to serve litigation documents on a party concerned that has no domicile within the territory of the People's Republic of China:

(1) Serving the documents in accordance with the provisions of the international treaties that the party's country and the People's Republic of China have concluded or acceded to;

(2) Serving the documents through diplomatic channels;

(3) Serving the documents by entrusting the embassy or a consulate of the People's Republic of China in the party's country if the party is of the nationality of the People's Republic of China;

(4) Serving the documents on the agent ad litem appointed by the party authorized to accept the service;

(5) Serving the documents on the representative office established by the party or the party's branch office or business agent with the authority to accept service within the territory of the People's Republic of China;

(6) Serving the documents by post if permitted by the laws of the party's country, and service shall be deemed to take effect upon the expiration of six months from the date of posting if the acknowledgement of service is not returned and the documents are sufficiently determined to have been served by the various circumstances; or

(7) Serving the documents by a public notice if the service cannot be made by any of the above methods. The service shall be deemed to take effect upon the expiration of six months from the date of the public notice.

     第二百四十五条 人民法院对在中华人民共和国领域内没有住所的当事人送达诉讼文书，可以采用下列方式：

    （一）依照受送达人所在国与中华人民共和国缔结或者共同参加的国际条约中规定的方式送达；

    （二）通过外交途径送达；

    （三）对具有中华人民共和国国籍的受送达人，可以委托中华人民共和国驻受送达人所在国的使领馆代为送达；

    （四）向受送达人委托的有权代其接受送达的诉讼代理人送达；

    （五）向受送达人在中华人民共和国领域内设立的代表机构或者有权接受送达的分支机构、业务代办人送达；

    （六）受送达人所在国的法律允许邮寄送达的，可以邮寄送达，自邮寄之日起满六个月，送达回证没有退回，但根据各种情况足以认定已经送达的，期间届满之日视为送达；

    （七）不能用上述方式送达的，公告送达，自公告之日起满六个月，即视为送达。

Article 246   If a defendant has no domicile within the territory of the People's Republic of China, a people's court shall serve a duplicate copy of the complaint on the defendant and notify the defendant to submit a statement of answer within 30 days from the receipt thereof. If the defendant applies for an extension of the time period, the people's court shall decide whether to approve the application.

     第二百四十六条 被告在中华人民共和国领域内没有住所的，人民法院应当将起诉状副本送达被告，并通知被告在收到起诉状副本后三十日内提出答辩状。被告申请延期的，是否准许，由人民法院决定。

Article 247   When a party concerned having no domicile within the territory of the People's Republic of China is dissatisfied with a ruling or decision of a people's court of the first instance, the party may file an appeal within 30 days from the date of service of the written ruling or decision. The appellee shall submit a statement of answer within 30 days after receipt of the duplicate copy of the appeal petition. If a party concerned is unable to file an action or submit a statement of answer within the statutory period and applies for an extension thereof, the people's court shall decide whether to approve the application.

     第二百四十七条 在中华人民共和国领域内没有住所的当事人，不服第一审人民法院判决、裁定的，有权在判决书、裁定书送达之日起三十日内提起上诉。被上诉人在收到上诉状副本后，应当在三十日内提出答辩状。当事人不能在法定期间提起上诉或者提出答辩状，申请延期的，是否准许，由人民法院决定。

Article 248   The time period for a people's court to try a civil case involving foreign elements shall not be subject to the provisions of Articles 135 and 159 of this Law.

     第二百四十八条 人民法院审理涉外民事案件的期间，不受本法第一百三十五条、第一百五十九条规定的限制。

Chapter 26: Property Preservation

第二十六章 财产保全

Article 249   A party concerned may apply to a people's court for property preservation in accordance with Article 92 of this Law.

An interested party may apply to a people's court for property preservation prior to the filing of an action in accordance with Article 93 of this Law.

     第二百四十九条 当事人依照本法第九十二条的规定可以向人民法院申请财产保全。

    利害关系人依照本法第九十三条的规定可以在起诉前向人民法院申请财产保全。

Article 250   After a people's court makes a decision for pre-litigation property preservation, the applicant shall file an action within 30 days. If no action is filed within the specified time limit, the people's court shall lift the property preservation order.

     第二百五十条 人民法院裁定准许诉前财产保全后，申请人应当在三十日内提起诉讼。逾期不起诉的，人民法院应当解除财产保全。

Article 251   If the respondent provides a guarantee after the people's court approves property preservation, the people's court shall lift the property preservation order.

     第二百五十一条 人民法院裁定准许财产保全后，被申请人提供担保的，人民法院应当解除财产保全。

Article 252   If the application is erroneous, the applicant shall compensate the respondent for any losses resulting from the property preservation order.

     第二百五十二条 申请有错误的，申请人应当赔偿被申请人因财产保全所遭受的损失。

Article 253   When supervision is required for the property that a people's court decides to preserve, the people's court shall notify the relevant organizations to conduct supervision, and the respondent shall bear the expenses.

     第二百五十三条 人民法院决定保全的财产需要监督的，应当通知有关单位负责监督，费用由被申请人承担。

Article 254   The order of a people's court to lift preservation shall be carried out by enforcement personnel.

     第二百五十四条 人民法院解除保全的命令由执行员执行。

Chapter 27: Arbitration

第二十七章 仲裁

Article 255   With regard to a dispute arising in connection with economic trade, transportation, and maritime activities involving foreign elements, if the parties concerned include an arbitration clause in their contract or reach a written arbitration agreement subsequently for submitting the dispute to an arbitration institution involving foreign elements of the People's Republic of China or any other arbitration institution for arbitration, no party concerned may file an action with a people's court.

If the parties concerned fail to include an arbitration clause in their contract or fail to reach a written arbitration agreement subsequently, either of them may file an action with a people's court.

     第二百五十五条 涉外经济贸易、运输和海事中发生的纠纷，当事人在合同中订有仲裁条款或者事后达成书面仲裁协议，提交中华人民共和国涉外仲裁机构或者其他仲裁机构仲裁的，当事人不得向人民法院起诉。

    当事人在合同中没有订有仲裁条款或者事后没有达成书面仲裁协议的，可以向人民法院起诉。

Article 256   When a party concerned applies for property preservation, an arbitration institution involving foreign elements of the People's Republic of China shall deliver the party's application to the intermediate people's court of the place where the respondent is domiciled or where the property concerned is located.

     第二百五十六条 当事人申请采取财产保全的，中华人民共和国的涉外仲裁机构应当将当事人的申请，提交被申请人住所地或者财产所在地的中级人民法院裁定。

Article 257   When an arbitration institution involving foreign elements of the People's Republic of China has made an award, no party concerned may file an action with a people's court. If one of the parties concerned fails to perform the arbitration award, the other party concerned may apply to the people's court of the place where the respondent is domiciled or where the property concerned is located for enforcement.

     第二百五十七条 经中华人民共和国涉外仲裁机构裁决的，当事人不得向人民法院起诉。一方当事人不履行仲裁裁决的，对方当事人可以向被申请人住所地或者财产所在地的中级人民法院申请执行。

Article 258   When the respondent produces evidence showing that an award made by an arbitration institution involving foreign elements of the People's Republic of China involves any of the following circumstances, a people's court shall, upon examination and verification by a collegiate panel, make a decision not to enforce the award:

(1) The parties concerned fail to include an arbitration clause in their contract or to reach a written arbitration agreement subsequently;

(2) The respondent receives no notice for appointing arbitrators or proceeding with arbitration procedure or fails to state opinions due to reasons not attributable to the respondent;

(3) The formation of an arbitration tribunal or the arbitration procedure does not conform with the arbitration rules; and

(4) The arbitrated matters are beyond the scope of the arbitration agreement or the authority of the arbitration institution.

A people's court shall make a decision not to enforce an arbitration award if it believes that the enforcement of the award shall violate social public interest.

     第二百五十八条 对中华人民共和国涉外仲裁机构作出的裁决，被申请人提出证据证明仲裁裁决有下列情形之一的，经人民法院组成合议庭审查核实，裁定不予执行：

    （一）当事人在合同中没有订有仲裁条款或者事后没有达成书面仲裁协议的；

    （二）被申请人没有得到指定仲裁员或者进行仲裁程序的通知，或者由于其他不属于被申请人负责的原因未能陈述意见的；

    （三）仲裁庭的组成或者仲裁的程序与仲裁规则不符的；

    （四）裁决的事项不属于仲裁协议的范围或者仲裁机构无权仲裁的。

    人民法院认定执行该裁决违背社会公共利益的，裁定不予执行。

Article 259   When a people's court decides not to enforce an arbitration award, a party concerned may file a new application for arbitration according to the written arbitration agreement reached by the parties concerned, or may file an action with a people's court.

     第二百五十九条 仲裁裁决被人民法院裁定不予执行的，当事人可以根据双方达成的书面仲裁协议重新申请仲裁，也可以向人民法院起诉。

Chapter 28: Judicial Assistance

第二十八章 司法协助

Article 260   A people's court and a foreign court may mutually request each other for service of documents, investigation, evidence collection and other procedural acts on their respective behalf in accordance with the international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China or according to the principle of reciprocity.

If any matter for which a foreign court requests assistance harms the sovereignty, security or social public interest of the People's Republic of China, a people's court shall refuse to enforce the matter.

     第二百六十条 根据中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约，或者按照互惠原则，人民法院和外国法院可以相互请求，代为送达文书、调查取证以及进行其他诉讼行为。

    外国法院请求协助的事项有损于中华人民共和国的主权、安全或者社会公共利益的，人民法院不予执行。

Article 261   A request for and the provision of judicial assistance shall be conducted through the channels stated in the international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China, and in the absence of treaty relations, shall be conducted through diplomatic channels.

An embassy or consulate of a foreign country in the People's Republic of China may serve documents on, investigate, or collect evidence from the citizens of that country, provided, however, that the laws of the People's Republic of China are not violated and that no compulsory measures are adopted.

Except for the circumstances specified in the preceding paragraph, no foreign agency or individual may serve documents, conduct investigations or collect evidence within the territory of the People's Republic of China without the consent of the competent authorities of the People's Republic of China.

     第二百六十一条 请求和提供司法协助，应当依照中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约所规定的途径进行；没有条约关系的，通过外交途径进行。

    外国驻中华人民共和国的使领馆可以向该国公民送达文书和调查取证，但不得违反中华人民共和国的法律，并不得采取强制措施。

    除前款规定的情况外，未经中华人民共和国主管机关准许，任何外国机关或者个人不得在中华人民共和国领域内送达文书、调查取证。

Article 262   A written request for judicial assistance and its attached documents submitted by a foreign court to a people's court shall be accompanied by a Chinese translation or a text in another language as specified in the relevant international treaty.

A written request for judicial assistance and its attached documents submitted by a people's court to a foreign court shall be accompanied by a translation in the language of that country or a text in another language as specified in the relevant international treaty.

     第二百六十二条 外国法院请求人民法院提供司法协助的请求书及其所附文件，应当附有中文译本或者国际条约规定的其他文字文本。

    人民法院请求外国法院提供司法协助的请求书及其所附文件，应当附有该国文字译本或者国际条约规定的其他文字文本。

Article 263   A people's court shall provide judicial assistance in accordance with the procedures specified by the laws of the People's Republic of China. When a foreign court requests a special way, the special way may be adopted, provided that the laws of the People's Republic of China are not violated.

     第二百六十三条 人民法院提供司法协助，依照中华人民共和国法律规定的程序进行。外国法院请求采用特殊方式的，也可以按照其请求的特殊方式进行，但请求采用的特殊方式不得违反中华人民共和国法律。

Article 264   If a party concerned requests the enforcement of a ruling or decision of a people's court that has come into force, and the person subject to enforcement or the property thereof is not within the territory of the People's Republic of China, the party may apply directly to a competent foreign court of jurisdiction for recognition and enforcement; or a people's court may, in accordance with the provisions of the international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China or according to the principle of reciprocity, request a foreign court for recognition and enforcement.

If a party concerned requests the enforcement of a legally effective arbitration award made by an arbitration institution involving foreign elements of the People's Republic of China, and the person subject to enforcement or the property thereof is not within the territory of the People's Republic of China, the party shall apply directly to a competent foreign court of jurisdiction for recognition and enforcement.

     第二百六十四条 人民法院作出的发生法律效力的判决、裁定，如果被执行人或者其财产不在中华人民共和国领域内，当事人请求执行的，可以由当事人直接向有管辖权的外国法院申请承认和执行，也可以由人民法院依照中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约的规定，或者按照互惠原则，请求外国法院承认和执行。

    中华人民共和国涉外仲裁机构作出的发生法律效力的仲裁裁决，当事人请求执行的，如果被执行人或者其财产不在中华人民共和国领域内，应当由当事人直接向有管辖权的外国法院申请承认和执行。

Article 265   When a legally effective ruling or decision made by a foreign court requires recognition and enforcement by a people's court in the People's Republic of China, a party concerned may apply directly to a competent intermediate people's court of jurisdiction in the People's Republic of China for recognition and enforcement, or a foreign court may, in accordance with the provisions of the international treaties concluded between or acceded to by both the country and the People's Republic of China or according to the principle of reciprocity, request the people's court for recognition and enforcement.

    第二百六十五条 外国法院作出的发生法律效力的判决、裁定，需要中华人民共和国人民法院承认和执行的，可以由当事人直接向中华人民共和国有管辖权的中级人民法院申请承认和执行，也可以由外国法院依照该国与中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约的规定，或者按照互惠原则，请求人民法院承认和执行。

Article 266   With regard to an application or request for recognition or enforcement of a legally effective ruling or decision made by a foreign court, a people's court shall make a decision to recognize the effectiveness of the ruling or decision if it believes, upon examination in accordance with the international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China or according to the principle of reciprocity, that the ruling or decision is not contrary to the basic principles of the laws of the People's Republic of China or the State's sovereignty, security or social public interest. If enforcement is necessary, an order for enforcement shall be issued and the enforcement shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Law. Any ruling or decision that is contrary to the basic principles of the laws of the People's Republic of China or the State's sovereignty, security or the social public interest shall not be recognized or enforced.

     第二百六十六条 人民法院对申请或者请求承认和执行的外国法院作出的发生法律效力的判决、裁定，依照中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约，或者按照互惠原则进行审查后，认为不违反中华人民共和国法律的基本原则或者国家主权、安全、社会公共利益的，裁定承认其效力，需要执行的，发出执行令，依照本法的有关规定执行。违反中华人民共和国法律的基本原则或者国家主权、安全、社会公共利益的，不予承认和执行。

Article 267   When an arbitration award made by a foreign arbitration institution requires recognition and enforcement by a people's court in the People's Republic of China, a party concerned may apply directly to the intermediate people's court of the place where the person subject to enforcement is domiciled or the property thereof is located. The people's court shall handle the matter in accordance with the international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China or according to the principle of reciprocity.

     第二百六十七条 国外仲裁机构的裁决，需要中华人民共和国人民法院承认和执行的，应当由当事人直接向被执行人住所地或者其财产所在地的中级人民法院申请，人民法院应当依照中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约，或者按照互惠原则办理。

Article 268   This Law shall be implemented from the date of promulgation and the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (Trial) shall be repealed simultaneously.

     第二百六十八条 本法自公布之日起施行，《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法（试行）》同时废止。