Growing number of wills being taped in China

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Making a will is often found to be an emotional block, as it can be an impediment to discussing death-related topics for many.

In China, a growing number of notaries public are using videotapes as a way to help facilitate the process for seniors.

In the city of Harbin in China's northern Heilongjiang Province, notaries public offer services that enable seniors to record their wills through audio or video files.

Recording final words is a rare opportunity for Chinese seniors to express their love verbally and openly. /VCG Photo

Wu and his wife, both 80 years old, videotaped their last words to their children after having their wills and testaments notarized on paper.

“Even if we're not here, home is always here.” In a short video, the senior couple got emotional while reflecting on their lives, hoping that the family bond will carry on when they're gone.

The video will be made into CDs and given to the couple's heirs.

For many, making a will is more about maintaining family ties than about estate planning. /VCG Photo

Documenting final words in such a way allows the people preparing a will to say farewell to their heirs and families and is seen as a rare opportunity to express love verbally and openly.

It offers more comfort and helps humanize a seemingly chilling procedure when they make a will before a notary public, according to a legal staffer surnamed Ding.

“Will notarization doesn't just revolve around dealing with estate planning. For many seniors, it's rather emotional and mostly about how to best maintain their family ties,” Harbin Evening News quoted Ding as saying.

As a matter of fact, using videotapes to make wills has been in place for a few years in other Chinese cities including Guangzhou and Chengdu.

It will continue to roll out in more regions, as more people find it's more meaningful than making their wills on paper, according to Harbin Evening News.