Elderly woman leaves her entire $2.8 million fortune to pets instead of her children

An elderly woman has caused a stir after snubbing her children in her will by leaving her entire fortune to her pets.

And we're not just talking about crumbs from the table either, with the elderly Ms Liu leaving the pets a pretty hefty sum.

Ms Liu from Shanghai - whose exact age was not confirmed - changed her will, alleging that her children had neglected her in her old age by not visiting her enough, especially after she became ill.

Meanwhile, her pets provided her with comfort and companionship in her autumn years.

And it turns out that this comfort and companionship is worth the $2.8 million she's left them.

But the will has created a legal conundrum as technically, it is not legal to leave an inheritance to one's pets in China.

At present, a local veterinary clinic has been appointed to oversee and administrate the estate.

There are also already legal challenges preventing the bequest to animals according to Zonglan News and South China Morning Post.

Now, officials are exploring other ways to try and resolve the unusual situation.

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Chen Kai, who works as an official in the national headquarters of China's Will Registration Centre in Beijing, said there are 'alternatives to solve this issue'.

The official said: “Liu’s current will is one way, and we would have advised her to appoint a person she trusts to supervise the vet clinic to ensure the pets are properly cared for."

Ms Liu is not the only person to take such a measure when it comes to inheritances and dogs.

Real estate billionaire Leona Helmsley, nicknamed the 'Queen of Mean', left a fortune of $12 million to her dog Trouble, but nothing to two of her four grandchildren.

She did not go into any detail about why she cut out grandchildren Craig Panzirer and Meegan Panzirer, saying: "I have not made any provisions in this will for my grandson Craig Panzirer or my granddaughter Meegan Panzirer for reasons which are known to them."

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Helmsley is also known for her alleged statement to a housekeeper, who claimed the billionaire told her: "We don't pay taxes. Only little people pay taxes."

Helmsley was later convicted of tax evasion in 1989 and served 18 months in federal prison. She denied making the comment.

The case caught much attention, and a judge subsequently ordered the amount left to Trouble to be reduced to just $2 million.

Ruff day for Trouble.