The sudden passing of Taiwanese celebrity Barbie Hsu (Da S /大S) has raised important questions about inheritance and estate planning. Previously, we discussed who would gain guardianship of her children in our article: Who will become the legal guardian of the children now that Barbie Hsu has passed away? Now, let’s explore how inheritance works under Malaysian law and who will inherit her assets? Will her children inherit everything? Can her ex-husband claim a portion of her wealth?
This scenario is not just a celebrity gossip topic—it’s a real concern for many parents, especially those with complex family structures. Let’s explore how inheritance would be handled under Malaysian law and why a testamentary trust is the best solution to protect children’s future.
What happens if there is no will?
If a woman passes away without a will, her estate would be distributed according to the Distribution Act 1958 in Malaysia. Here’s how it would work:
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50% goes to her children
– The children will share half of the estate equally.
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25% goes to her current husband
– The surviving spouse is entitled to a quarter.
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25% goes to her parents
– If her parents are still alive, they receive the remaining portion.
Her ex-husband receives nothing – Under Malaysian law, an ex-spouse has no automatic right to inherit. However, if the children are minors and her ex-husband has custody, he could, as a guardian, gain control over their inheritance until they turn 18.
Why a testamentary trust is essential?
If the woman wants to ensure her wealth truly benefits her children and is not misused by others, setting up a testamentary trust is the best approach. Here’s why:
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Prevents unintended control
– A trust ensures that the inheritance is managed by a trusted person or trust company, rather than the ex-spouse.
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Protects children’s financial future
– Funds can be released gradually, ensuring that children have financial support for education and living expenses.
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Avoids legal battles
– With clear instructions in a trust, disputes over the estate can be minimized.
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Flexible and secure
– The trust can outline conditions, such as allowing funds only for education, medical expenses, or specific needs.
What parents can do now?
If you are a parent in a similar situation, take these steps now to protect your children’s inheritance:
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Draft a will
– Specify how your estate should be distributed and who should manage it.
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Set up a testamentary trust
– Appoint a reliable trustee to manage funds for your children’s benefit.
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Consult a professional estate planner
– Ensure your estate is structured properly to avoid legal complications.
Barbie Hsu’s case highlights why parents should plan their estate early. Without proper arrangements, a child’s inheritance could end up under the control of someone they barely know or trust. A testamentary trust ensures that children receive their rightful inheritance in a secure and well-managed manner.
You may make an appointment with our legal advisor here: https://calendly.com/finex-and-co-legacy-advisory/tea-talk-with-legalexpert
大S（徐熙媛）的前夫汪小菲有权继承她的遗产吗?
台湾明星大S（徐熙媛）的突然离世引发了很多讨论。之前我们聊过《大S（徐熙媛）突然离世，现任丈夫能否成为孩子的监护人？》的监护权问题。这次我们来谈谈她的遗产分配：她的孩子是不是会拿到全部财产？现任丈夫具俊晔和前夫汪小菲有没有机会分到？
这些问题对于有复杂家庭关系的父母来说是非常现实的。让我们来看看在马来西亚，这样的情况会怎么处理，以及为什么设立遗嘱信托可以保护孩子的未来。
没有立遗嘱的情况下，财产怎么分？
如果一个妇女在马来西亚去世时没有立遗嘱，财产会按照1958年的分配法令 (Distribution Act 1958) 来处理：
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50%给孩子
– 孩子会平分一半的遗产。
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25%给现任老公
– 现任配偶会拿到四分之一。
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25%给父母
– 如果父母还健在，他们会拿到剩下的四分之一。
前夫拿不到任何遗产 – 在马来西亚，前配偶没有继承权。不过，如果孩子是未成年，前夫作为孩子的监护人，可能会间接控制孩子的那部分财产，直到孩子18岁成年。
为什么遗嘱信托很重要？
如果那位女士想确保孩子真正拿到她的财产，而且不会被其他人乱用，设立遗嘱信托会是最好的选择。原因如下：
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防止财产被他人控制
– 信托让财产由可信任的人或机构 （管理，确保不会被前夫控制。
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保护孩子的经济安全
– 信托里的资金可以阶段性的发放给孩子，保证孩子有足够的教育和生活开支。
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避免纠纷
– 明确的信托安排能减少财产纠纷。
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灵活又安全
– 信托可以设定条件，比如只允许用作教育、医疗或特定需求。
父母应该怎么做？
如果你担心类似的问题，可以采取以下措施：
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立遗嘱
– 明确说明财产如何分配，以及由谁管理。
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设立遗嘱信托
– 指定可靠的受托人管理孩子的财产，确保财产不会被乱用。
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咨询专业人士
– 让专业遗产规划师帮你设计一个稳妥的方案，避免法律麻烦。
