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Decrees of separation

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A lot of women may find themselves homeless owing to a new interpretation of China's marriage law by the Supreme People's Court of China.

The interpretation may also lead to an increase in the number in women filing for divorce in Hong Kong instead of the mainland, so as to receive better treatment, some lawyers say.

That's because the change centres on a critical issue in a nation of skyrocketing property values: who owns the home.

Up until August 13, when the Supreme Court delivered its interpretation, a couple's home was considered jointly owned. When a couple divorced, the value of the home was jointly divided.

Now, the court says, property bought by one person before marriage and registered in his or her name remains that person's property alone if the marriage falls apart. With nearly two million couples filing for divorce last year, according to government figures, the implications for Chinese society are significant.

'I think what is happening is a natural evolution for matrimonial law in China,' says Sharon Ser, managing partner at Withers. 'There's far greater recognition of property rights. 'It's taken a long time to develop for obvious reasons.'

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