Shanghai court rejects father's child support cut to 1,000 yuan, citing his Thai villa and 350,000-yuan severance. Child's fees top 10,000 yuan; court keeps 7,000 yuan.
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Source: OT-Team(G), 新闻坊
A foreign father’s request to sharply reduce his child support payments has been rejected by a Shanghai court after an investigation found that he owned overseas property and had failed to disclose a substantial severance payment.
The case was recently heard by the Hongkou District People’s Court in Shanghai and involved a dispute over child support in an international divorce.
In 2018, a woman surnamed Jin and her foreign husband divorced. Under their agreement, their child would be raised by Jin, while the father would pay 7,000 yuan per month in child support.
In 2025, the father filed a lawsuit seeking to reduce the monthly payment to just 1,000 yuan, claiming that he had lost his job and was facing financial difficulties.
The father’s legal representative said that his financial situation had indeed worsened, adding that “it has become increasingly difficult for him to find new employment” and that he was only about five years away from retirement.
Jin opposed the request, arguing that her former husband had worked as a senior executive for several multinational companies and had maintained a high standard of living. She also said that he had purchased a villa of more than 400 square meters in Thailand, showing that his financial circumstances had not significantly changed.
The child is currently attending a private school, where tuition alone exceeds 10,000 yuan per month. Jin argued that a monthly payment of 1,000 yuan would not be enough to cover the child’s basic needs.
Jin’s legal representative said the child’s monthly expenses, including education, food, clothing, housing and other necessities, amount to around 15,000 yuan. Apart from the 7,000 yuan contributed by the father, Jin has been responsible for the remaining expenses, as well as the child’s daily care, emotional support and other responsibilities.
During the court investigation, the father acknowledged that he owned property in Thailand and would be eligible to receive retirement benefits overseas in the future. However, the court found that he had failed to disclose a 350,000-yuan severance payment he received after leaving his job.
Sha Xun, vice president of the Hongkou District People’s Court, said that a reduction in child support may be considered in cases involving unemployment, a significant drop in income, long-term illness or loss of working ability.
“However, if a person has savings or substantial assets, and continuing to pay the previously agreed amount would not create serious financial hardship, the court will not support a request to reduce child support,” Sha said.
The court ultimately dismissed the father’s claim, ordered him to continue paying 7,000 yuan per month in child support, and issued a family education guidance order. It also adjusted visitation arrangements based on his overseas residence situation.