Chinese woman sues son for US$54,000 in childcare fees after 15 years, sparking debate

A woman in eastern China took legal action against her son, seeking more than 360,000 yuan (US$54,000) in compensation for her role in caring for his daughter.

This dramatic case has ignited a nationwide debate concerning evolving perspectives on grandparental childcare responsibilities.

In April, a Shanghai court disclosed details of a case from last year involving Xu, a woman in her 60s, who sued her son, surnamed Liang.

Years after divorcing her husband, Xu had been living with her son. Following Liang’s divorce in 2014, when his daughter was just four years old, Xu assumed most of the responsibility for raising the child. This included covering her living expenses, medical bills, and educational costs, according to a report by Xinmin Evening News.

In the lawsuit, Xu accused her son of lacking a “sense of family responsibility” and failing to fulfil his duties as a father. Liang contended that he had supported his daughter to the best of his ability, given his modest monthly income of only 3,000 yuan (US$450) at that time.

The conflict escalated after Liang remarried and moved out with his new wife, leaving his daughter in Xu’s care. After 15 years of caregiving, Xu expressed that she could no longer continue due to financial pressures and sought compensation from her son.