Legal information notice
This article provides general legal information only. It is not legal advice for a specific matter and does not guarantee filing, preservation, settlement, judgment, enforcement or any other result. Qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction must assess the complete facts, documents, current rules and receiving authority requirements.
- Do not substitute this page for matter-specific verification
- No firm quote, duration, success rate or recovery rate is invented
- Statutory deadlines and strategic suggestions must be identified separately
Direct answer: Complete the seven-box first-contact pack
This is general legal information. First contact is not formal legal advice and does not itself create a lawyer-client relationship. The seven-box pack supports conflict screening, urgency triage and a targeted next-document request. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55); PRC Personal Information Protection Law, Articles 6, 17, 28 and 29 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817b6472a3017b656cc2040044))
- Complete the seven-box first-contact pack
- First contact is not formal legal advice
- Disclose only what triage needs
1. Parties and every related entity
Give accurate personal or company names, place of identity or registration, registration number, role and contact. Add counterparties, affiliates, prior counsel and key third parties for conflict and identity screening. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55); PRC Personal Information Protection Law, Articles 6, 17, 28 and 29 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817b6472a3017b656cc2040044))
- Accurate names
- Affiliates and third parties
- Minimum contact data
2. One-sentence objective and unacceptable result
Replace “I need advice” with a recoverable receivable, defence, criminal meeting, succession, or contract-review objective. Add confidentiality, timing, budget or relationship constraints. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55))
- Primary objective
- Alternative objective
- Constraints and bottom line
3. One-page chronology with evidence IDs
List contract, payment, performance, breach, demand, filing, service and latest action by date, each linked to an exhibit ID. Limitation and interruption cannot be decided from memory alone. (Sources: PRC Civil Code, Articles 188 and 195 (general limitation and interruption) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5c500bf); SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, Articles 14, 16, 17 and 19 (electronic data, overseas-formed evidence and foreign-language materials) (Official text: https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/212721.html))
- Date-event-evidence columns
- Confirmed versus unverified facts
- Original messages and emails
4. Forum and law connections
Provide court or arbitration wording, formation and performance place, domicile and asset location, and every existing authority. A PRC proceeding requires the exact court or tribunal. (Sources: PRC Civil Procedure Law, Articles 24, 35, 276 and 277 (contract and foreign-related jurisdiction) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818a21dc13018b425303b7086d))
- Dispute clause
- Domicile, performance and assets
- Case number and authority
5. Amount, assets and cost tolerance
Separate principal, interest or loss, payment, disputed amount, currency and calculation date. List lawful asset leads and whether court fees, security, translation, travel and enforcement are feasible. (Sources: PRC Civil Procedure Law, Articles 103 and 104 (in-proceeding and pre-action preservation) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818a21dc13018b425303b7086d); Measures for the Payment of Litigation Costs, Articles 6 and 12 (case acceptance and specified application or appraisal costs) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f3e98bd016f41e1395a015f); Opinions on Further Regulating Lawyers’ Service Fees, Sifa Tong [2021] No. 87, Items 8, 9 and 16 (Official text: https://www.moj.gov.cn/pub/sfbgwapp/zwgk/tzggApp/202203/t20220324_451433.html))
- Amount table
- Lawful asset leads
- Process and third-party budget
6. Core evidence index without damaging originals
Send indexed copies of contract, identity, payment, performance, breach and process documents. Preserve native files, full conversations, metadata and folder structure; redact nonessential sensitive data. (Sources: SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, Articles 14, 16, 17 and 19 (electronic data, overseas-formed evidence and foreign-language materials) (Official text: https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/212721.html); PRC Personal Information Protection Law, Articles 6, 17, 28 and 29 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817b6472a3017b656cc2040044))
- Core first-round documents
- Preserve originals
- Redact nonessential data
7. Urgent deadlines, preservation risk and current process
Put receipt dates, defence, evidence or appeal deadlines, hearings, detention, asset flight and expiring nodes first. The 48-hour and 30-day preservation nodes apply only where statutory conditions are met. (Sources: PRC Civil Procedure Law, Articles 103 and 104 (in-proceeding and pre-action preservation) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818a21dc13018b425303b7086d); PRC Civil Procedure Law, Articles 24, 35, 276 and 277 (contract and foreign-related jurisdiction) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818a21dc13018b425303b7086d))
- Receipt and service date
- Statutory or directed deadline
- Asset, person or evidence risk
The verification pack to send counsel
Send a one-page chronology, party details, a core-document index, an amount or asset schedule, and the three questions you need answered. Add the remaining material after counsel identifies the decisive gaps.
- One-page seven-box summary
- Core index and readable copies
- Earliest and latest process documents
- Three questions for counsel
How this guide differs from related articles
This guide says what to send first. The privacy-contact guide says how to minimise disclosure and choose a channel. The litigation-document guide covers the full evidential package.
- Use this page only for the first routing decision
- Recheck the forum, authority, current version and deadline before action
- Confirm scope, fee items and exclusions in writing before engagement
Legal information notice
This article provides general legal information only. It is not legal advice for a specific matter and does not guarantee filing, preservation, settlement, judgment, enforcement or any other result. Qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction must assess the complete facts, documents, current rules and receiving authority requirements.
- Do not substitute this page for matter-specific verification
- No firm quote, duration, success rate or recovery rate is invented
- Statutory deadlines and strategic suggestions must be identified separately
Frequently asked questions
Is first contact a formal engagement?
No. Conflict checks, acceptance, contract and authority remain. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55))
Will first contact produce a formal opinion?
Not necessarily. Formal advice needs verified facts, documents, law and scope. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55))
Should every chat be sent?
No unfiltered dump; send an index and key complete conversations first. (Sources: SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, Articles 14, 16, 17 and 19 (electronic data, overseas-formed evidence and foreign-language materials) (Official text: https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/212721.html); PRC Personal Information Protection Law, Articles 6, 17, 28 and 29 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817b6472a3017b656cc2040044))
Is saying “money is owed” sufficient?
No. Add parties, contract, due date, amount, performance and proof. (Sources: PRC Civil Code, Articles 188 and 195 (general limitation and interruption) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5c500bf))
Why does exact company identity matter?
It supports conflict, jurisdiction, service and asset screening. (Sources: PRC Civil Procedure Law, Articles 24, 35, 276 and 277 (contract and foreign-related jurisdiction) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818a21dc13018b425303b7086d))
How long should the chronology be?
Aim for one readable first-round page with evidence IDs. (Sources: SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, Articles 14, 16, 17 and 19 (electronic data, overseas-formed evidence and foreign-language materials) (Official text: https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/212721.html))
Is limitation always three years?
General limitation is three years, but accrual, interruption, special rules and long-stop require facts. (Sources: PRC Civil Code, Articles 188 and 195 (general limitation and interruption) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5c500bf))
Is “Shenzhen court” specific enough?
No. Identify the exact court from statutory connections. (Sources: PRC Civil Procedure Law, Articles 24, 35, 276 and 277 (contract and foreign-related jurisdiction) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818a21dc13018b425303b7086d))
May unlawful asset data be purchased?
No. Provide only lawful, source-explainable leads. (Sources: PRC Personal Information Protection Law, Articles 6, 17, 28 and 29 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817b6472a3017b656cc2040044))
Which service date matters?
Record actual receipt, method, document date and every stated deadline. (Sources: PRC Civil Procedure Law, Articles 24, 35, 276 and 277 (contract and foreign-related jurisdiction) (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081818a21dc13018b425303b7086d))
Should a budget range be shared?
It can help stage the route; any quote still depends on scope and disbursements. (Sources: Opinions on Further Regulating Lawyers’ Service Fees, Sifa Tong [2021] No. 87, Items 8, 9 and 16 (Official text: https://www.moj.gov.cn/pub/sfbgwapp/zwgk/tzggApp/202203/t20220324_451433.html))
Can counsel guarantee victory on the first call?
No, especially without verified evidence and procedure. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55))
May documents be redacted first?
Yes for nonessential identifiers, while retaining enough identity for conflict screening. (Sources: PRC Personal Information Protection Law, Articles 6, 17, 28 and 29 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817b6472a3017b656cc2040044))
What follows the seven boxes?
Counsel should return conflict status, urgent actions, gaps, proposed scope and engagement documents.