Practical legal situations · Shenzhen
Suppliers, invoices and contracts
Organize the transaction records, check the contract and choose the correct commercial dispute route.
General information for mainland Shenzhen. These are illustrative examples, not reported judgments or personal legal advice. Hong Kong and Macao have separate systems.
I paid a supplier, but delivery has not arrived
A commercial supplier missed the agreed delivery and you need a documented response.
What to do first
- Match the supplier's legal name to the contract and payment recipient; list the goods, delivery date and payments.
- Send a factual written demand through the contract's notice channel, requesting a response and keeping proof of delivery.
- Review the contract and dispute clause before demanding termination, refund or damages; the available remedy depends on the facts and law.
Consider a documented settlement or voluntary mediation. Before escalation, check any applicable valid arbitration agreement; otherwise identify the competent civil/commercial court.
A mistake to avoid
Do not assume a missed delivery automatically entitles you to cancel the contract and recover every claimed loss.
Get help promptly when…
Seek prompt legal assessment if assets or evidence may disappear, a contractual notice period is running, or a claim deadline is near; ask about preservation measures.
Records to keep3 useful records
- Contract, purchase order, specifications and supplier identity
- Payment records, beneficiary details and promised shipping information
- Original communications, delivery demands and a dated non-delivery/loss timeline
Use records already safely and lawfully available. Do not delay urgent help or expose yourself or a child to danger to collect documents.
Official sources and legal basis
- PRC Civil Code · Supreme People’s Court publication ↗
509, 563-566, 577, 584
- Arbitration Law · 2025 revision effective March 2026 ↗
3-5, 27-31, 37, 39, 58, 96
- Qianhai court · civil and commercial filing notice, March 2026 ↗
I: jurisdiction; II: party identity, requests, facts and evidence
Links and relevant provisions checked 21 October 2026. English and Spanish are editorial translations; consult the official Chinese text.
A client has not paid my invoice
Payment for commercial goods or services appears overdue. You need to establish what is owed and why.
What to do first
- Reconcile the contract, completion or delivery record, due date, partial payments and any client objection.
- Send an itemized written demand to the correct legal entity and keep proof of receipt and any acknowledgment.
- Check the dispute clause and limitation position before choosing settlement, commercial arbitration or court proceedings.
Use the commercial dispute route identified by the contract and applicable law. A valid applicable arbitration agreement may determine the forum; check court jurisdiction if litigation is appropriate.
A mistake to avoid
Do not rely on an invoice alone to prove the agreed work was delivered and the amount is due.
Get help promptly when…
Get the timing checked promptly if the debt is old, the client may close or move assets, or formal claim documents arrive. Do not assume ongoing discussions protect every deadline.
Records to keep3 useful records
- Contract, accepted quotation or purchase order and the debtor's legal identity
- Delivery, completion and acceptance records, with relevant correspondence
- Invoice, payment ledger, bank records and dated payment demands or acknowledgments
Use records already safely and lawfully available. Do not delay urgent help or expose yourself or a child to danger to collect documents.
Official sources and legal basis
- PRC Civil Code · Supreme People’s Court publication ↗
188, 195, 469, 509, 579
- Arbitration Law · 2025 revision effective March 2026 ↗
4-5, 27-31, 37, 90, 96
- Qianhai court · civil and commercial filing notice, March 2026 ↗
I-II: competence and filing particulars; evidential preparation
Links and relevant provisions checked 21 October 2026. English and Spanish are editorial translations; consult the official Chinese text.
I am asked to sign a contract or personal guarantee
A document is ready for signature, but your role, the terms or a guarantee are unclear.
What to do first
- Identify each legal party and whether you sign personally, as an authorized company representative, or as guarantor.
- Read every language version and annex; check price, obligations, termination, dispute forum and any guarantee amount, scope and duration.
- Obtain independent legal review of unclear or high-value obligations and keep the complete agreed version before signing.
Arrange a pre-signature contract review. If already signed and a demand or proceeding arrives, preserve the document and have the applicable response and forum checked promptly.
A mistake to avoid
Do not sign a personal-guarantee clause on the assurance that your signature is only a formality.
Get help promptly when…
Pause for review before a pressured signature, an unexplained personal guarantee, a language mismatch, or any demand following an existing signature.
Records to keep3 useful records
- Complete dated draft, all language versions, annexes and incorporated terms
- Parties' legal identities and any signing authorization
- Main debt or transaction documents and the full proposed guarantee wording
Use records already safely and lawfully available. Do not delay urgent help or expose yourself or a child to danger to collect documents.
Official sources and legal basis
- PRC Civil Code · Supreme People’s Court publication ↗
61, 162, 466, 469-470, 490, 684-688, 692
- Arbitration Law · 2025 revision effective March 2026 ↗
27-31, 96
Links and relevant provisions checked 21 October 2026. English and Spanish are editorial translations; consult the official Chinese text.
Need a route for your own facts?
Use the law hub to compare official routes and prepare a useful first consultation.
Illustrative guidance edited by LifeShenzhen from the linked official sources. Requirements and outcomes depend on the facts, current procedure and individual legal assessment.