Interpretations on "Marriage and Family": claim for return of bride price
The Supreme People's Court's Interpretations on Issues Pertaining to the Application of Title Five "Marriage and Family" of The Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (I)
(Selected from translated works authored by Robert Zhang & Steve Li)
Article 5 Where a male spouse claims the return of a bride price paid according to the custom, the people's court shall sustain the claim if it is ascertained that:
(1) the spouses have not completed the marriage registration formalities;
(2) the spouses have completed the marriage registration formalities but have not been living together; or
(3) the bride price is paid before their marriage, which makes the life of the male spouse difficult.
The provisions of Item (2) or (3) of the preceding paragraph shall not be applicable unless a divorce case is filed.
Robert Zhang 
Steve Li 