Correcting an error in a will in court

“For me, the priority in my work is to help restore and realize the rights of those who need help,” says Nadiya, head of the free legal aid sector at the Kovel Community Law Center, a DRC partner.

One such example is the case of a pensioner, Ms. Maria*, who sought legal aid to establish the validity of her will, which incorrectly stated her mother-in-law's date of birth.

While preparing the inheritance documents, the applicant discovered that the will drawn up by her mother-in-law in 2002 and certified by a state notary contained an incorrect date of birth of her relative.

The lawyer suggested using the mechanism of judicial establishment of a fact that determines the emergence, change or termination of personal or property rights, and in this case, the acceptance and registration of an inheritance.

Nadiia helped to collect the necessary documents and draw up an application to the court. The court granted the application, effectively correcting the mistake. Now Ms. Maria will be able to formalize her inheritance without any obstacles.

The provision of free legal aid to IDPs in Volyn Oblast was made possible through the cooperation of the Western Regional Center for Secondary Legal Aid with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and funding from the European Union's civil protection and humanitarian assistance.