Legal confirmation of a death that occurred in a territory not under the control of the government of Ukraine

Vitalina, a lawyer at the Western Interregional Center in Uzhgorod, a DRC partner, was approached by Valentina* - in 2013, the woman began living with her common-law husband Oleksiy* in Kyiv, and the following year they had a daughter. After some time, the couple broke off the relationship, and the man returned to live in Crimea. After February 24, 2022, Valentina had to move to Transcarpathia in search of safety.

Last year, Oleksiy died in a territory not under the control of the government of Ukraine. The woman had only a photocopy of the death certificate in her hands, which had no legal force according to Ukrainian legislation. Since her husband's death affected the rights of their joint child when submitting documents to educational institutions, exercising inheritance rights, etc., Valentina needed to obtain a state-style death certificate.

After analyzing the documents, the lawyer helped the woman make a statement to the court about the fact of death and provided all the necessary explanations regarding the step-by-step resolution of the situation.

The court accepted the application, and Valentina received a state-style death certificate of her common-law husband. Now their daughter will be able to exercise inheritance and other rights.

The provision of free legal aid to displaced persons in Zakarpattia Oblast became possible thanks to the cooperation of the Western Interregional Center for the Provision of Free Legal Aid with the Danish Refugee Council and funding within the framework of civil protection and humanitarian aid of the European Union.

*Names have been changed.

***

History: Bondaryeva Vitalina, lawyer of the Western Interregional Center for the Provision of BPD, Uzhhorod.

Case in the ERSR: 308/2981/24.

Project: ECHO.

Curator: Oksana Chekmenyova.