Obtaining a death certificate for a death that occurred in an occupied territory
Natalia* contacted a lawyer of the NGO STEP seeking assistance in obtaining a death certificate for her mother, who had passed away in the city of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in a temporarily occupied territory. At the time of applying, Natalia was residing abroad and required an official document in order to arrange inheritance matters.
The lawyer provided a consultation regarding the procedure applicable in such cases, analyzed the available evidence, and helped determine the list of additional documents necessary for applying to the court. Natalia entered into a legal assistance agreement with the lawyer, which made it possible to represent her interests in Ukraine.
The lawyer prepared and filed a petition with the court to establish the fact of death in the occupied territory. The court granted the application and officially established the fact of Natalia’s mother’s death in the city of Berdiansk.
After receiving the death certificate, the lawyer provided clarification regarding the further procedure for accepting the inheritance, in particular concerning submission of the relevant application from abroad. This enabled Natalia to formalize her inheritance rights.
* The name has been changed to protect personal data.
Access to free legal aid in Zaporizhzhia region became possible thanks to the partnership between the NGO “STEP” and the Danish Refugee Council, with funding provided by the European Union.
