A registrar’s refusal is not the end of the story: how to register ownership through the courts
Zoya* sought legal assistance from the NGO STEP because she could not find information about her ownership rights in the State Register of Rights to Immovable Property. Although she had all the necessary documents, the property had never been entered into the register, which prevented her from applying for compensation for her destroyed home. The situation was further complicated by the fact that she did not understand how the registration procedure worked and had no experience interacting with public authorities.
During the consultation, the lawyer explained why information might be missing from the register (for example, if the ownership right had been formalised before the introduction of the electronic register) and what steps should be taken next. She helped Zoya contact the Bureau of Technical Inventory (BTI) to obtain the necessary documents and prepare the relevant request. Zoya was also assisted in registering on the Diia portal and submitting documents online to the Administrative Services Centre (CNAP).
Despite these efforts, the state registrar refused to register her ownership rights. The lawyer analysed the reasons for the refusal, prepared a claim, and represented Zoya's interests in court.
The court ruled in Zoya's favour: it declared the refusal unlawful and ordered the state registration of her ownership rights. As a result, Zoya was able to enter the information into the State Register of Rights to Immovable Property and restore her property rights. She can now apply for compensation for her destroyed home. This case demonstrates that even when information is missing from state registers, the situation can be resolved if legal assistance is sought in a timely manner and the necessary steps are taken consistently.
*The name has been changed to protect personal data.
The provision of free legal aid in Zaporizhzhia Oblast became possible thanks to the partnership between the NGO STEP and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), with funding from the European Union.
