Establishing the fact of death in occupied territory
Ihor's* father passed away earlier this year in occupied territory. Ihor did not have any Ukrainian documents confirming his father's death — only photographs of the burial site and images of documents issued by the occupation authorities in Mariupol.
His father had remained in the city during the occupation because, due to his advanced age and poor health, he had been unable to evacuate in 2022. After his father's death, Ihor did not know what steps to take next. In addition, his father owned an apartment in Mariupol that had been destroyed during shelling. Because of the occupation, his health condition, and his advanced age, he had not been able to submit a claim to the Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U).
Ihor sought legal assistance from Caritas Mariupol Charitable Foundation in Dnipro. A lawyer explained the required procedure and helped prepare an application to the court to establish the fact of death in occupied territory. Following the court's decision, she also assisted him in obtaining a Ukrainian death certificate from the Civil Status Acts Registration Office (DRATS).
After receiving the death certificate, Ihor applied to a notary to open inheritance proceedings. Once the inheritance procedure is completed, he will be able to apply for the compensation to which he is entitled.
* The names have been changed to protect personal data.
** The image is illustrative and does not depict the specific events described in this story.
Access to free legal aid in Dnipropetrovsk region became possible thanks to the partnership between the Charitable organisation "Caritas Mariupol " and the Danish Refugee Council, with funding provided by the European Union.
