The procedure for issuing a declaration of absence

1. Conditions for declaring a person missing:

• An individual may be declared missing on the basis of a court decision if there is no information about his or her whereabouts at the place of his or her permanent residence for one year.

2. Where is the application submitted?

• An application for declaring a person missing is filed with the court at:
• the applicant's place of residence;
• the last known place of residence or stay of the missing person;
• location of the missing person's property.

3. What should the application contain?

• The application must state:
• The purpose of recognising the person as missing (for example, to issue a pension to dependents, to establish guardianship over property, etc;)
• Circumstances confirming the fact of the missing person's absence (e.g., witness statements, documents confirming search activities, responses from state authorities on the lack of information, etc.)