Establishing the Fact of Death in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine

Under current circumstances, when a Ukrainian citizen dies in a temporarily occupied territory, it may be necessary to legally establish the fact of death. This procedure is required because documents issued by the occupation authorities are not generally recognised by Ukrainian state authorities as Ukrainian civil status documents. One of the legal mechanisms for resolving this issue is to apply to a Ukrainian court for the establishment of the fact of death. Establishing the fact of death may be necessary for:

1. registering and obtaining an inheritance in Ukraine;
2. obtaining funeral assistance or other payments related to the death;
3. obtaining a Ukrainian death certificate.

Ukrainian legislation determines who is entitled to apply to the court for the establishment of the fact of death in a temporarily occupied territory. Such an application may be submitted by family members of the deceased, their representatives, and other persons in cases provided for by law.

It should be noted that cases concerning the establishment of the fact of death in a temporarily occupied territory are subject to expedited consideration. The court considers such applications without delay, and the judgment is subject to immediate enforcement in accordance with Ukrainian procedural law.

Our Pension Center provides legal assistance with establishing the fact of death in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Our lawyers can provide:

1. Oral and written legal consultations.
2. Preparation of an application to establish the fact of death.
3. Full legal representation and court proceedings on a turnkey basis.

Depending on the circumstances of the case, the following documents may be required from the client:

1. A copy of the applicant’s passport and Ukrainian taxpayer identification number.
2. Available medical documents confirming the circumstances of the person’s death.
3. A copy of the death certificate or other document issued in the temporarily occupied territory, if available.
4. Photographs of the burial site, if available.

Our lawyers can analyse the available documents, prepare the necessary application, represent the applicant before the court and assist with the procedure required to obtain a Ukrainian death certificate. Each case is assessed individually, taking into account the available evidence and the circumstances of the death.