Head of family law practice

An attorney with extensive experience specializing in complex family disputes. As Head of Practice, he combines deep legal expertise with a personalized approach to every client. He ensures strategic protection of family interests and delivers impeccable results in the most challenging cases.

Contact now
Receiving an inheritance in Ukraine if you are abroad

Receiving an inheritance in Ukraine if you are abroad

Today, more and more Ukrainian citizens live or work abroad.

In such conditions, a pressing question arises: how to receive an inheritance in Ukraine while being in another country?

This process has its own characteristics and legal nuances. In this article, we will consider in detail how a citizen of Ukraine abroad can legally, without unnecessary problems and delays, inherit property in Ukraine.

Who has the right to inheritance?

The right to inherit is vested in persons specified in the Civil Code of Ukraine.

There are two main types of inheritance:

  • By law — when the testator did not leave a will. In this case, the property is distributed among the heirs in the order determined by law;
  • According to the will — if the testator has made an official will. In this case, only the persons specified in it have the right to inherit.

It does not matter where the heir is located – in Ukraine or abroad. The law does not limit the right of citizens or foreigners to inherit depending on their place of residence.

What actions does the heir need to take if he is abroad?

To exercise their right to inheritance, a person residing outside Ukraine must:

  1. Submit an application for acceptance of inheritance

The application must be submitted within 6 months of the testator’s death. This is a key deadline, failure to meet which may result in the loss of the inheritance.

An heir abroad has several options:

  • Come to Ukraine in person and submit an application to the notary at the testator’s last place of residence;
  • Apply at the Ukrainian consulate abroad, where it will be certified and sent by mail to the appropriate notary;
  • Apply to a notary at your place of residence, translate it into Ukrainian, legalize (or apostillize), and send it to Ukraine.
  1. Provide documents

The following documents must be submitted together with the application for acceptance of inheritance:

  • copy of the heir’s passport;
  • death certificate of the testator (or its copy);
  • documents confirming family ties (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.);
  • will (if any);
  • property documents (certificate of ownership, extracts from registers, technical passports, etc.).

All documents issued abroad must be translated into Ukrainian and have the appropriate legal force (legalization or apostille, depending on the country).

It will also be useful: Estate Litigation Attorney

Do I need to go to Ukraine?

No, personal presence in Ukraine is not mandatory. The law allows acting through a proxy. This greatly simplifies the process for those who are unable to come.

How does it work?

  1. The heir draws up a power of attorney with a notary in the country of residence;
  2. The power of attorney is translated into Ukrainian, apostilled or legalized;
  3. The representative in Ukraine receives the original documents and on behalf of the heir:
  • submits an application for acceptance of inheritance;
  • collects the necessary documents;
  • receives a certificate of inheritance;
  • deals with the registration of property ownership.

Registration of property ownership

After the heir has received a certificate of the right to inheritance, he must:

  • register the right of ownership of real estate in the State Register of Property Rights;
  • re-register movable property (car, accounts, etc.);
  • gain access to the testator’s bank funds (if relevant information and documents are available).

These actions can also be carried out through a proxy in Ukraine.

Practical tips

  1. Don’t delay — with the registration of inheritance – the six-month period is not automatically renewed.
  2. Choose a reliable representative — it is desirable that it be a lawyer or attorney who specializes in inheritance cases.
  3. Prepare documents correctly abroad — many inheritance cases are delayed due to incorrectly apostilled or translated documents.
  4. Consult a lawyer, especially if the inheritance dispute or property is located in different regions of Ukraine.

So, it is quite possible to receive an inheritance in Ukraine while abroad – the legislation allows this to be done remotely or through proxies.

However, this process requires strict adherence to deadlines, legally competent documentation, and an understanding of Ukrainian inheritance law.

If you want to be sure of the result, contact the experts.

The law firm “Prikhodko and Partners” provides full support for inheritance cases for clients abroad: from submitting an application to registering the ownership right.

Calculate the cost of services

1 question

Are you abroad?

Yes
No

2 question

Do you have an inheritance in Ukraine?

Yes
No

3 question

Do you need legal assistance?

Yes
No

You may also need:

20%
discount
If we do not
call back
during the day
Consultation
Law company
Leave a request for legal assistance right now:
9+ years on the market
70+ professional practitioners
Fixed price
Online / offline consultation

Family law

A claim for guardianship A court decision on independent upbringing and maintenance of a child as a basis for obtaining a deferment A guardianship lawyer A lawsuit to declare a person incapable A statement of claim for recognition of a person as having lost the right to use residential premises A statement of claim for the recognition of a person with limited legal capacity A statement of claim to declare a person incapable Accompaniment of a lawyer in the children’s service Accompanying a person who needs constant care abroad Adoption of an adult Adoption of the wife’s child from the first marriage Agreement on maintenance and education of a child Agreement on the division of marital property Annulment of birth certificate Apostille and consular legalization of inheritance documents APOSTILLE AND LEGALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS IN UKRAINE Apostille for death certificate Apostille on the birth certificate APOSTILLE ON THE DECISION OF THE COURT Apostille on the marriage certificate Appeal against a court decision on divorce Appeal against the decision of the Medical and social expert commission Appeal against the refusal to register permanent care Appeal of inheritance contract Appealing a court decision on deprivation of parental rights Appealing the decisions and actions of the notary when registering the inheritance Applying for a deferment for a guardian of a person with a disability Arrange permanent care for an elderly person Automatic acceptance of inheritance Care on a non-professional basis for parents Certificate of child maintenance by stepfather Certificate of establishment of the fact of providing care for obtaining a deferral Certificate of last place of residence of the deceased CERTIFICATE OF PARENTS OF A LARGE FAMILY AS A BASIS FOR CROSSING THE BORDER CERTIFICATE OF THE FATHER OF MANY CHILDREN IF CHILDREN ARE FROM DIFFERENT MARRIAGES Challenge a will Change of surname to maiden name after divorce Changing a child’s last name during adoption Changing the child’s last name Changing the child’s surname without the consent of the father Changing the surname of a child up to 14 years old Claim for property division COLLECTION OF ALIMONY Collection of alimony from a person residing abroad Collection of alimony from seafarers abroad Conclusion of a marriage contract CONCLUSION OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILD AND DETERMINATION OF THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE Conclusion of the MAC on the need for permanent external care Confirmation of independent maintenance of the child Constant care for a wife with disability group II Consultation of a lawyer on issues of surrogacy in Ukraine Contesting paternity and excluding information from the child’s birth record Contesting the gift contract Crossing the border on the basis of the act of establishing the fact of providing care Custody of the property of a person who is recognized as missing Declaration of a missing person Declaring a relative missing Deferral from mobilization based on the conclusion of the MAC Deprivation of parental rights Deprivation of parental rights abroad Deprivation of the mother’s parental rights Dissolution of marriage at the registry office or through the court Distribution of property upon divorce in Ukraine Division of foreign assets upon divorce Division of marital property: Crypto assets Division of property in case of divorce DIVISION OF PROPERTY IN DIVORCE DIVORCE Divorce if one of the spouses disappeared during hostilities Divorce online DIVORCE SERVICES Divorce without the presence of one of the spouses Establishing a legal fact in court in accordance with Ukrainian legislation Establishing custody of the child Establishing guardianship over a child through the court Establishing or challenging paternity Establishing paternity after the death of a military person Establishing paternity through the court Establishing the fact of child maintenance ESTABLISHING THE FACT OF DEATH IN TEMPORARY OCCUPATED TERRITORIES Establishing the fact of family relations Establishing the fact of family relationships to receive compensation in connection with the death of a serviceman Establishing the fact of family ties through the court Establishing the fact of living as one family Establishing the fact of living in the same family with the testator Establishing the fact of non-acceptance of inheritance Establishing the fact of paternity Establishing the fact of paternity after death Establishing the fact that the child is maintained by the stepfather Establishing the order of participation in raising a child ESTABLISHMENT OF FUNDS AND TRUSTS Establishment of guardianship Establishment of guardianship in court Establishment of guardianship over a disabled person of the 2nd group Establishment of guardianship over an elderly person Establishment of guardianship over an incapacitated person Establishment of guardianship over the mother Establishment of guardianship over the property of an incapacitated person Establishment of the fact of independent upbringing of the child by the father Estate Litigation Attorney Exemption from paying alimony Extension of the deadline for accepting an inheritance Family lawyer in Germany: protecting the interests of ukrainian citizens FAMILY LAWYER IN ITALY FOR UKRAINIANS Family mediation (mediation in family disputes) Fast increasing the amount of child support Gift agreement between relatives Gift agreement for a minor child Guardianship of an incapacitated person Guardianship of disabled parents Guardianship over parents as a basis for postponement Heritage with a foreign element How to establish the fact of residence by one family? Inheritance disputes Inheritance in Ukraine for Ukrainian citizens living abroad Inheritance lawyer abroad INHERITANCE OF BANK DEPOSITS Invalidation of a marriage Issuance of duplicate certificates and extracts from the Civil Registry Office Legal support for marriage registration in Ukraine Legal support for the adoption of a child Legal support of surrogate motherhood Legalization of a divorce certificate issued abroad Legalization of a marriage concluded abroad Legalization of a marriage concluded in Poland Making changes to the act record of the birth of a child Marriage certificate abroad Marriage contract Marriage contract with a foreigner MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION SERVICES ABROAD Marriage registration under martial law Notarized agreement on child support and upbringing Obtaining a border crossing permit in EU countries for minor children OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF A FATHER WITH MANY CHILDREN Obtaining a certificate of MAC on permanent care Obtaining a certificate of marital status Obtaining a death certificate Obtaining a duplicate birth certificate Obtaining a marriage certificate again Obtaining a MSEC certificate of disability Obtaining the conclusion of the Medical Advisory Committee: stages, necessary documents and step-by-step legal assistance Obtaining the MAC Conclusion in form 080-4/o Permanent care for a disabled person of the 1st group Permanent care for a disabled person of the 2nd group as a basis for postponement Permanent care for an elderly person. Postponement Probate lawyer PROCEDURE FOR CARE OF THE DISABLED GROUP 2 Procedure for establishing guardianship Proving the fact of maintenance of an illegitimate child Provision of care for children with disabilities in Ukraine Receiving an inheritance in Ukraine if you are abroad Receiving compensation by the heir for damaged or destroyed property Recognition of a foreign divorce decree in Ukraine Recognition of a person as incapable and appointment of a guardian RECOGNITION OF A PERSON AS MISSING OR DECEASED Recognition of a person as partially disabled Recognition of inheritance as dead Recognition of ownership rights over the deceased Recognition of paternity for the collection of alimony abroad Recognition of paternity through the State Civil Registry Office Recognition of the right to inheritance Reduction of alimony Refusal of inheritance in favor of another person Registration of a child born through reproductive medicine REGISTRATION OF A DONATION (DONATION AGREEMENT) Registration of care for a father: algorithm of actions Registration of care on a non-professional basis Registration of divorce abroad Registration of guardianship over a disabled child Registration of guardianship over a disabled person of the 1st group Registration of guardianship over a disabled person of the 2nd group Registration of guardianship over an elderly person Registration of inheritance Registration of inheritance in the occupied territory REGISTRATION OF PERMANENT CARE – 2025 Registration of permanent care for the wife REGISTRATION OF PERMISSION FOR THE CHILD TO GO ABROAD FROM ONE OF THE PARENTS Registration of the birth of a child in the occupied territory Registration of the birth of a child in the surrogate motherhood program in Ukraine Reissue of marriage certificate Removal of seizure from immovable property in an inheritance case Renewal of parental rights Renewal of permanent care Renewal of the birth certificate Representation in the guardianship and guardianship authorities REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE LAWYER Restriction of parental rights Return of the child to the parents Returning a child to parents from social services abroad Setting a schedule of visits with your child Statement of claim for collection of alimony for a child Statement of claim for deprivation of parental rights Statement of claim for the adoption of a child Statement of claim for the removal of seizure from inherited property Support for divorce in Poland Support for registration of marriage with a military man Support in determining the place of residence of a child with his biological father Surname change after marriage with a foreigner Termination of parental rights by father’s consent THE TRANSFER OF LAND BY INHERITANCE THE TRANSFER OF REAL ESTATE TO INHERITANCE Travel abroad of a guardian of a disabled child Travel abroad of a guardian of an incapacitated person Turnkey divorce URGENT DIVORCE Voluntary relinquishment of parental rights