Family and Civil Law Matters

Resolving Family and Personal Legal Matters in Ukraine

Family and civil law matters involving Ukraine can be particularly challenging when you are abroad. Different legal systems, language barriers, and unfamiliarity with Ukrainian procedures can make even straightforward matters feel overwhelming.

As a licensed Ukrainian attorney, I handle family and civil cases on behalf of foreign clients, managing all interactions with Ukrainian courts, registries, and authorities. You stay informed at every step without having to be physically present in Ukraine.

Divorce and Marital Matters

• Divorce proceedings — both contested and uncontested divorce in Ukrainian courts, including cases where one spouse is abroad.
• Marital property division — identification, valuation, and division of jointly owned assets under Ukrainian family law.
• Marriage annulment — legal grounds and procedures for annulling a marriage registered in Ukraine.
• Alimony — establishing, modifying, or enforcing alimony obligations under Ukrainian law.

Two recent developments matter here: the online divorce route through Diia, which is not available to foreign citizens, and the Supreme Court’s 2026 position on dividing marital property when assets are located abroad.

Child Custody and Parental Rights

• Custody disputes — representation in custody proceedings, including cross-border cases.
• Parental rights and visitation — establishing or modifying visitation arrangements under Ukrainian law.
• Child support — establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support payments.
• International child relocation — legal issues arising when a parent wishes to relocate a child abroad.

Inheritance and Succession

• Inheritance claims — accepting or contesting inheritance under Ukrainian succession law.
• Cross-border estates — handling situations where the deceased had assets in Ukraine and another country.
• Document preparation — obtaining inheritance certificates, property transfer documents, and registry extracts.
• Heir identification — locating and verifying heirs, and coordinating with Ukrainian notaries.

Foreign heirs will also want the practical guide: inheritance in Ukraine for foreigners — the six-month deadline, the 23% tax for non-residents, and how to claim an estate without travelling.

Property and Civil Disputes

• Property ownership disputes — protecting your ownership rights against competing claims.
• Real estate transactions — legal support for buying, selling, or donating property in Ukraine.
• Neighbour and boundary disputes — resolving conflicts over property boundaries, shared infrastructure, or land use.
• Civil claims — compensation for damages, enforcement of rights, and other civil matters in Ukrainian courts.

I also act for foreign buyers through the entire purchase, from due diligence to registration — the process is set out step by step in buying property in Ukraine as a foreigner.

How I Help Foreign Clients

Most of my clients in family and civil matters are Ukrainians living abroad or foreigners with family connections to Ukraine. I understand the challenges of managing legal matters remotely:

• I handle all filings, court appearances, and interactions with authorities on your behalf
• As a licensed attorney, I represent you in court on my attorney’s warrant — no power of attorney required for court proceedings
• For actions outside court, I prepare a power of attorney if needed
• All communication and documents are delivered in English
• Regular status updates so you always know where your case stands