In Ukraine, many people still believe that being registered at an address — commonly referred to as having a registration — automatically grants the right to inherit property after the owner’s death. However, the law says otherwise: residence registration does not guarantee inheritance rights and does not affect ownership.
Inheritance laws in Ukraine remain stable: property is passed on either by will or by law — if there is no will. In cases of legal succession, the inheritance is distributed among heirs according to their legal order of priority, with children, spouses, and parents of the deceased making up the first line. Residence registration does not change this hierarchy, though it may simplify the procedure.
Legally registered residence matters only in one particular scenario: if an heir lived with the deceased and was officially registered at the same address, they are considered to have accepted the inheritance automatically. This is crucial when the heir fails to submit a formal inheritance claim within six months — the legal time limit. If the heir was registered at another address, they must apply to a notary within this period to claim their rights.
A will completely overrides the importance of registration. If it clearly lists the heirs and their shares, these individuals are entitled to the property, regardless of where they are registered. However, the concept of a compulsory share still applies — minor children, parents, or a surviving spouse are entitled to half of what they would have received under legal succession, even if they are not mentioned in the will.
For married couples, any property acquired during the marriage is considered joint ownership unless stated otherwise in a legal agreement. This means that if one spouse dies, the surviving partner automatically has the right to half of the joint property, while the remaining half is subject to inheritance. Registration does not play a role here — only the fact of legal marriage is relevant.
Heirs may agree to redistribute the inheritance shares among themselves. For real estate, such an agreement must be certified by a notary. Non-transferable rights, such as personal non-property rights, pensions, or alimony, are not part of the inheritance — just like the residence registration itself, which is not inherited.
Inheritance is formalized through a notary in the area of the deceased’s last registered address. To do this, heirs must submit an application and relevant supporting documents, including a death certificate, property documents, and proof of family relations. If the heir lived with the deceased, the process may be somewhat simpler.
In 2025, Ukraine continues to operate an electronic system for residence registration, allowing people to register not only in personally owned properties but also in rented homes or even vacation houses. This impacts not only utility costs or eligibility for subsidies but also legal aspects — including inheritance proceedings.
Read also: University Admission in Ukraine Ends on August 9, 2025
