MAGISTERS / CIVIL LITIGATION
Civil Litigation Lawyer in Ukraine
Representation of claimants and defendants in property, contractual, inheritance and other civil disputes. From reviewing documents and developing a legal position to obtaining and enforcing a court judgment.
Kharkiv · Kyiv · Odesa · remote consultations and case management
Civil and Property Disputes
Ownership, debts, inheritance and contracts
Court Proceedings and Appeals
Claims, statements of defence, appeals and cassation where legally available
Since 2012
Legal practice at MAGISTERS
01 / WHEN URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED
You should contact a lawyer urgently if
Even a well-founded civil case can be weakened by a missed deadline, a failure to apply for necessary relief, or the transfer of disputed property before the court hears the case.
DEFENDANT
You have received a claim or a court payment order
We check the other party’s claims and evidence, the date the documents were served, and the time limits for filing a response or applying to set aside the payment order.
PROPERTY
Your property has been frozen or seized
We establish the type of restriction, its legal basis and the court or authority that imposed it, then determine the appropriate remedy and supporting evidence.
DEADLINES
The time limit for taking legal action is approaching
We check limitation periods, any special statutory deadline and the time limit for a procedural filing, taking account of when the relevant judgment or order was received.
OWNERSHIP
You risk losing your home or inheritance rights
We examine registers, title documents, the history of ownership transfers and the risk that disputed assets may be sold or otherwise transferred.
02 / CIVIL LAW PRACTICE AREAS
Civil disputes we handle
This central page covers civil and property disputes. Dedicated legal services and articles are available for matters requiring particular rules and procedures.
PROPERTY PROTECTION
Real Estate and Ownership Disputes
Recognition of title, recovery of property from unlawful possession, removal of interference with its use, disputes over shares and unlawful registration actions.
INHERITANCE
Inheritance Disputes
Wills, estate assets, heirs’ rights, notarial refusals and shares in real estate. Learn more from our inheritance disputes lawyer.
FAMILY
Family Disputes
Court proceedings for divorce, child support, division of marital property, child-related disputes and parental rights.
CONTRACTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Contractual and Financial Claims
Debts, loan agreements, performance and termination of contracts, invalid transactions, recovery of losses and interest on monetary obligations.
Housing Disputes
Eviction, the right to reside in or use a property, access to premises and related housing conflicts.
Land Disputes
Land ownership, boundaries, use of plots, registration of shares and remedies for infringed rights.
Compensation for Financial Loss and Non-Pecuniary Damage
Assessing and proving loss, causation and the other party’s liability.
Protection of Reputation, Honour and Dignity
Disputes over published statements and appropriate remedies for damage to personal or business reputation.
Establishing Legally Significant Facts
Family relationships, births, deaths, ownership of documents and other facts, subject to the rules governing separate non-contentious proceedings.
Consumer Rights
Defective products or services, breaches of contract and compensation claims.
03 / REPRESENTING BOTH SIDES OF A DISPUTE
Claimants and defendants need different legal strategies
Claimants and defendants face different procedural tasks. We identify the evidence, possible claims and risks for each side before the first hearing.
CLAIMANT’S POSITION
When you bring a claim
We identify the appropriate defendant and remedy, collect proof of the violation, formulate the claims, assess court costs and consider whether interim measures are needed.
DEFENDANT’S POSITION
When someone has brought a claim against you
We review the claim and exhibits, prepare a statement of defence and supporting evidence, check time limits and procedural defects, and consider counterclaims and objections to interim measures.
Not every dispute needs to end in a court judgment. If a lawful, enforceable agreement can protect the client more quickly, we first assess negotiation and an amicable settlement.
04 / EVIDENCE AND STRATEGY
A civil case begins with a review of the documents
Ukrainian civil procedure allocates the burden of proof between the parties. It is not enough merely to describe events: the relevant circumstances must be supported by admissible evidence, necessary applications must be made on time, and the chosen remedy must correspond to the right that was infringed.
What we review before filing
• Contracts, IOUs, correspondence and primary records
• Court papers, service dates and case status
• Registry extracts and the history of ownership transfers
• Witness information, expert opinions and other evidence
• Limitation periods, jurisdiction and procedural deadlines
• Whether a future judgment can realistically be enforced
Why choosing the right legal remedy matters
For example, a claim for recognition of ownership, an action to recover property from unlawful possession and a claim to remove interference with its use have different legal requirements and issues to be proved. Choosing an inappropriate remedy may result in dismissal even where a right has been infringed.
We therefore first examine the legal relationship and relevant case law, and only then prepare a statement of claim, defence, appeal or a proposed out-of-court settlement.
Where appropriate, we separately assess whether evidence needs to be obtained or preserved. Interim relief is not automatic: the court considers the statutory grounds and proportionality of the requested measures.
05 / HOW WE WORK
From the first consultation to enforcing the judgment
Depending on the complexity of the matter, the client may instruct us to handle an individual procedural task or manage the dispute from beginning to end.
01
Legal assessment
We analyse the circumstances, documents, jurisdiction, deadlines and potential claims.
02
Evidence strategy
We identify what must be proved and which additional documents are needed.
03
Court documents
We prepare claims, statements of defence, objections, counterclaims and procedural applications.
04
Representation
We track the case, attend hearings, present evidence and work with expert examinations.
05
Review of judgment
We assess grounds for appeal or cassation and prepare the relevant submissions within the applicable deadlines.
06
Enforcement
Where needed, we assist with obtaining an enforcement writ and enforcing the judgment.
06 / PROPERTY DISPUTES
A court judgment should protect a real asset
In disputes involving real estate, ownership shares, financial obligations or inherited assets, a formal win is not enough. We assess the other party’s assets, existing encumbrances and how a judgment could actually be enforced.
OWNERSHIP
Recover your property
We establish who currently possesses the asset, the basis of possession, the sequence of registry actions and the appropriate recovery claim.
FINANCIAL CLAIM
Recover money owed
We check the legal basis and calculation of the debt, deadlines, proof that funds were provided and any possible defences.
CO-OWNERSHIP
Protect your share
We analyse how ownership arose, co-owners’ agreements, evidence of contributions and lawful division mechanisms.
A judgment alone does not guarantee that money or real estate will actually be recovered. We therefore consider enforcement when framing the claims and selecting procedural measures.
07 / COMMON MISTAKES
What makes civil rights harder to protect
Even minor procedural mistakes can affect an entire case. We check the issues most commonly overlooked when people begin proceedings without legal assistance.
Wrong defendant
The claim is brought against someone who is not legally or contractually responsible.
Wrong remedy
The relief requested does not match the nature of the infringed right.
Missed procedural deadlines
Service dates, deadlines for objections and appeals, or special time limits were not checked.
Missing key evidence
Documents were not obtained in time and no application was made for the court to obtain them.
Property transferred before judgment
The need for interim relief or the risk of asset disposal was not assessed.
Enforcement overlooked
After judgment, practical difficulties arise with recovery or registration of ownership.
For clients in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa and elsewhere, we can arrange part of the work remotely. If the lawyer needs to travel, the conditions and scope of the work are agreed in advance.
08 / DEADLINES AND REMOTE REPRESENTATION
Civil proceedings can be managed without constant trips to court
We prepare and file court papers, attend hearings and obtain judgments within the agreed scope of representation. Whether a particular step can be taken remotely depends on the case and the court’s procedures.
What we can do remotely
Consultations and review of scanned documents, engagement agreements, preparation of claims and defences, filing through channels permitted by procedural law, attendance at hearings where legally allowed, and obtaining copies of court decisions.
Appeal deadlines
As a general rule, Article 354 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine provides 30 days for appealing a judgment and 15 days for appealing a court ruling. When the period starts and whether it may be restored depend on the form in which the decision was pronounced and when it was served on the party.
Keep a record of when a decision was delivered to your electronic court account or served by another legally recognised method.
09 / WHAT THE LAWYER DOES AFTER ENGAGEMENT
Specific legal work, not vague promises
The scope of work and fees are set out in the engagement agreement. The lawyer may undertake the entire case or an agreed individual task.
ASSESSMENT
Reviews the case and develops the legal position
Examines documents, identifies issues to be proved, parties, deadlines, relevant case law and potential risks.
PROCEEDINGS
Prepares procedural documents
Statements of claim and defence, replies, objections, appellate or cassation appeals, applications and motions.
EVIDENCE
Collects supporting evidence
Sends formal lawyer’s information requests and, where grounds exist, prepares applications to obtain evidence and appoint expert examinations.
COURT
Represents your interests
Attends hearings, makes procedural submissions, responds to the other party’s arguments and monitors the proceedings.
10 / YOUR CIVIL LITIGATION LAWYER
Hennadii Laguta
Attorney-at-law · Managing Partner of MAGISTERS · legal practice since 2012. Representation in civil litigation, property disputes and court proceedings.
Consultation
From UAH 1,000. We confirm the fee after an initial assessment and agree it before starting work.
Preparation of a court document
From UAH 2,500. The cost depends on the volume of materials and the type of document.
Court representation
From UAH 15,000. The number of hearings and the scope of work are agreed separately.
Full case management
From UAH 20,000. We determine the specific budget after reviewing the dispute.
11 / QUESTIONS FROM CLIENTS
Frequently asked questions about civil litigation
If you have already received a claim, court summons, order freezing property or court decision, tell us when it was received. The available remedies and deadlines may depend on that date.
Do not delay sending documents to a lawyer: in civil proceedings, taking timely procedural action matters as much as understanding the law.
Can I instruct a lawyer after a claim has already been filed?
Yes. We check the current stage of proceedings, service of documents and remaining procedural rights and deadlines. Where needed, we prepare a statement of defence, objections and applications.
Can my civil case be handled without my personal attendance?
Often, yes. A lawyer may represent a client with the appropriate authority. Some steps may require the client to attend in person or provide additional documents, which we clarify in advance.
What should I prepare for the first consultation?
Send the claim, judgment, contract, IOU, correspondence or title documents, together with a brief chronology. We will determine what else is needed after reviewing the matter.
How much does it cost to handle a civil case?
The fee depends on the complexity, volume of documents, stage of the case and required level of representation. We agree the services and fees in the engagement agreement before starting work.
Can a court decide a case without an expert examination?
In many cases, yes. However, expert evidence may be needed where an issue requires specialist knowledge. This depends on the matters to be proved and the evidence already available.
Can I file a counterclaim?
Yes, provided the requirements and deadlines of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine are met and the counterclaim is legally connected with the original claim. We assess this after reviewing the documents.
Can the defendant’s property be frozen before judgment?
In cases permitted by law, the court may grant interim relief. The applicant must establish the grounds and proportionality of the requested measure; the court makes the final decision.
What if the limitation period has expired?
First we identify the applicable period and when it began, and examine circumstances affecting its calculation. Expiry of a substantive limitation period and missing a procedural deadline are different issues.
What is the deadline for a civil appeal?
As a general rule, 30 days for a judgment and 15 days for a court ruling. We verify the calculation, service date and any grounds for restoring the time limit in the individual case.
Do you handle inheritance and family disputes?
Yes. Inheritance, family and property disputes form part of our civil practice, and we have dedicated service pages for these areas.
Can you help recover money after a court judgment?
Under a separate engagement, we assist with enforcement documents and proceedings. Actual recovery depends on the debtor’s assets and other circumstances.
Can you guarantee a favourable court decision?
No. The outcome depends on the evidence, the other party’s position and the court’s assessment. We agree a realistic legal objective and the steps required to pursue it.
12 / CONSULT MAGISTERS
Need assistance with a civil dispute?
Send us the claim, contract, court decision or other relevant documents and briefly describe the outcome you need. We will identify the issues, deadlines, evidence, next steps and terms of legal representation.
Kharkiv · Kyiv · Odesa · in-person and remote assistance
Contact a lawyer
Call +38 (097) 718 11 88. The scope of work and fees are agreed before signing an engagement agreement.