How do I officially and legally prove family ties with a great-uncle?

An individual's application to establish the fact of family relations is submitted to the district, district in the city, city or city-district court at the place of residence. Jurisdiction of cases based on the application of a citizen of Ukraine who lives outside its borders to establish a fact of legal significance is determined at his request by a decision of a judge of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.

The statement to establish the fact of family relations must comply with both the general rules regarding the content and form of the statement of claim established by Art. 175 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine, as well as the requirements regarding its content, provided for by Art. 318 of the Civil Code of Ukraine.

According to Article 318 of the Civil Code of Ukraine, the application must state:

• what fact the applicant requests to establish and for what purpose;

• the reasons for the impossibility of obtaining or restoring documents proving this fact;

• evidence confirming the fact.

Evidence confirming the circumstances stated in the application and a certificate on the impossibility of restoring the lost documents are attached to the application.