EVERLEGAL acted as an implementing partner in the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) project
Publications
11.08.2025 229
EVERLEGAL joined the implementation of a large-scale NRC humanitarian project focused on escheated inheritance and ownerless property in Ukraine
We are pleased to share an important milestone for our team and for everyone working to support the recovery and resilience of communities in Ukraine.
EVERLEGAL acted as the legal advisor and partner of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in a major research project dedicated to the issue of escheated inheritance and ownerless property in Ukraine. The project aimed to identify practical solutions for territorial communities striving to ensure internally displaced persons (IDPs) have access to safe, adequate, and durable housing.
The project was implemented with the support of KfW Development Bank and the Government of Germany.
One of the key obstacles to achieving such solutions is the legal complexity surrounding the transfer of ownership of property left without owners or heirs. This research project, implemented in three regions of Ukraine — Lviv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi — was designed to help address this challenge.
The project was comprehensive in nature. We conducted an in-depth legal analysis, studied real-life cases from communities, and gathered insights through surveys and interviews with key stakeholders — including representatives of public authorities, local communities, and both international and national organizations. We also analyzed relevant European practices. The data collected allowed us to identify existing barriers (legal, institutional, and administrative) and to develop actionable, locally-adapted recommendations — from step-by-step guidance to templates for municipal-level regulatory documents.
Special attention was paid to the humanitarian context of the project — all conclusions and recommendations are rooted in the principles of human rights and respect for property rights.
As a result of our work, the project produced:
- A comprehensive analytical report outlining the scale of the problem and proposing practical mechanisms for resolution;
- A handbook for local self-government bodies with practical guidance, case studies, document templates, and clear instructions;
- A consolidated overview of legal and institutional cooperation between central and local authorities in the area of managing heirless and abandoned property.
On 31 July 2025, EVERLEGAL presented the outcomes of the project during a meeting of the Housing, Land and Property Technical Working Group, which brings together leading organizations working in the field of humanitarian response and HLP development in Ukraine.
This project represents a successful synergy of practical legal expertise, research methodology, and a deep commitment to addressing real community needs. We are confident that the findings will support local authorities in managing heirless property more effectively and will contribute to expanding housing options for Ukraine’s most vulnerable populations.
The EVERLEGAL project team included:
- Oleksandr Demchuk — Project Lead, Counsel
- Anna Dvornikova — Senior Associate
- Olha Kotkova — Senior Associate
- Olena Sinko — Associate
- Alla Lysak — Junior Associate
- Daria Kravets — Project Manager
We sincerely thank the NRC team for their trust, productive collaboration, and the opportunity to contribute to a project that is making a real difference in people’s lives.Working together for the better future of Ukraine.
