Russian Family Law Terms

Divorce, child support and property of spouses in Russia are governed by the Family Code (SK RF). The key words are ZAGS, the civil registry office; alimenty, support payments; brachny dogovor, a marriage contract; and sovmestno nazhitoe imushchestvo, property acquired jointly during marriage. This glossary explains these and related terms for people living in California and other countries.

It was prepared by attorney Elena Petrova, who handles Russian family matters for clients abroad.

Marriage and Registration

ZAGS (ЗАГС) is the civil registry office. A marriage in Russia is valid only when registered there.

Svidetelstvo o brake (свидетельство о браке) is the marriage certificate.

Rastorzhenie braka (расторжение брака) is divorce. It goes through ZAGS when both spouses agree and have no minor children; otherwise through a court.

Svidetelstvo o rastorzhenii braka is the divorce certificate issued by ZAGS after the court decision takes effect.

Apostil (апостиль) is the stamp that makes a Russian certificate usable in the United States and other Hague Convention countries.

Where Family Cases Are Heard

Property of Spouses

Sovmestno nazhitoe imushchestvo is property acquired during marriage. By default it belongs to both spouses in equal shares, whoever is named as owner.

Lichnoe imushchestvo (личное имущество) is separate property: what a spouse owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance.

Razdel imushchestva (раздел имущества) is the division of marital property. The Family Code sets a three-year limitation period, counted from when a spouse learned that their right was violated.

Brachny dogovor (брачный договор) is a marriage contract certified by a notary. It can change the default regime of joint property.

Soglashenie o razdele is a property settlement agreement, also certified by a notary.

Support Payments

Alimenty (алименты) are support payments, most often for children.

Dolya ot dokhoda is support as a share of income: one quarter for one child, one third for two, and half for three or more.

Tverdaya denezhnaya summa is a fixed monthly sum set by the court when income is irregular.

Soglashenie ob uplate alimentov is a notarised agreement on support. It can be enforced like a writ.

Zadolzhennost po alimentam is support arrears, collected by the bailiffs.

Children and Parental Rights

Opredelenie mesta zhitelstva rebenka is the court decision on where the child lives.

Poryadok obshcheniya is the schedule of contact for the parent living apart.

Organ opeki (орган опеки) is the guardianship authority that prepares reports for the court.

Lishenie roditelskikh prav is termination of parental rights, a measure of last resort.

Soglasie na vyezd is a parent's consent for a child to travel abroad.

Papers Behind a Family Claim

Iskovoe zayavlenie (исковое заявление) is the statement of claim filed with the court.

Svidetelstvo o rozhdenii is the child's birth certificate, attached to any claim about children or support.

Spravka o dokhodakh is proof of income used to calculate alimony.

Otsenka imushchestva is a valuation report, often needed when spouses divide a flat or a car.

Recognition Across Borders

A Russian divorce or support order does not take effect abroad by itself, and a foreign decision needs separate steps in Russia. Russia and the United States have no general treaty on recognising court decisions, so each case is checked individually.

Attorney Elena Petrova explains which route fits your situation and which documents are needed.

The main channel of communication with the attorney is email: attorneypetrova1@gmail.com.