What pensioners and their families living abroad need to know

The payment and delivery of insurance pensions is regulated by the provisions of Federal Law No. 400-FZ of the Russian Federation of December 28, 2013, "On Insurance Pensions" and the "Rules for the Payment of Pensions" (the full title of the document is much longer; you can read it here), approved by order of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation...

Inheritance and the testator's debts: what you need to know about changes in legislation

On November 24, 2026, legislative amendments will come into force requiring notaries to notify heirs of debts left by the testator. The amendments were made to the Federal Laws "On Banks and Banking Activities," "On Credit Histories," and the Fundamentals of Russian Legislation on Notaries.…

Divorce, inheritance, and thousands of miles in between: How Karina Duval navigates legal issues on both sides of the ocean

Moving to the United States doesn't always mean starting your life anew. Divorce, inheritance, or an old apartment can suddenly send a person back to another country—with its laws, documents, and procedures. In such situations, one overlooked detail often...

Criminal history and its significance in the life of an immigrant

Anyone who's ever had to make a major relocation (no matter between two countries) knows how important it is to have no criminal record. But does every criminal record lead to potential denial? –…

Notification of dual citizenship or residence permit: What legal consequences should Russian citizens be aware of?

Recently, situations have increasingly arisen where Russian citizens living abroad are unaware of their obligation to notify government agencies of their dual citizenship. In accordance with Article 11 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ "On Citizenship of the Russian Federation" dated 28…

How to properly issue a power of attorney while abroad

The most common request in our office is for a power of attorney. Let's take a look at what it is. A power of attorney is a written authorization granted by one person to another to represent them before third parties. A power of attorney is executed in writing and must contain: the title of the document; an indication of its location...

How to Accept an Inheritance in Russia: A Practical Guide from Karina Duval

What is inheritance? An inheritance begins with the death of a citizen. Civil registry office documents, primarily the death certificate, are one source of information about the opening of an inheritance and the basis for legal succession. Civil registry office documents issued by the competent authorities of a foreign state must be properly...

How are court documents, summonses, and notices served if the defendant lives abroad?

When considering interjurisdictional cases, the key issue is ensuring that the rights of parties residing in another jurisdiction are not violated. If a civil case is commenced in the United States and the defendant resides abroad, the National Rules for Service of Process apply. One of the...

How can individuals aged 14 to 18 renounce Russian citizenship if they hold a US passport?

A child's renunciation of Russian citizenship is accomplished upon the application of one of the parents who is a Russian citizen, provided the child renounces their citizenship at the same time as that parent. To do this, the following documents must be submitted to the Russian consulate/diplomatic mission abroad: A completed application...

How to quickly obtain documents in Russia while in the US: about the identity or equivalence procedure

One of the notary's services is certifying the equivalence of a paper document to an electronic one. In this case, the paper document is sealed and signed by the notary, and the documents created in this manner have equal legal force and are considered originals, not copies. This procedure…

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