Inheritance of Firearms in Ukraine
Inheriting property in Ukraine is not always a straightforward process. When firearms are involved, however, the procedure becomes considerably more complex. This is because firearms are objects with restricted civil circulation and therefore require not only the completion of inheritance proceedings but also the obtaining of special permits. The issue of firearm inheritance in Ukraine in 2026 remains highly relevant, as the practical application of the applicable legislation often creates difficulties for heirs.
It is important to understand that the mere inclusion of a firearm in the estate does not automatically transfer the right to possess or use it. Many people mistakenly believe that obtaining a Certificate of Inheritance is sufficient, but this is only the first stage of the process. The question of how to inherit a firearm involves two separate procedures: the notarial inheritance procedure and the firearm licensing procedure.
The first question that usually arises after the firearm owner's death is what should be done with the deceased's firearm before the inheritance is completed. Ukrainian law expressly provides that such firearm must be transferred to the National Police of Ukraine for temporary storage. The firearm must be voluntarily surrendered within five days from the date of the deceased owner's death.
In practice, mistakes often occur already at this stage because relatives either fail to surrender the firearm within the prescribed period or simply keep it without following the required legal procedure. Such actions may result in administrative liability.
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Once the firearm has been placed in temporary storage, the next step is to apply to a notary and open an inheritance case. It should be noted that Ukrainian law distinguishes between "inheritance of a firearm by an heir" and "registration of a firearm in the heir's name." Obtaining a Certificate of Inheritance for a firearm does not, by itself, grant the heir the right to possess or store the firearm. These rights arise only after the heir obtains a firearm acquisition permit issued by the National Police and the firearm has been re-registered in the heir's name with the National Police.
For this reason, the re-registration of a firearm after the owner's death, together with obtaining the permit to possess and carry the firearm, takes place only after the heir has received the Certificate of Inheritance. Until these procedures have been completed, the heir has no legal right to possess, store, or use the firearm.
If, for any reason, the notary refuses to issue the Certificate of Inheritance, the heir must apply to the court seeking recognition of ownership of the firearm by way of inheritance. Only after obtaining the relevant court judgment may the heir apply to the National Police to complete the firearm licensing and registration procedures.
Special attention should also be paid to the inheritance of award firearms, as they are subject to an even more specific legal regime. Subject to the approval of the National Police of Ukraine, an award firearm may either be transferred to a museum by the heirs or retained by the heirs after being converted by the manufacturer or a licensed firearm repair workshop into a deactivated display model or a training model. Upon completion of such conversion, the manufacturer or licensed workshop issues a certificate confirming the work performed. A copy of this certificate must be submitted to the police authority maintaining the deceased owner's firearm records, while the original remains with the heir or is transferred together with the exhibit to the museum. The National Police subsequently records the relevant information in the Unified Firearms Register.
Accordingly, the procedure for inheriting a firearm consists of the following steps:
- transferring the firearm for temporary storage;
- opening the inheritance case;
- obtaining the Certificate of Inheritance;
- obtaining the required firearm permit and re-registering the firearm.
Failure to follow this procedure will prevent the heir from lawfully possessing or using the deceased owner's firearm. Have questions? Contact us today.