Disputes with state authorities

In a dispute with a public authority the law takes the individual’s side on the central point: it is for the authority to prove that its decision was lawful. The lawyer’s task is to choose the right remedy and not to miss the filing deadline.

When to get in touch

• an authority has taken a decision that infringes your rights
• a service or a document has been refused without proper grounds
• the authority is failing to take action it is obliged to take
• the authority needs to be ordered to take a specific decision

What the lawyer does

• analyses the authority’s decision and identifies the appropriate remedy
• prepares pre-action applications and complaints
• prepares the administrative claim within the filing deadline
• assembles the evidence and requires the authority to justify its decision
• represents the client before the courts at every level
• sees the authority’s compliance with the judgment through

Legal basis

The jurisdiction of the administrative courts is set out in Article 19 of the Code of Administrative Procedure of Ukraine; the available remedies, including a declaration that a decision is unlawful and an order to take action, in Article 5. In cases about the unlawfulness of decisions, acts or omissions, the burden of proving lawfulness rests on the public authority (part two of Article 77). The general filing deadline is six months (Article 122).

Legislation and case law are updated over time; this page reflects the position as of August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who has to prove the authority’s decision was lawful?

The authority itself: in cases about the unlawfulness of its decisions the burden of proof rests on the public authority (Article 77 of the Code of Administrative Procedure).

Can an authority be ordered to take a particular decision?

The Code provides for that remedy (Article 5); whether it is available depends on whether the matter is discretionary.

Need legal assistance? Call us or leave a request — a lawyer will contact you and explain what to do in your situation.