How to Translate Ukrainian Court Terms into German, English, and Russian

Legal terminology you can’t afford to mistranslate

Autor: Tymur Levitin — founder, director, and senior teacher at Levitin Language School
🔗 Choose your language: https://levitinlanguageschool.com/#languages

Understanding the Difference: Not All Court Documents Are Equal

Legal translation is never just about language — it’s about legal systems. Ukrainian court documents come in different legal forms: рішення, ухвала, судовий наказ, витяг. Each has its own meaning, structure, and consequences. If you translate them simply as “decision” or “judgment” — you’re wrong.

In this article, we compare four official Ukraiński court documents with their equivalents in Niemiecki, Angielskioraz Rosyjski — and show why precision matters.

📘 1. Рішення суду — Court Decision / Judgment

✅ This is the most common court document: it contains the full legal reasoning, final conclusions, and consequences. It usually closes the case.

Example:
📄 Рішення суду про розірвання шлюбу.
➤ EN: Court decision on divorce.
➤ DE: Urteil über die Scheidung.
➤ RU: Решение суда о расторжении брака.

📘 2. Ухвала суду — Court Ruling / Procedural Order

✅ Used for procedural steps — accepting a claim, transferring jurisdiction, setting a hearing, etc.

Example:
📄 Ухвала суду про відкриття провадження.
➤ EN: Court ruling on opening the case.
➤ DE: Beschluss über die Verfahrenseröffnung.
➤ RU: Определение суда об открытии производства.

📘 3. Судовий наказ — Court Order (Simplified Procedure)

✅ A fast-track document issued without a full hearing. Used when the claim is uncontested (e.g., alimony, debt).

Example:
📄 Судовий наказ про стягнення аліментів.
➤ EN: Court order for child support recovery.
➤ DE: Vollstreckungsbescheid wegen Unterhaltsforderungen.
➤ RU: Судебный приказ о взыскании алиментов.

📘 4. Витяг з рішення суду — Extract from Court Decision

✅ A certified excerpt (not full decision) — with essential data (parties, date, result). Used for official proof abroad.

Example:
📄 Витяг з рішення суду про визнання батьківства.
➤ EN: Extract from the court decision on paternity recognition.
➤ DE: Auszug aus dem Gerichtsbeschluss über die Vaterschaftsanerkennung.
➤ RU: Выписка из решения суда о признании отцовства.

⚖️ Why This Matters in Legal Translation

Using the wrong term can result in:

• ❌ Rejection by foreign institutions
• ❌ Invalid apostille/legalization
• ❌ Legal confusion for the client
• ✅ Accurate translation ensures legal clarity across borders.

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👤 Author and Copyright

Autorska kolumna Tymura Levitina
Founder, Director, and Senior Teacher at Levitin Language School / Start Language School by Tymur Levitin
© Tymur Levitin. Wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone.
Translation logic and methodology: author’s original system.
Globalne uczenie się. Osobiste podejście.