However, a competing claim has been filed by the , acting through a private law firm in Washington, D.C. Belarusian authorities argue that under Soviet inheritance law, which they claim as a predecessor state to the BSSR, a portion of any citizen’s estate must revert to the state if heirs are not "direct bloodline dependents."
Judge Marcus C. Rehnquist, presiding over the Chancery Court’s probate docket, has ordered a "dual-tracking" approach. A forensic genealogist will attempt to establish Mrs. Volkov-Morrison’s legal nationality at the time of the USSR’s dissolution, while a separate master will review the validity of the 2021 Will under Delaware’s Uniform Probate Code.
According to court filings, the estate is valued at approximately $4.2 million, consisting primarily of real estate in Delaware, a collection of Soviet-era art, and a bank account in Cyprus. The Will names two primary beneficiaries: her son, Dmitri Volkov of Brooklyn, New York, and a charitable foundation supporting Russian-language poets. first soviet citizen will probated in the united states
The probate hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2026. Legal experts predict the case will likely reach the Delaware Supreme Court, and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court, on the question of whether a non-existent state can be a party to a probate dispute.
Wilmington, Delaware – April 14, 2026 — In a landmark legal first, the Superior Court of Delaware has formally opened probate proceedings for the estate of a former Soviet citizen, marking the first time a person born under the flag of the USSR has had their last will and testament adjudicated on American soil. However, a competing claim has been filed by
In a groundbreaking development, a Soviet citizen has been probated in the United States, marking a significant milestone in the country's judicial history. This unprecedented event has sparked widespread interest and curiosity, and we are excited to bring you the latest updates and insights on this remarkable case.
The probate of a Soviet citizen in the United States holds significant implications for international relations, diplomacy, and the global community. This case: A forensic genealogist will attempt to establish Mrs
The case has drawn intense interest from the estimated 750,000 former Soviet citizens living in the United States who naturalized after 1991. Many have outdated wills that refer to their "Soviet" birth.