On February 16–17, 2026, the lawyers of the Law Association “ARES Law Company” — Managing Partner Roman Chumak, along with attorneys Yevhen Promsky and Artem Bochko — participated in a specialized professional training titled:

“Declaration of a Person as Missing, Declaration of Death, and Establishment of Paternity.” The training was held as part of a series of educational events aimed at strengthening legal assistance for vulnerable groups of the population.

The program focused on some of the most complex and socially sensitive categories of civil cases, which have become particularly relevant in the context of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The key topics covered included:

• establishing effective communication with vulnerable individuals;

• issues related to establishing paternity, particularly in cases where one of the parents has gone missing or has died — a matter of critical importance for protecting children’s rights and ensuring inheritance, social, and property rights;

• specific aspects of conducting DNA examinations;

• evidentiary standards in these categories of cases.

Special attention was devoted to the practical component of the training. A significant portion of the program involved working with simulated case studies and analyzing judicial practice in cases concerning declaration of persons as missing, declaration of death, and establishment of paternity. An essential part of the practical work focused on developing professional communication skills when working with clients experiencing emotional distress due to war-related consequences, loss of loved ones, uncertainty, and prolonged psychological stress.

The training demonstrated that handling complex civil cases requires not only deep legal knowledge and experience but also the ability to interact sensitively and effectively with clients in emotionally challenging situations. Such professional development initiatives contribute to building a balanced, competent, and effective approach to legal protection.