How to arrange real estate for a child
Parents or guardians may decide to register real estate in a child’s name for various reasons. Most often, an apartment is registered in a minor’s name to ensure they have their own home in the future and to avoid having to go through the process of re-registering the property again. Let’s take a closer look at whether it’s possible to register real estate in a child’s name, how to do it, what documents are required for this procedure, and other important details.
Is it possible to register an apartment in the name of a minor child?
Ukrainian law allows an apartment to be registered in the name of a young child (under 14 years of age) or a minor (under 18 years of age) without any age restrictions. A child can become the owner of an apartment at 3 months of age or at 17 years of age.
Minors may receive real estate as a gift or inheritance, or become owners through a purchase and sale agreement. At the same time, all transactions involving real estate are strictly regulated by the state, particularly by guardianship and custody authorities.
Most often, a child becomes the owner of real estate in the following ways:
Through a gift. Parents can give an apartment or a house to their child by drawing up a gift agreement, which must be signed by both parties.
By inheritance. If parents wish to bequeath real estate to their child, a will is drawn up. The right to inherit arises after the opening of the estate, that is, after the testator’s death.
As of May 25, 2026, a simplified procedure for registering property in a child’s name is in effect in Ukraine. If a child acquires property free of charge—for example, through a gift agreement or by inheritance—it is no longer necessary to obtain permission from the guardianship and custody authorities. However, the requirement for consent from parents or other legal representatives remains in effect.
A gift agreement must be notarized, and the transfer of ownership must be registered with the State Register of Real Property Rights.
Is it possible to buy an apartment in a child's name?
A popular way to register an apartment in a child’s name is to purchase the property. Parents select a property but sign the purchase agreement not in their own names, but directly in the name of their son or daughter. This approach can be more convenient, simpler, and more cost-effective than purchasing a home in one of the parents’ names and then transferring ownership to the child once they reach the age of majority.
When purchasing real estate in a child’s name, permission from child welfare authorities is not required, as such a transaction is intended to increase the minor’s property rights. The contract is concluded in accordance with the requirements of civil law regarding the involvement of parents or legal representatives, depending on the child’s age.
Why do people choose to decorate their apartment with a child in mind:
You do not need to draw up a deed of gift or a will;
There are no risks associated with the division of the apartment if the parents decide to divorce;
Third parties will not be eligible to claim the property during the division of the estate.
The property initially belongs to the child, which provides additional protection against its alienation or use by third parties. It is important to note that the property may be leased, sold, or otherwise disposed of only with the permission of the guardianship and custody authorities.
From the age of 14, a child may enter into legal transactions involving property belonging to him or her, within the limits of his or her legal capacity and subject to the necessary consent of the parents and guardianship authorities in cases provided for by law. Upon reaching the age of majority, the owner may dispose of the property freely and at his or her own discretion.
Is it possible to draw up a deed of gift for a minor child?
Drawing up a gift deed is one of the most common ways to transfer ownership of real estate to a minor. If desired, the donor may include special conditions in the agreement, such as a prohibition on selling or exchanging the property until the recipient turns 18.
It is important that the donor be the owner of the property. For this reason, you cannot gift an apartment purchased with a mortgage or on an installment plan if the debt has not yet been paid off, since the bank or other mortgage lender effectively owns the property.
The main steps in drawing up a deed of gift for a minor:
Preparing the documents. You must gather the documents related to the property, the documents of the donor and the child, as well as documents confirming the authority of the parents, adoptive parents, or guardians.
Executing a gift agreement before a notary. A real estate gift agreement must be notarized.
State Registration of Ownership Rights. After the contract is certified, the child’s ownership rights are registered in the State Register of Real Property Rights.
A gift agreement is a bilateral contract. If the child is a minor—that is, under 14 years of age—the document is signed on the child’s behalf by their legal representatives (parents, adoptive parents, or guardians), and the consent of the other parent must be notarized. A minor, that is, a child between the ages of 14 and 18, has the right to sign the agreement independently, provided both parents give their written consent. If the agreement requires notarization, this consent must also be notarized.
Upon state registration, the child becomes the owner of the real estate. Until the child reaches the age of majority, the disposal of such property is subject to the restrictions established by law to protect the property rights of children.
What documents are required to register an apartment in a child's name?
When purchasing, gifting, or inheriting real estate, minors must prepare the following documents:
passports and identification numbers of the parents (guardians, adoptive parents);
the child's birth certificate and identification number (a passport may be used in place of the birth certificate if the child is 14 years of age or older);
a certificate of the minor's place of registration;
documents establishing title to real estate;
technical certificate for the apartment;
a certificate listing the people registered at the apartment;
notarized consent from the other parent (adoptive parents, guardians) to enter into the agreement.
When drafting a gift deed, you will also need the donor’s passport and taxpayer identification number (TIN), a certificate of family composition, and certificates of residence for the children. If a minor is to inherit, the following documents must be added to the basic set: a certificate of the decedent’s last place of registration, the decedent’s death certificate, the will, and inheritance documents.
Permission from child welfare authorities is not required for the acquisition of property free of charge (through a gift or inheritance) or for the purchase of property in the child’s name.
Is it possible to sell an apartment that belongs to a child?
Sometimes parents decide to sell an apartment registered in a child’s name—for example, when moving or when they wish to purchase a larger home. Regardless of whether the child is the sole owner or owns only a share, such a transaction affects the child’s interests. Despite the simplification of the procedure for children to acquire property in 2026, permission from child welfare authorities remains mandatory for the sale, gifting, exchange, division, mortgaging, pledging, or any other disposition of property belonging to a child.
Parents contact child welfare authorities, who conduct an investigation to ensure that the child is not left without a place to live. To obtain permission, you must provide documentation confirming that, in exchange for the apartment being sold, the child will receive a property that is at least as good as the previous one. Most often, both transactions—the sale and the purchase—are finalized simultaneously, without any time lag: this is the only way to protect the child’s interests and obtain the consent of child welfare authorities.
Registering real estate in a child’s name can be a beneficial and convenient solution, but it’s important to consider all the details and properly protect the child’s interests. At first glance, the process may seem complicated, but with the support of an experienced lawyer, it’s entirely feasible to complete it. You can seek assistance from the “Mayak” real estate agency, which employs not only real estate agents but also lawyers and a notary. The agency’s specialists will advise you on the best way to transfer ownership of the property and which documents are required; if you’re buying an apartment, they’ll help you select a property and guide you through every stage of the transaction.
