Bona Vacantia In Cyprus

Recently, on 8 April 2020, a judgment was issued by the Supreme Court in relation to the succession of the estate of a person who had passed away 28 years ago and whose death had given cause to judicial proceedings both in Cyprus and abroad. The judgment given was in relation to a civil action filed 21 years ago. The interesting aspect about the succession to this person's estate was the position held by the government of Pakistan that since he had passed away without any heirs on the basis of a claim of bona vacantia the rightful heir to his estate was in fact the state of Pakistan.

However, there were also two other claimants who claimed to be related by blood to the deceased. Furthermore, the Attorney General of Cyprus, who on the basis of a Court order had been appointed as a temporary administrator of the estate of the deceased, was also added as a party to the action.