Almanac of law. Issue 16 (2025), pages 460–466.

DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2025-16-460-466

Ukolov O. L.
Fictions in modern law and their use

The article examines the issue of legal fictions as an important category in legal theory which has a significant impact on legal regulation and law enforcement practice. Legal fictions are instruments of legal technique used to create conditional legal assumptions which in certain situations are recognized as true from the point of view of law, even if they do not correspond to actual reality. Despite their conditional nature, these assumptions are legally binding and determine the legal consequences for the persons subject to them.

The author draws attention to the historical roots of fictions, in particular, their use in Roman law, where fictions were used as a tool to adapt the legal system to realities that could not be resolved through traditional legal institutions. Over the centuries, fictions have become an important element in the development of legal systems of various countries, including Ukraine, where they are used to regulate a wide range of legal relations.

The article analyzes in detail the main aspects of legal fictions, including their nature and differences from other legal constructs, such as presumptions and analogies of law. Unlike a presumption, a fiction is not an assumption that can be refuted by evidence. It is absolutely unshakable in its legal significance, despite possible factual inaccuracies. This makes it an important tool for achieving legal stability and predictability in the legal system.

The article also discusses the role of legal fictions in various branches of law. For example, in substantive law, fictions can be used to regulate the status of persons (e.g., the presumption of a person’s missing) or property rights, and in procedural law, to determine the limitation period or apply certain procedures to persons in difficult legal situations. The role of fictions in administrative and civil proceedings, in particular in the context of ensuring the right to defense, as well as their importance in lawmaking and judicial practice, is also considered.

An important aspect is a critical analysis of the use of legal fictions in the practice of modern law enforcement. The article examines examples from Ukrainian legislation which enshrine fictions used to regulate legal relations. This may include situations where a person who is in a state of unknown absence is presumed dead, or where there are special assumptions regarding the limitation period.

The author emphasizes the need for clear and correct application of fictions in legal practice. They should be adapted to the real circumstances of legal relations and have a clear legal basis. The use of fictions requires a high level of legal awareness and attentiveness on the part of judges, lawyers and law enforcement agencies, since inattentive or incorrect application of fictions may lead to violation of the rights and freedoms of citizens.

The article also emphasizes the need to develop the theoretical basis for the use of fictions in law. Despite their importance, many legal systems still need to clarify and systematize the use of fictions. The author also discusses their place in the system of legal norms and institutions, and proposes to introduce certain legal reforms to improve the use of fictions in legal practice.

In conclusion, the author emphasizes that legal fictions are an indispensable tool for adapting the legal system to the constantly changing conditions of social development. They allow solving complex legal issues, ensuring stability and predictability in legal relations, which is an important condition for the development of the rule of law.

Key words: legal fiction, legal category, law enforcement, legal technique, legal system.

References

1. Osnovy rymskoho pryvatnoho prava: kurs lektsii / P. A. Kaliuzhnyi, Yu. V. Yashchurynskyi. Kyiv: DP «Vyd. dim «Personal», 2011. 184 s.
2. Hrubinko A. V. Istoriia derzhavy i prava zarubizhnykh kpain: Navchalnyi posibnyk. Ternopil, 2010. 392 s.
3. Novyi tlumachnyi slovnyk ukrainskoi movy: u trokh tomakh. T. 3. Vydannia druhe, vypravlene. Kyiv: Akonit, 2001. 656 s.
4. Nevzorov I. Heneza ta rozvytok uiavlen pro pryrodu pravovykh fiktsii u natsionalnii ta svitovii yurysprudentsii. Yurydychnyi visnyk. 2020. № 6. S. 19–30.
5. Jhering R. Dukh rymskoho prava. Berlin, 1981. R. 212.
6. Zelenko I. P. Osnovy klasyfikatsii pravovykh fiktsii. Visnyk universytetu imeni Alfreda Nobelia. 2020. № 1(1). S. 13–17.
7. Mashruvala P. Yurydychni fiktsii: chy vid vas vony pravovoi realnosti? Mizhnarodnyi zhurnal pravovykh nauk ta innovatsii. 2020. Vyp. 2. Vyp. 3. R. 76–82.
8. Teoriia derzhavy ta prava: navch. posib. / Ie. V. Bilozorov, V. P. Vlasenko, O. B. Horova, A. M. Zavalnyi, N. V. Zaiats ta in.; za zah. red. S. D. Husarieva, O. D. Tykhomyrova. Kyiv: NAVS, Osvita Ukrainy, 2017. 320 s.
9. Shutak I. D. Yurydychna tekhnika: kurs lektsii. Ivano-Frankivsk: Laboratoriia akademichnykh doslidzhen pravovoho rehuliuvannia ta yurydychnoi tekhniky. Drohobych: Kolo, 2015. 228 s.
10. Cheremkov D. V. Yurydychni prezumptsii ta fiktsii u tsyvilnomu protsesi Ukrainy: avtoreferat dysertatsii na zdobuttia naukovoho stupenia kandydata yurydychnykh nauk: 12.00.03 / Natsionalnyi universytet «Odeska yurydychna akademiia». Odesa, 2015. 20 s.
11. Tkachuk O. S. Fiktsii u tsyvilnomu protsesi Ukrainy: teoretychni ta praktychni aspekty. Naukovyi visnyk humanitarnoho universytetu. Seriia yurysprudentsiia. 2015. № 17. Tom 2. S. 16–19.
12. Mozoliuk-Bodnar L. M. Vplyv yurydychnoi tekhniky na zmitsnennia derzhavnoi dystsypliny: teoretychnyi analiz. Vcheni zapysky TNU imeni V. I. Vernadskoho. Seriia: Yurydychni nauky. 2021. № 1. Tom 32(71). S. 7–11.
13. Kaliuzhnyi R. A., Shapenko L. O. Naukovi zasady pravotvorchosti ta yurydychnoi tekhniky: kurs lektsii. Kyiv: Liudmyla, 2019. 74 s.
14. Ulianovska O. Sutnist pravovoi fiktsii. Pravo Ukrainy. 2011. № 1. S. 84–188.
15. Borshchevskyi I. V., Hryn O. D. Poniattia ta klasyfikatsiia pravovykh fiktsii u suchasnii pravovii nautsi. Naukovyi visnyk Uzhhorodskoho natsionalnoho universytetu. Seriia Pravo. 2021. Vyp. 67. S. 11–14.