The court proceedings marked a significant departure from standard Soviet practices. For the first time, a Soviet court was required to validate a will, determine the deceased's assets, and distribute them according to the testator's wishes. This process involved a detailed examination of Ivan Ivanovich's estate, including verification of property titles, assessment of asset values, and identification of legitimate heirs.
However, the most functional "firsts" occurred during the of the 1950s and 60s. As the Soviet state realized that foreign inheritance brought "hard currency" into the country, they began facilitating probate processes. The Soviet citizen would technically "undergo probate" via a power of attorney, where Inyurkollegia lawyers would represent them in London or New York courts. How the Process Worked first of a soviet citizen to undergo probate