Abstract: The author of the article reconstructs the historical process of developing powers of Soviet courts to provide inter-court assistance in a civil action. The author studies the processes of formation and development of the Soviet civil procedure legislation starting from the first decrees on the courts up to the Civil Procedure Code of RSFSR 1964 with regard to the forms of international legal assistance and methods of delivering international court orders. The author of the article also analyes formation of associated powers both of national courts and a Soviet central offices of justice - the Ministry of Justice of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Ministry of Justice of the USSR, Supreme Court of the USSR. Each historical stage described in the article is illustrated by archive materials of the State Archive of the Russian Federation and Foreign Policy Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. 

Abstract: The article is devoted to theoretical basis of the institution of international legal (inter-court) assistance in civil cases. The author studies historical prerequisites of formation of this institution in the Soviet law.  She analyzes  the theoretical developments of the Soviet civil law scholars and procedural law scholars in the sphere of definition and nature of international legal assistance in civil cases.  The author provides her own definition of  the term "international legal assistance on civil cases", and she provides a historical picture of formation of this term in the Soviet law and international treaties of the USSR on legal assistance. The author also singles out and classifies the principles of the said legal institution.

Abstract: Based on the analysis of the archives of the State Archive of the Russian Federation, Russian Ministry of Justice and Archive of Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the author of the article describes methods of external relations of the Soviet competent uthorities regarding inter-court assistance in civil cases. These methods are classified depending on which competent authority is entitled to accept (and transfer) international court orders from competent authorities of foreign states. The author of the article in detail covers the diplomatic pattern of foreign erlations of the Soviet competent authorities ergarding inter-court assistance in civil cases. It is underlined that the dyplomatic pattern of foreign relations was typical for the Russian Empire and has been the only possible pattern ni the USSR until the 60's of the last century. Such method of external relations as the transfer of court orders by the central competent authority (Ministry of Justice of the USSR) was put to life only at late 50's of the last year after the USSR concluded the international treaty. As a rule, it was used only with the 'people's democratic' countries. Direct appeal of one court to a foreign court is the most progressive and efficient method of transfering court orders and it is typical for frontier or the friendliest states with similar legal systems. The last pattern was first implemented when the CIS was formed.
 

Abstract: The author of the article describes historical stages of development of the institution of inter-court assistance for civil cases in the Soviet law. The main factors influencing this process include the internatinal law policy of the Soviet State as well international standards in the sphere of protection of the human rights and freedoms. Methodological method is used as the main method of the research. The first stage of the development of this legal instituate falls on 1917-1921, the second stage - on 1922 - 1928, the third stage - on 1929 - 1941, the fourth stage - on 1945 - 1957, and the final stage of development of inter-court assistance in civil cases falls on 1957 - 1991. The author analyzes the Soviet Union internatinal relations at each stage of the development, its international law obligations and interna Soviet legislation including constitutional, civil, procedural and matrimonial laws as well as laws on notariat and civil registration. 

Abstract: The article describes the main trends of Soviet foreign policy in the period from 1917 to 1991, was reflected in the formation of the institute of international legal assistance in civil matters. The author analyzes place, role and importance of international legal assistance in civil matters in the international relations of the Soviet state. This process is covered in terms of the basic foreign policy objectives of the USSR on a particular historical stage of development of international legal assistance in civil matters. The author provides analysis of the content of universal international conventions, which involved the Soviet Union, which are fundamental to the institution of legal aid in civil cases. The article expands upon the provisions of bilateral treaties of the USSR on trade and navigation, friendship and cooperation, legal assistance and legal relations, consular conventions.