Civil process in the era of Catherine II: the content and legislative regulation

The article reveals the features of civil procedural law in the reign of Catherine II that received a significant boost in its development during this period. This fact can be explained by the Empress’s enthusiasm for European liberal ideas as well as a particular intensification of economic relations in the Empire, intended for the increased judicial protection of ownership rights. The author analyzes the standards of both special acts (Decree on the Rules of Appellate Procedure of 1762) and general laws (Institutions for Administrating the Provinces of the Russian Empire of 1775) regulating the various aspects of legal proceedings, first and foremost, the property disputes. The study notes that the civil process became more definite. In addition, despite the absolutist regime and the class nature of Russian society, there was a tendency to prevail in the equal civil liability of the participants of civil proceedings.