How to Format the "From" Field in Russian Official Documents

The "От кого" (From) line identifies who is sending the document. Unlike the "Кому" (To) line, it uses the genitive case. Getting this right is straightforward once you know the pattern.

What Goes in the "From" Line

The "От кого" line answers the question "from whom?" (от кого?). It includes:

• For individuals: Full name (patronymic + surname) in the genitive case. Example: "Ивановой Марии Сергеевны" (from Ivanova Maria Sergeyevna).
• For company representatives: Position in the genitive + organization name + full name in the genitive.

Genitive Case for Names

If "Кому" uses the dative case (to whom?), then "От кого" uses the genitive case (from whom?).

Name declension examples:

Surname declension:

Structure for Organization Representatives

When an employee submits a document on behalf of an organization, the "From" line looks like this:

От менеджера по продажам ООО «Альфа»
Павловой Елены Владимировны

Order: Position → Organization → Full Name. All in the genitive case.

For an individual entrepreneur:

От индивидуального предпринимателя
Смирнова Алексея Дмитриевича

When to Add Address and Contact Details

In formal applications (especially to government bodies), the address and phone number are sometimes added below the name. This is optional but helps the recipient contact you quickly.

От Петровой Натальи Игоревны
Address: Moscow, 12 Sadovaya St., Apt. 34
Phone: +7 (495) 123-45-67

For routine workplace applications (vacation request, resignation), contact details are not needed.

Common Mistakes

• Dative instead of genitive: "От Ивановой Марии" — wrong. Correct: "Ивановой Марии" (genitive).
• Nominative case: "Я, Петрова Мария" — in formal documents, use the standard form "От Петровой Марии".
• Incomplete data: surname only, without first name and patronymic — may not identify the sender uniquely.
• Extra information: home address in an application to your employer, when not required.

Examples for Different Situations

Application from an employee to employer

От старшего бухгалтера ООО «Бухгалтерия.ру»
Фёдоровой Анны Борисовны

Application from an individual

От Соколовой Екатерины Павловны

Application from an individual entrepreneur

От индивидуального предпринимателя
Кузнецова Дмитрия Сергеевича

How to Verify with the Generator

Enter your details into the Addressee Generator — it will produce both "Кому" and "От кого" lines automatically. For the "From" line, this is especially convenient when you need to verify the correct genitive form of a rare name or surname.

The generator will apply genitive case to your name and show a warning if the surname is undeclinable.

What to Check Manually

After generation, manually verify:

• Full name spelling matches your passport
• Genitive case is correct for double-barreled names ("Анна-Мария")
• For women, the correct form is used (maiden vs married surname)
• For organizations, the name matches your founding documents exactly

FAQ

Should I include position if applying as a private individual?

No. A private individual only provides their full name. Position is only relevant if the application is submitted on behalf of an organization.

Can I write "От сотрудника" (From employee)?

No. This does not identify the sender. You need a specific person by their full name.

Surnames ending in -ova, -eva — are they declined?

Yes: Ковалёва → Ковалёвой, Орлова → Орлова.

What if the patronymic is unknown?

Provide surname and first name: "От Петровой Марии". Including the patronymic is preferable when known.