Insolvency & Debt · Lithuania
Find the right bankruptcy lawyer in Lithuania
Creditor pressure, restructuring or personal insolvency — the first weeks shape everything that follows. Tell us what you are facing and we match you, free of charge, with an advocate in Lithuania whose practice covers debt and insolvency work.
- Advocates enrolled with the Lithuanian Bar Association
- Insolvency, enforcement and creditor negotiation experience
- Free, confidential matching, usually within 24–48 hours
Free to use · No obligation · Your details stay confidential
Get matched with a lawyer
Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
How this works
Practical help when debts become unmanageable
If a business or a household in Lithuania can no longer meet its debts, the decisions taken in the first weeks usually shape everything that follows. You may be a director facing creditor pressure, a sole trader whose turnover has collapsed, or a private individual receiving recovery letters. A bankruptcy lawyer in Lithuania can review the position, explain the insolvency routes available under Lithuanian law, deal with creditors and represent you before the courts. Our service is a free matching platform: you describe your situation, and we introduce you to an advocate whose practice covers insolvency and debt matters in your region. We do not charge you for the match, and we do not promise results — the lawyer assesses the merits.
Lithuania in practice
How insolvency and debt work is handled in Lithuania
Lithuania is a continental civil-law jurisdiction: statutes, not judicial precedent, are the primary source of law, though the uniform case law of the Supreme Court of Lithuania guides interpretation. Insolvency and debt disputes are therefore argued on the wording of the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure and related statutes, before courts whose structure and procedural rules you should understand before you instruct anyone.
Where insolvency-related cases are heard
Civil claims begin in the twelve district courts (apylinkių teismai), which hear the majority of first-instance cases. Above them sit five regional courts (apygardos teismai), the Court of Appeal of Lithuania and the Supreme Court of Lithuania — the sole court of cassation, which forms uniform case law. Administrative disputes follow a separate administrative court system.
Who is allowed to act as your advocate
The title of advocate (advokatas) is reserved to persons entered on the register kept by the Lithuanian Bar Association, a self-governing public-law body. Entry requires Lithuanian or EU citizenship, a Master’s-level legal qualification, impeccable reputation, command of Lithuanian, the qualification examination and the advocate’s oath. Lawyers qualified in another EU Member State may provide services in Lithuania under the Law on the Bar.
What court proceedings cost
The main court fee is the stamp duty (žyminis mokestis), regulated by Articles 79–80 of the Code of Civil Procedure and normally paid before a claim or appeal is lodged. In pecuniary cases it is calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed; in non-pecuniary cases it is a fixed lump sum. Filing exclusively by electronic means reduces the amount payable to 75%, with a minimum of €5.
Advocates’ fees and who ultimately pays
Advocates’ fees are freely agreed between the advocate and the client; there are no binding official tariffs. The Ministry of Justice and the Council of the Bar Association have approved non-binding recommendations on the calculation of fees, which set maximum amounts that may be reimbursed to a winning party. As a rule, the losing party bears the litigation costs of the successful party.
State-guaranteed legal aid if money is tight
Lithuania operates a two-tier system under the Law on State-Guaranteed Legal Aid. Primary legal aid — legal information, consultation and help drafting simple documents — is free for everyone through the municipalities. Secondary legal aid, covering procedural documents, defence, representation in court and litigation costs, is provided by advocates through the State-Guaranteed Legal Aid Service to applicants whose property and income fall below the statutory thresholds, at 100% or 50%.
Assets, notaries and the Real Property Register
Where the estate or the debtor’s assets include immovable property, Lithuanian formalities matter. A contract for the sale of real estate must be concluded in notarial form or it is void, and it has effect against third parties only once registered in the Real Property Register, maintained by the state enterprise Centre of Registers. Extracts from that register are official proof of ownership, charges and encumbrances.
Country data is taken from official Lithuanian sources (Teismai.lt, e-Seimas, VMI, the State Labour Inspectorate, the Centre of Registers), the Lithuanian Bar Association and the European e-Justice Portal, consulted in 2025.
- Lithuanian courts – judicial system
- Law on the Bar (Advokatūros įstatymas)
- Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania
- State Tax Inspectorate – stamp duty (žyminis mokestis)
- European e-Justice Portal – legal aid in Lithuania
- State Labour Inspectorate – Labour Dispute Commissions
- Centre of Registers – Real Property Register
- Lithuanian Bar Association (Lietuvos advokatūra)
The problem
Why insolvency situations become urgent
Debt problems rarely wait. Each week of delay can change the options open to you and the position you hold when creditors or the courts become involved.
Letters you do not fully understand
Recovery notices, enforcement documents and court correspondence arrive in Lithuanian and carry procedural consequences. Without a clear reading of what is being demanded and by when, it is easy to miss a step that closes off a route.
Choosing between options under pressure
Restructuring, negotiation with creditors or insolvency proceedings each carry different consequences for a business, its directors and personal assets. Making that choice without advice often means discovering the trade-offs only after the decision has been filed.
Costs you cannot yet estimate
Court fees, advocates’ fees and the risk of paying the other side’s costs all depend on how a matter is framed. Free primary legal aid is available through municipalities, but the practical cost path needs explaining early.
How we help
Free matching with an advocate who handles insolvency work
We are a matching service, not a law firm. Our role is to put your situation in front of a Lithuanian advocate who actually practises in this area.
Matched on the actual problem
You tell us whether this concerns a company, a sole trader or personal debts, and whether proceedings have already started. We use that to identify advocates whose declared practice covers insolvency, enforcement and creditor negotiation.
Verified professional standing
Every advocate we introduce is entered on the register kept by the Lithuanian Bar Association. We do not pass your enquiry to unregulated advisers, and we explain how bar registration works so you can check a lawyer’s status yourself.
Clear view of the cost path
Before you commit, you can ask about hourly or fixed fees, the stamp duty payable in your type of case and whether the losing party might bear your costs. Primary legal aid through your municipality is also worth checking if your income is limited.
Confidential and without obligation
Submitting a request costs nothing and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. You decide whether to proceed after speaking with the advocate, and you keep control of what you share at each stage.
Also available in
Cross-border debt and insolvency matters
Insolvency frequently crosses borders: a Lithuanian company with creditors abroad, or a foreign resident holding Lithuanian assets. Matching is available across these jurisdictions, and advocates can coordinate with colleagues elsewhere.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a bankruptcy lawyer in Lithuania if my company can no longer pay its debts?
Strictly speaking, legal persons can act through their statutory organs or an authorised representative, and natural persons may generally act in person at first instance in civil cases. In practice, insolvency work involves creditor correspondence, court filings and negotiation, and representation by an advocate is mandatory for cassation appeals before the Supreme Court of Lithuania.
Who is entitled to practise as an advocate in Lithuania?
The title advokatas is reserved to persons entered on the register of advocates kept by the Lithuanian Bar Association. Applicants must hold Lithuanian or EU citizenship, a Master’s-level law degree, be of impeccable reputation, command Lithuanian, pass the advocate’s qualification examination and take the oath. Lawyers qualified elsewhere in the EU may serve in Lithuania under the Law on the Bar.
What court fees apply in a Lithuanian insolvency-related dispute?
The main fee is the stamp duty, governed by Articles 79–80 of the Code of Civil Procedure and normally paid before filing. In pecuniary cases it is a percentage of the amount claimed; in non-pecuniary cases a fixed sum. Filing only electronically reduces it to 75%, with a minimum of €5. Some categories of claimants, such as employees and consumers, are exempt.
Can I get free legal help in Lithuania?
Yes, in two forms. Primary legal aid — information, consultation and help drafting simple documents — is free for everyone and provided through the municipalities. Secondary legal aid, which covers procedural documents, representation in court and litigation costs, is granted by the State-Guaranteed Legal Aid Service to applicants whose property and annual income fall below the statutory levels, covering 100% or 50% of the costs.
Which time limits should I watch if creditors are chasing me?
It depends on the claim. General contractual debt recovery is subject to a 10-year limitation period, interest and periodical payments to 5 years, general labour claims to 3 years and dismissal claims to 1 month. Administrative complaints must generally be filed within 1 month. Limitation rules are technical, so your advocate should assess your specific dates.
Can a lawyer from another EU country represent me in Lithuania?
Yes. The Law on the Bar allows lawyers qualified in another EU Member State to provide services in Lithuania under the rules for temporary or permanent establishment. If your matter involves assets or creditors in several countries, this makes it possible to build a team across jurisdictions rather than starting again in each one.
Next step
Describe your situation and get matched
Tell us briefly what has happened — the type of debtor, the creditors involved and whether any court or enforcement step has already begun. We will match you with an advocate in Lithuania who handles insolvency and debt matters. The request is free, confidential and carries no obligation to instruct anyone.