Business & Corporate Law · Lithuania
Company formation in Lithuania, matched with a specialist lawyer
Setting up a business in Lithuania means working inside a continental civil-law system where statutes, notaries and public registers shape every step. Tell us what you are building and we match you with a Lithuanian advocate who handles this kind of work every day. The matching service is free and carries no obligation.
- Advocates enrolled with the Lithuanian Bar Association
- Experience with Lithuanian registers and notarial form
- Free matching, no obligation, reply within 24–48 hours
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Why this page exists
How company formation in Lithuania works in practice
Setting up a business in Lithuania means working within a continental civil-law system built on the 1992 Constitution and the Civil Code of 2000. The rules that matter to a new company — how contracts are formed, when a notary must be involved, how property, charges and encumbrances are registered, what a dispute costs and where it is heard — sit in statutes rather than in judicial precedent, although the uniform case law of the Supreme Court of Lithuania guides how those statutes are read. Because every business has a different structure, shareholding and activity, the practical questions are best answered by an advocate enrolled with the Lithuanian Bar Association. We do not give legal advice. We match you with a specialised lawyer who handles company formation in Lithuania and the steps that follow.
Lithuania in detail
Legal context and time limits you should know in Lithuania
Lithuania restored independence in 1990 and re-established its modern legal order on pre-war traditions and extensive reform aligned with EU law after its 2004 accession. Statutes are the primary source of law, and the Lithuanian Bar Association regulates who may practise as an advocate. These are the structural points that shape business and contract work in the country.
A civil-law framework
Lithuania follows the continental civil-law model. Its legal order rests on the 1992 Constitution and the Civil Code (Law No VIII-1864, in force since 1 July 2001), organised into six books covering persons, family, property, succession and obligations. Statutes, not judicial precedent, are the primary source of law, although the uniform case law of the Supreme Court of Lithuania guides their interpretation.
Who may 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. An advocate must hold a Master’s-level legal qualification, be of impeccable reputation, command the state language, pass the advocate’s qualification examination and take the oath. Lawyers qualified in another EU Member State may provide services under the Law on the Bar.
Notarial form and public registers
Where your business acquires immovable property, the contract must be concluded in notarial form or it is void under Article 6.393 of the Civil Code, and it takes effect against third parties only once registered. Immovable property, charges and encumbrances are recorded in the Real Property Register, maintained by the state enterprise Centre of Registers and supervised by the Ministry of Justice.
Court fees and lawyers’ fees
The main court fee is the stamp duty (žyminis mokestis) under Articles 79–80 of the Code of Civil Procedure, normally paid before a claim or appeal is lodged; in pecuniary cases it is calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed. Advocates’ fees are freely agreed with the client, with no binding official tariffs, and the losing party as a rule bears the successful party’s litigation costs.
Legal aid and representation
State-guaranteed legal aid has two tiers. Primary legal aid — information, consultation and help drafting simple documents — is free for everyone through the municipalities. Secondary legal aid, covering procedural documents, defence, representation and litigation costs, is delivered by advocates through the State-Guaranteed Legal Aid Service to applicants whose property and income stay below statutory thresholds.
Where disputes are heard
Civil cases start mainly in the twelve district courts, with appeals to the five regional courts and the Court of Appeal of Lithuania. The Supreme Court of Lithuania is the sole court of cassation and forms uniform case law; representation by an advocate is required for cassation appeals. Administrative disputes go to two regional administrative courts and the Supreme Administrative Court.
Key time limit — Commercial & Corporate Law
Debt recovery (general contractual claims) — 10 years. The long limitation period under Lithuanian law gives contractual creditors considerable room to pursue an unpaid debt before it becomes time-barred.
All country data on this page is taken from official Lithuanian bodies — the courts, the State Tax Inspectorate, the State Labour Inspectorate, the Centre of Registers and the Lithuanian legal acts register — together with the European e-Justice portal, as published at the time of writing in 2025.
- Lithuanian courts — judicial system
- Law on the Bar of the Republic of Lithuania (advocate requirements and representation)
- Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania — limitation periods, notarial form, matrimonial property, succession
- State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) — stamp duty (žyminis mokestis)
- State Labour Inspectorate — Labour Dispute Commissions
- Centre of Registers — Real Property Register
- e-Justice — legal aid in Lithuania
Common difficulties
What usually makes company formation in Lithuania feel complicated
Most obstacles are not about willingness to invest — they are about unfamiliar procedure, language and form requirements that are easy to underestimate from abroad.
Formal steps with no room for shortcuts
Lithuanian statutes set formal requirements that cannot be waived by agreement. Where a notarial form or a registration entry is required, an informal document simply does not produce the intended legal effect.
Language and local practice
Proceedings and official dealings are conducted in Lithuanian, and an advocate must command the state language. Foreign founders often need a local professional to read documents correctly and to avoid misinterpretation of procedural steps.
Costs that are hard to predict
Court fees are regulated, but advocates’ fees are freely agreed with the client and no binding tariff applies. Without local guidance it is difficult to judge what a piece of work should reasonably cost.
How we help
A free route to the right Lithuanian lawyer
You describe the project once. We compare it against the specialisations of lawyers who work with Lithuanian law and put you in touch with the ones who fit.
Specialised matching, not a directory
We look at what you are actually doing — structure, contract work, property, employment — and match you with lawyers whose practice covers that area rather than sending a generic list.
Lithuanian law, explained clearly
The lawyers we match you with work with the Civil Code, the Lithuanian Bar Association rules and the public registers every day, so you hear how the formal steps apply to your specific situation.
Free and without obligation
Getting matched costs you nothing and does not commit you to instructing anyone. You decide whether to continue once you have spoken to the lawyer and understand the scope.
One request, several options
Instead of contacting firms one by one in a language you may not read, you submit a single request and we identify the appropriate lawyers for company formation in Lithuania.
Also available in
European countries where we match lawyers
Our matching service covers legal work across Europe, including the countries closest to and most often connected with Lithuanian business.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about company formation in Lithuania
What legal framework applies to company formation in Lithuania?
Lithuania follows the continental civil-law model, founded on the 1992 Constitution and the Civil Code (Law No VIII-1864, in force since 1 July 2001). Company structures, contracts and obligations sit mainly in statute rather than judicial precedent, although the uniform case law of the Supreme Court of Lithuania guides how those provisions are interpreted in practice.
Do I need a Lithuanian advocate, or can I handle the steps myself?
In civil proceedings, natural persons may generally act in person at first instance, while legal persons act through their statutory organs or an authorised representative. Representation by an advocate is required for cassation appeals to the Supreme Court. In practice, founders usually instruct a Lithuanian advocate for drafting, notarial formalities and registration work.
In what language will my Lithuanian legal work be handled?
The language of the courts and official dealings is Lithuanian, and an advocate must command the state language before being enrolled on the register kept by the Lithuanian Bar Association. This is why documents and correspondence are normally prepared in Lithuanian, even where your own working language is English.
Will a notary be involved in Lithuanian business transactions?
That depends on the transaction. A purchase and sale of immovable property must be concluded in notarial form or it is void under Article 6.393 of the Civil Code, and it takes effect against third parties only once registered. The notary verifies identity, capacity, marital status and the legality of the transaction, and collects transfer-related taxes.
What should I expect to pay for court fees and legal fees in Lithuania?
The main court fee is the stamp duty under Articles 79–80 of the Code of Civil Procedure, normally payable before a claim or appeal is lodged, and calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed in pecuniary cases. Advocates’ fees are freely agreed with the client, as there are no binding official tariffs, and the losing party as a rule bears the successful party’s costs.
How long do I have to enforce a business claim in Lithuania?
General contractual claims, such as an unpaid invoice, are subject to a ten-year period, while interest and other periodical payments are subject to five years. Administrative appeals run for one month, and individual labour disputes must first go to a Labour Dispute Commission under the State Labour Inspectorate.
Next step
Tell us about your project in Lithuania
Describe what you want to set up, where the founders are based and which contracts or registrations are involved. We will match you with a lawyer who handles company formation in Lithuania and works in that area — free of charge and with no obligation to instruct.