Debt Collection Agency Lithuania: EU Enforcement & the Notarial Payment Order
Debt Collection Agency Lithuania: Baltic Efficiency Meets EU Framework
The Lithuanian System
Lithuania — the largest of the three Baltic states and an EU and Eurozone member — offers foreign creditors a surprisingly efficient debt collection environment. The combination of EU enforcement instruments, a domestic notarial payment order system, and one of Europe's most digitised court systems makes Lithuania a jurisdiction where documented B2B claims move from demand to enforceable title faster than in many Western European countries.
Lithuania adopted the euro in 2015, eliminating currency risk for Eurozone creditors. Its geographic position — bordering Poland, Latvia, Belarus, and Russia (Kaliningrad) — makes it a hub for Northern European and Baltic trade disputes.
The Collection Process
Phase 1 — Įspėjimas (formal demand). Written demand in Lithuanian citing the contract, outstanding amount, and delspinigiai (default interest). Lithuanian statutory commercial interest: ECB reference rate + 8 percentage points (under the Law on Prevention of Late Payment in Commercial Transactions). The demand must provide a reasonable payment deadline — typically 14-30 days.
Phase 2 — Amicable collection. Lithuania's business community is concentrated in Vilnius (approximately 35% of GDP), Kaunas, and Klaipėda. The market is compact enough that commercial reputation is a significant factor. Recovery rates for claims under 12 months: approximately 55-65%.
Phase 3 — Teismo įsakymas (court order). For documented, undisputed claims, Lithuanian district courts (apylinkės teismas) issue payment orders without a hearing. The procedure is fully electronic through the Lithuanian court information system (LITEKO). Timeline: typically 2-3 weeks to payment order. The debtor has 20 days to object. No objection? The order becomes enforceable.
Phase 4 — Vykdymas (enforcement). Lithuanian antstoliai (bailiffs) are private professionals who handle enforcement. They have access to centralised registries — bank accounts, real property, vehicles, employment records — and can execute seizures efficiently. The bailiff system was reformed in 2003 and is considered one of the most effective in the Baltic region.
EU Cross-Border Tools
As an EU member, Lithuania participates in all European enforcement instruments. The European Payment Order is particularly useful for creditors in other EU states — filed electronically at the Lithuanian court, it produces an enforceable title valid across all 27 EU member states.
Key Parameters
Statute of limitations: 3 years for commercial claims (Article 1.125 of the Civil Code).
Language: All court proceedings in Lithuanian. Documents require certified Lithuanian translation.
Currency: Euro (since 2015). No currency conversion issues for Eurozone creditors.
Lithuania's electronic court system, private bailiff enforcement, and EU membership create an efficient framework for B2B debt collection — particularly for claims with clear documentation and within the 3-year limitation period.
