Abstract
The section on private law covers five basic areas of Lithuanian law that are essential for understanding the basic rules of conduct that persons should follow in private relations. These are Property Law, Contract and Tort Law, Company and Insolvency Law, Family and Inheritance Law, and Civil Procedure Law. Authors provide a definition and describe the system of property rights (and their encumbrances) stipulated in Lithuanian Civil Code. Starting from a descriptive analysis of the formation of contracts, the authors continue with a review of the rules on content and interpretation of contracts and, additionally, the performance (nonperformance) and termination of them. The part on tort law describes the four elements of tort action (unlawful actions, causation, fault, and damages), then the authors continue with a review of basic defenses from tort liability and finish the tort law part with a presentation of rules on joint tortfeasors, right of recourse, and some other special rules of delictual liability. In company law, the possible types of companies in Lithuania and their main features, such as requirements for incorporation, management, and activity, are introduced. In the second subchapter, the authors provide a brief overview of the bankruptcy proceedings. In family and inheritance law, the in-depth review of the major aspects of family law and inheritance law is provided. In civil procedure, the authors explain the issues of jurisdiction in civil cases and continue with explanation of the basics of the right to apply to court.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
Pakalniškis (2004).
- 2.
Civil Code of Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2262, Art. 4.38.
- 3.
[No, author, named] (1997), p. 253.
- 4.
Civil Code of Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2262, Art. 1.97.
- 5.
Bakanas and Mikelėnas (2003), p. 213.
- 6.
The beginning of contemporary law of real rights are in Roman private law that have formed the system of real right (rights of possessing and using) remedies, which is different, in a sense, from the remedies typical for obligations.
- 7.
Pakalniškis (2015), p. 34.
- 8.
Ibid.
- 9.
Ibid., pp. 34–38.
- 10.
Lithuanian Court of Appeal 2014 February 14th ruling in the civil case No. 2A-157/2014.
- 11.
Lithuanian Republic Code of Administrative Offences article 91; Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania article 187, article 188; Civil Code of Republic of Lithuania article 6.245 part 1 d. clause 4; Lithuanian Republic Immovable Cultural Heritage Protection Law article 29.
- 12.
Art. 13 Part. 1 of Aviation law.
- 13.
Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, Art. 47 paragraph 3.
- 14.
The Constitutional Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Implementation of Paragraph 3 of Article 47 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, 20 June 1996 No I-1392, last amended on 3 November 2011—No XI-1626; (Official Gazette, 1996, No. 64-1503; 2003, No. 34-1418).
- 15.
Supreme Court of Lithuania 2012 February 24th ruling in the civil case No. 3K-3-57/2012.
- 16.
Agricultural Land Acquisition Law of the Republic of Lithuania (Official Gazette, 2003, No. 15-600; 2004, No. 124-4490; TAR, 2014-04-29, No. 2014-04860).
- 17.
The ownership right can be resolved into different titles or rights. These titles are so real and they have such economic value that they can become an independent object of ownership right.
- 18.
CC, art. 2.113, stipulates such sequence of and procedure for the satisfaction of claims of a legal person’s creditors:
In the event of legal person’s liquidation (bankruptcy) the following sequence of and procedure for the satisfaction of creditors’ claims shall be established:
1) priority in satisfying creditors’ claims shall be given to claims secured by the mortgage of property of a legal person in liquidation—from the value of the mortgaged property;
2) first in sequence for the satisfaction of claims shall be employees’ claims connected with labor relations; claims of compensation for maiming or other physical injuries, occupational disease or deprivation of life resulting from an accident in the place of work as well as claims of natural persons to settle accounts for agricultural produce supplied for processing;
3) second in sequence for the satisfaction of claims shall be the claims related to taxes and other payments to the budget as well as compulsory state social insurance and health insurance contributions and foreign loans granted the State guarantee;
4) third in sequence for the satisfaction of claims shall be all other claims of creditors.
2. The claims of creditors of each successive sequence shall be fulfilled upon fully satisfying the claims of creditors of the preceding sequence. If assets are insufficient to fulfil all the claims of one sequence in full, said claims shall be satisfied in proportion to the number of claims due to each creditor.
- 19.
A creditor must notify a debtor in writing that if the obligation secured by a pledge within the time-period stipulated is not performed, the enforcement shall commence. If a pledge is registered in the Register of Mortgages, a written warning notice to a debtor is delivered through the Office of Mortgages.
- 20.
The owner shall have the right to vindicate his thing from another’s illegal possession.
- 21.
Owner may claim elimination of all violations to his right, even if unrelated to loss of possession.
- 22.
Each possessor is entitled to defend his current possession and to retake the possession that has been taken away forcefully.
- 23.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2262.
- 24.
Mikelėnas (2005).
- 25.
Mikelėnas (2002), pp. 253–261.
- 26.
Pakalniškis, V. Transcript of 2000 July 18th Parliament (Seimas) Session No. 69(504). Stenogramos, 2000-09-01, No. 269.
- 27.
Mikelėnas et al. (2001), pp. 11–12.
- 28.
For example Article 4.100 of the CC provides the rules for expropriation of property for public needs; Article 4.129 of the CC provides the rules for compensation of damages incurred due to the establishment of a servitude and others.
- 29.
- 30.
For example employer liability for damage caused by the fault of his employees; liability of the parents or guardians for the damage caused by minors under 14 years of age or legally incapable persons, etc.
- 31.
For example liability for damage caused by domestic or wild animals; liability for the damage caused by operation of motor vehicles, machinery, electric or atomic energy, use of explosive or poisonous materials, activities in the sphere of construction, and exercise of other hazardous activities, etc.
- 32.
Mikelėnas et al. (2003), p. 339.
- 33.
Ibid., p. 346.
- 34.
For example the cases where the damages are incurred due to crime, health impairment or deprivation of life, as well as infringement of the person rights to a name, image, privacy, honour and dignity and others.
- 35.
For example suffering, inconveniences, mental shock, emotional depression, humiliation, deterioration of reputation, deprive of social possibilities, and other, evaluated by a court in terms of money.
- 36.
World bank (2016).
- 37.
Westmore (2016).
- 38.
Law on Individual Enterprises of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2003, No. 112-4991, Art. 6-7.
- 39.
Ibid., Art. 8.
- 40.
Law on Partnerships of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2003, No. 112-4990, Art. 2-3, 8, Sec. 1.
- 41.
Ibid., art. 3, 10, sec. 1.
- 42.
According to the data of the Register of Legal Entities (www.registrucentras.lt) at the end of 1st quarter 2016 the number of established small partnerships reached 7683.
- 43.
Law on Small Partnerships of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2012, No. 83-4333, Art. 2, Sec. 1,2, Art. 4, Sec. 1.
- 44.
Ibid., Art. 5, 10-12, 26, Sec. 4.
- 45.
When the text applies both to a public and a private limited liability company, the term “company” shall be used.
- 46.
Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2003, No. 123-5574, Art. 2.
- 47.
Ibid., Art. 6-8, 11, Sec. 1.
- 48.
Ibid., Art. 3.
- 49.
Ibid., Art. 19, 31, 33, 37.
- 50.
Bitė and Jakuntavičiutė (2014).
- 51.
Law on Companies, Art. 38, Sec. 2,3.
- 52.
Ibid., Art. 42–43, 55–56.
- 53.
Ibid., Art. 46–47.
- 54.
Law on Cooperative Societies (Cooperatives) of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 1993, No. 20-488, 2002, No. 57-2296, Art. 2–3.
- 55.
Ibid., Art. 15, 18, Sec. 1.
- 56.
Law on Agricultural Companies of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 1991, No. 13-328, 2001, No. 45-1574, Art. 3.
- 57.
Ibid., Art. 2–3.
- 58.
Ibid., Art. 23.
- 59.
Law on State and Municipal Enterprises of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 1994, No. 102-2049, 2004, No. 4-24, Art. 2–3.
- 60.
Law on European Companies of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2004, No. 78-2710; Law on European Cooperative Societies of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2006, No. 73-2764; Law on European Economic Interest Grouping of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2004, No. 4-43.
- 61.
Law on Enterprise Bankruptcy. Official Gazette, 2001, No. 31-1010.
- 62.
Ibid., Art. 1, Sec. 2.
- 63.
- 64.
Civil Procedure Code. Official Gazette, 2002, No. 36-1340, Art. 27, 135.
- 65.
Law on Enterprise Bankruptcy. Official Gazette, 2001, No. 31-1010, Art. 6, Sec. 2.
- 66.
Ibid., Art. 2, Sec. 9.
- 67.
Ibid., Art. 2, Sec. 8.
- 68.
Ibid., Art. 10, Sec.7.
- 69.
Ibid., Art. 10, Sec.7.
- 70.
Ibid., Art. 11.
- 71.
Ibid., Art. 36.
- 72.
Ibid., Art. 28.
- 73.
Ibid., Art. 32.
- 74.
Ibid., Art. 35.
- 75.
The Law on Restructuring of Enterprises. Official Gazette, 2001, No. 31-1012, Art. 1., Sec. 2.
- 76.
Ibid., Art. 12, Sec. 2.
- 77.
Ibid., Art. 12, Sec. 3.
- 78.
Ibid., Art. 28, Sec. 1.
- 79.
- 80.
Ambrasaitė and Norkus (2014), pp. 176–185.
- 81.
Ibid., Art. 1, Sec. 4.
- 82.
Ibid., Art. 2, Sec. 2.
- 83.
Ibid., Art. 1, Sec. 1.
- 84.
S.D, D.D. v. Swedbank. Supreme court of Lithuania, 2015, No. 3K-3-342-248/2015.
- 85.
Law on the Bankruptcy of Natural Persons. Official Gazette, 2012, No. 57-2823, Art. 5., Sec. 8.
- 86.
- 87.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269.
- 88.
In the cases allowed by law the court may reduce the legal age to consent to marriage.
- 89.
Mikelėnas (2001), p. 111.
- 90.
Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania on the State Family Policy Concept in Case No. 21/2008, enacted on the 28th of September 2011.
- 91.
G.K. v. G.S, Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2007, No. 3K-7-6/2007.
- 92.
J. K. v. A. K, Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2002, No. 3K-3-253/2002.
- 93.
K.K. v. R.K, Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2005, No. 3K-3-608/2005.
- 94.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269.
- 95.
Mikelėnas and Keserauskas (2002), p. 123.
- 96.
R.B. v. A.B, Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2008, No. 3K-3-128/2008.
- 97.
Z.V. v. J.V. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2007, No. 3K-3-220/2007.
- 98.
A.B. v. A.B. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania No. 3k-3-14-2008.
- 99.
V. P. v. V. P. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania No. 3K-3-410/2011.
- 100.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269.
- 101.
Ibid.
- 102.
Ž.V. v. J. V. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania No. 3K-3-220/2007.
- 103.
Vitkevičius (2006), p. 160.
- 104.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269.
- 105.
Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania on Support of Childrenthuania enacted on the 6 June 2007.
- 106.
Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania on the Support of Children enacted on the 6 June 2007.
- 107.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269.
- 108.
The Decision of Supreme Court Senate No. 35 On the application of laws in court practice, when determining the place of residence of the under-aged children, of separated parents enacted on the 21st of June 2002.
- 109.
Sagatys (2006), p. 139.
- 110.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269, Article 5.1.
- 111.
Ibid., Article 5.62.
- 112.
Ibid., Article 5.7.
- 113.
J.M. v I.O. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2009, No. 3K-3-518/2009.
- 114.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269, Article 5.11.
- 115.
Ibid.
- 116.
O.T. v G.P. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2009, No. 3K-3-539/2009.
- 117.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269, Article 5.11.
- 118.
J.K. v Č.K. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2011, No. 3K-3-161/2011.
- 119.
R.J. v L.Š., A.D. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2013, No. 3K-3-653/2013.
- 120.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269, Article 5.28.
- 121.
Ibid.
- 122.
Ibid., Article 5.30.
- 123.
T.V. v Vilniaus apskrities valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2004, No. 3K-3-581/2004.
- 124.
V.M. v V.M., R.M. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2010, No. 3K-7-29/2010.
- 125.
A.B. v E.B., Vilniaus miesto 9-asis notarų biuras. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2015, No. 3K-3-87-248/2015.
- 126.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269, Article 5.43.
- 127.
B.V. v V.V. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2015, No. 3K-3-144-313/2015.
- 128.
V.V. v L.R. Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuania, 2014, No. 3K-3-54/2014.
- 129.
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2000, No. 74-2269, Article 6.426.
- 130.
Dambrauskaitė (2010), pp. 128–129.
- 131.
Code of Civil Procedure of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2002, No. 36-1340; 24/04/2002; Official Gazette, 2002, No. 42.
- 132.
The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 1992, No, 33-1014.
- 133.
The Law on Courts of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 1994, No. 46-851; Official Gazette, 2002, No. 17-649.
- 134.
See: the Report for the Year 2015 by the Supreme Court of Lithuania: http://www.lat.lt/lt/naujienos/metiniai-pranesimai.html.
- 135.
The Law on Judicial Officers of the Republic of Lithuania. Official Gazette, 2002, No. 53-2042.
References
[No author named] (1997) Civilinė teisė: vadovėlis (Civil law: manual). Vijusta, Kaunas
Ambrasaitė G, Norkus R (2014) Legal aspects of insolvency of natural persons in the Baltic states. Juridica International, 21/2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.12697/JI.2014.21.16
Bakanas A, Mikelėnas V (eds) (2003) Lietuvos Respublikos Civilinio Kodekso Komentaras. 1 leidimas (Commentary on the civil code of Republic of Lithuania), 1st edn. Justitia, Vilnius
Bitė V, Jakuntavičiutė G (2014) Types of companies’ management bodies under Lithuanian law. Eur Sci J 10(16):43–64
Dambrauskaitė A (2010) Paveldėjimo teisių perleidimo sandoriai (Transfer of the rights of succession). Jurisprudencija 4(122):111–133. https://www.mruni.eu/upload/iblock/859/6_Dambrauskaite.pdf
Mikelėnas V (2001) Tarptautinės privatinės teisės įvadas (Introduction to international private law). Justitia, Vilnius
Mikelėnas V (2002) Unification and harmonisation of law at the turn of the millennium: the Lithuanian experience. Uniform Law Rev 2000/2
Mikelėnas V (2005) The main features of the new Lithuanian contract law system based on the civil code of 2000. Juridica Int 10:42–50
Mikelėnas V, Keserauskas Š (2002) Civilinio kodekso komentaras. Trečioji knyga: šeimos teisė (Commentary of civil code of the Republic of Lithuania. Third book: family law). Justitia, Vilnius
Mikelėnas V et al (2001) Lietuvos Respublikos Civilinio kodekso komentaras, Pirmoji knyga, Bendrosios nuostatos (Commentary of civil code of the Republic of Lithuania, book one, general provisions). Justitia, Vilnius
Mikelėnas V et al (2003) Lietuvos Respublikos Civilinio kodekso komentaras, Šeštoji knyga, Prievolių teisė (I) (Commentary of civil code of the Republic of Lithuania, book six, law of obligations I). Justitia, Vilnius
Pakalniškis V (2004) The doctrine of property law and the civil code of the Republic of Lithuania. Jurisprudencija 50:55–65. http://search.proquest.com/openview/5847bcb8bb5bf958cff96b34a76a6430/1?pq-origsite=gscholar
Pakalniškis V (2015) Valdymas ir valdymo gynimas Lietuvos Respublikos civiliniame kodekse (Management and Defence of Management in Lithuanian Civil Code). https://repository.mruni.eu/handle/007/14097
Sagatys G (2006) Vaiko teisė į šeimos ryšius (Child’s rights to family ties). Teisinės informacijos centras, Vilnius
Vitkevičius PS (2006) Šeimos narių turtiniai teisiniai santykiai (The property relations of family members). Justitia, Vilnius
Westmore B (2016) Scaling new heights: achievements and future challenges for productivity convergence in Lithuania. Working papers, 1307. https://www.oecd.org/eco/scaling-new-heights-achievements-and-future-challenges-for-productivity-convergence-in-Lithuania.pdf
World Bank (2016) Doing business. Lithuania. http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/lithuania/
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Astromskis, P. et al. (2017). Lithuanian Private Law. In: Kerikmäe, T., Joamets, K., Pleps, J., Rodiņa, A., Berkmanas, T., Gruodytė, E. (eds) The Law of the Baltic States. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54478-6_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54478-6_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54477-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54478-6
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)