Divorce in Lithuania 

In Lithuania, divorce applications are handled by the courts. If you have no minor children and have not been living with your spouse for more than a year, a notary can approve the divorce. However, if you have children or have been living together for less than a year, or if you have no children but have been living together for less than a year, you will need to go to court. If an amicable divorce agreement cannot be reached, you will have to file a civil lawsuit in court. 

Can you file for divorce in Lithuania? 

Lithuanian courts only accept divorce applications if at least one spouse resides in Lithuania. Notaries can confirm a divorce agreement remotely or in a hybrid manner only if the foreign spouse has a Lithuanian-issued identification document (e.g., a temporary residence permit) and an electronic signature. 

If one of the spouses is a foreigner with a residence permit in Lithuania based on marriage to a Lithuanian citizen or on family reunification, the residence permit may be revoked if the marriage ends. 

To file for divorce, you must submit a claim to the District Court based on the respondent's residence. If the respondent has minor children living with them, the claim is submitted based on the plaintiff's residence. For joint applications by both spouses, it can be submitted based on either spouse's residence. 

Types of divorce 

In Lithuania, a marriage can be ended in three ways: 

• Mutual Consent: Spouses can divorce after one year of marriage if they agree, have a contract on the divorce consequences, and both have full legal capacity
• Fault-Based: A court can dissolve the marriage if one spouse proves the other's fault, or if both are at fault
• Unilateral Application: One spouse can apply for divorce if they have been separated for over a year, or if the other spouse is declared legally incapacitated, missing, or convicted

Divorce judgments from Lithuanian courts are recognized throughout the European Union.  

In cases where one spouse is not an EU citizen and lives outside the EU, the divorce process is determined by international legal assistance treaties. 

Documents required for a divorce 

• Agreement on the consequences of the divorce 
• Marriage certificate 
• Identity documents 
• Children's birth certificates 
• Certificate of family composition, real estate, and vehicles 
• Agreements with creditors (e.g., bank loans, leasing agreements) 

How long does a divorce take? 

Usually, the case is resolved within 3-4 weeks, and after the court's decision on the divorce, it takes effect after 30 days. Divorce through a notary can take from a week to several months.