Making a will in Lithuania, also called a last will and testament, a Lithuanian will or a will for property in Lithuania, is how a foreigner or a Lithuanian living abroad decides who receives their estate there. The Lithuanian word is testamentas: an oficialusis testamentas is certified by a notary (notaras), and an asmeninis testamentas is a personal will written entirely by hand. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Make a last Will & Testament”.
Who it is for
Foreign residents of Lithuania, owners of an apartment, house or land there, members of the Lithuanian diaspora who still hold property in the country, couples who want to provide for each other, and families with children from earlier relationships.
How it works in Lithuania
An official will is signed before a Lithuanian notary, or before a Lithuanian consular officer abroad; the notary checks identity and capacity and keeps a copy. A personal will is written by hand by the testator, with the date and place, and signed; it may be in any language and can be kept at home or handed to a notary for safekeeping. Official wills, and personal wills deposited with a notary, are entered in the register of wills, which records where a will is kept rather than what it says, so that the notary handling the succession can find it. Spouses can make a joint will. Lithuanian law leaves a testator wide freedom: the reserved share protects only children, a spouse and parents who needed maintenance at the time of death. For someone with links to more than one country, the EU succession rules apply the law of the last habitual residence unless the will validly chooses the law of nationality.
What to watch for
- A later will can revoke an earlier one, including a will made in another country; two wills need wording that keeps both effective.
- A handwritten will that is not kept with a notary may be lost or disputed, and a missing date or signature can make it invalid.
- The notary works in Lithuanian, so a testator who does not speak the language signs with an interpreter.
- A will does not cover decisions during life; a power of attorney does that.
What a lawyer does
An English-speaking lawyer maps the family and the assets in each country, explains the choice of law, drafts the will in Lithuanian with an English version, attends the notary and records where the original is kept. Related pages: inheritance, contest a will, power of attorney and property purchase, as many owners make a will soon after buying.
Questions and answers
Is a will made in my home country valid in Lithuania?
Often yes, if it was validly made where it was signed, but using it before a Lithuanian notary requires a translation and usually an apostille; a separate Lithuanian will can make the heirs' task easier.
Can a foreigner make a will in English in Lithuania?
A personal will can be written in any language; an official will is drawn up by the notary in Lithuanian, with an interpreter where needed.
Do children automatically inherit part of the estate?
Under Lithuanian law only a child who needed maintenance at the time of death has a reserved share; other children receive what the will gives them, unless the will is invalid.
What happens if there is no will?
The estate passes to relatives in the order set by law, or under the foreign law that applies; the inheritance page explains the procedure.