How to Apply

HOW TO APPLY

Cassation is not available for decisions of courts of general competence that have not been reviewed by an appellate instance.

Usually, a cassation appeal must be filed within three months of the appealed decision’s entry into force. In civil cases, it is typically required that the appeal be drafted by an advocate or a legal entity’s employee with a university degree in law. However, if the plaintiff is a natural person with a university degree in law, they may draft the cassation appeal themselves. In criminal proceedings, there are no strict rules regarding who may draft a cassation appeal.

In civil cases, a statutory stamp duty is usually required.

As the Supreme Court reviews cases solely on questions of law, a cassation appeal must be based on legal interpretation and application of law, not factual arguments.

Further information and recommendations on lodging cassation appeals (in Lithuanian) can be found here (for civil cases. Also see its annex) and here (for criminal cases).

Procedural documents can be submitted only in Lithuanian language through the following channels:

• Lithuanian Court Information System’s (LITEKO) Subsystem for public electronic services (https://e.teismas.lt/en/public/home/)
• Directly at the Court – Gynėjų 6, Vilnius
• Mail: Gynėjų 6, LT-01109 Vilnius
• Email: lat@teismas.lt
• Electronic delivery system: name – Lietuvos Aukščiausiasis Teismas, address – 188602032

Procedural documents initiating court proceedings in civil and administrative offense cases can be submitted using electronic communication tools exclusively via LITEKO Subsystem for public electronic services. Procedural documents related to an ongoing case may be submitted either through the LITEKO subsystem or the Electronic delivery system.

No provisions allow the submission of procedural documents in civil and administrative offense cases via email, even if they are signed with an electronic signature.

In criminal cases, documents sent by email must be signed with a qualified electronic signature. If a scanned copy of a signed document is sent, the original signed document must be mailed, or the digital copy must be submitted through the Electronic delivery system.

Documents may be submitted and further information obtained at the General Clerk’s Office during its working hours:

Mondays – Thursdays:

        8.00 – 17.00 (without lunch break)

Fridays:
        8.00 – 15.45 (without lunch break)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays the Court accepts requests and complaints from individuals (who have registered in advance) until 17.30. You can register to submit a request or complaint by email lat@teismas.lt or phone +370 5 2 616 466 (in Polish, Russian) and +370 5 262 7871 (in English).

General Clerk’s Office:

• Accepts and registers cassation appeals;
• Receives and processes applications, petitions and complaints (both written and oral) from individuals applying to the Court;
• Responds to inquiries by telephone;
• Registers for appointments with the President of the Court or Chairpersons of the Divisions;
• Provides further information on the procedure before the Supreme Court, excluding legal consultations.