Changes in the enforcement process and future directions of the profession discussed at the Meeting of judicial officers

Judicial officer, Chairman of the Presidium of the Chamber of Judicial Officers of Lithuania I. Gaidelis and Minister of Justice R. Tamašunienė

At the Meeting of Lithuanian judicial officers held on 27 March 2026, the most important developments in the enforcement system, challenges facing the profession, and future objectives were discussed.

Welcoming the participants, Minister of Justice Rita Tamašunienė emphasized that the institution of judicial officers is one of the cornerstones of the rule of law, helping to strike a balance between the interests of creditors and the protection of debtors’ rights.

Among the most important current tasks, the Minister highlighted the methodology for determining enforcement costs, aimed at ensuring “that enforcement costs are based on economic calculations, understandable to the public, and at the same time allow for the continuity of judicial officers’ activities and maintain an appropriate balance between effective debt recovery and social sensitivity.” The Minister also thanked the Chamber of Judicial Officers if Lithuania for the active social campaign “Maintenance is a Child’s Right,” which draws attention to the importance of child support. The Ministry of Justice has initiated amendments to legal regulation to abolish so-called “debt holidays” not only in child maintenance cases but also in cases involving compensation for damage caused by criminal acts.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Chamber of Lithuanian Judicial Officers, judicial officer Irmantas Gaidelis, noted that the community of judicial officers is currently at the center of significant changes. He expressed hope that cooperation with the Ministry of Justice would ensure that judicial officers continue to effectively enforce court decisions. “It is important for us that the transition to a new remuneration system for judicial officers and a new system for recovering debts owed to the state proceeds smoothly. Therefore, we seek to actively participate in shaping decisions so that they reflect practical realities and ensure the stable functioning of the system,” said the head of the Chamber.

President of the Lithuanian academy of sciences and professor at the Faculty of law of Vilnius University, prof. habil. Dr. Vytautas Nekrošius, acknowledged that the former state debt recovery system in Lithuania had essentially been “dead,” and that private judicial officers, who began operating 23 years ago, “brought debt recovery to a real, functioning level.” In his view, a growing issue in recent years has been the disproportionate leniency of the state towards indebted individuals, as not all of them are unable to pay their debts. “I really dislike welfare recipients who first stand in line at the post office, then move to another line for champagne, and ultimately spend their entire benefit within three days. It would be fair to allocate at least 5% of such benefits to debt repayment so that these individuals do not feel exempt from all obligations,” said Prof. Nekrošius.

During the meeting, the 2025 activity results of the Chamber of Judicial Officers of Lithuania were reviewed, legislative initiatives were discussed, interinstitutional cooperation was strengthened, and the role of the profession in ensuring the enforcement of court decisions was examined. The development of information systems aimed at reducing administrative burden and increasing the efficiency of the enforcement process was also discussed.

Currently, 105 judicial officers work in Lithuania, including 59 women and 46 men. There are 92 offices of judicial officers and 6 branch offices. In 2025, judicial officers recovered more than EUR 326.6 million in debts for individuals and legal entities.

From left to right: L. Lukšys, member of the presidium of the Chamber of Judicial Officers of Lithuania; I. Gaidelis, chairman of the presidium; D. Šnirpūnė, director of the Chamber of Judicial Officers of Lithuania; A. Stanišauskaitė, member of the presidium; R. Tamašunienė, Minister of Justice; and J. Petrikas, member of the presidium

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!