No. 35/2026

The head of the Latvian Association of Lawyers, Rihards Bunka, answers whether a wife is liable for a loan her husband took without her knowledge. He explains that under law and court practice each borrower is personally liable for their own obligations, and a loan to one spouse does not automatically make the other responsible for repaying it.

The consultation answers a consumer-credit borrower who can no longer keep up several loan payments: before terminating the contract and suing, the bank should generally give a chance to settle voluntarily, and the lender's duty to properly assess creditworthiness can affect the court's view. Contacting the creditor immediately about difficulties is advised.

The Council of Sworn Bailiffs warns of scam text messages threatening restrictions unless the recipient settles an alleged debt, with a link to a fake court ruling. The Council stresses these messages have nothing to do with real bailiffs and urges people not to respond.

The consultation explains that a debtor in collection proceedings can dispute the creditor's claimed amount by submitting evidence such as payment proof. Courts weigh evidence at their own discretion, and only the amount set in the judgment can be collected; debtors may also request deferral or installment payment under Civil Procedure Law Article 206.

The consultation explains that by logging into the elieta.lv e-services system, a person can check all active and historical cases in which they are registered as a party under "My e-cases". This lets someone confirm whether a specific case has been referred to court.

The answer explains that both civil and administrative proceedings provide a legal basis to ask the court to order forensic medical or other expert evaluation to establish causation, even where a criminal case was earlier refused for lack of evidence. It points to the relevant Civil and Administrative Procedure Law provisions.

A lawyer explains that in civil and administrative cases, the court must be notified of counsel's involvement at the start of the hearing, before the case is examined on the merits, by submitting a power of attorney or order; similar rules apply in criminal cases before trial begins. No fixed advance notice deadline is set by law.

In an opinion piece, the chair of Riga Stradiņš University's academic arbitration court explains how universities' internal arbitration bodies protect student rights by reviewing procedural fairness and equal treatment, without substituting for faculty's academic judgment. Such bodies can overturn expulsions or require fair re-assessment, but have no jurisdiction over employment disputes or private financial claims.

The Certified Mediators Council invited volunteers, by 25 August 2026, for role-play exercises in the conflict-resolution part of the mediator certification exam, offering prior training.

The consultation restates the general rule of Civil Law Article 1779 — everyone must compensate loss caused by their act or omission. It explains that loss includes diminished property, lost profit and other pecuniary consequences of a rights infringement, and such a claim can be brought years later, subject to limitation periods.

Answering a question on recovering burial costs from a medical institution, the consultation explains that only actual and reasonable expenses are recoverable, and the right to choose burial arrangements must be exercised proportionately and in good faith. Courts assess the justification and proportionality of costs case by case.

The article explains that Latvian statutory law does not directly regulate fiduciary transactions, but legal literature and case law recognize fiduciary (trust) ownership. Under it, the settlor transfers rights — property or a claim — to a fiduciary, agreeing that they will be used for the settlor's benefit for a specific purpose, even though formally held in the fiduciary's name.

Latvia's Financial Intelligence Unit (FID) reminds that following EU sanctions against the "MERE" retail chain (linked to Sergey Schneider), suppliers have, under a general administrative act issued August 6, been allowed to reclaim their goods from the frozen stores without separate FID approval, provided sanctions conditions are met. Goods that have lost economic value must be handled under other applicable rules, including food-safety requirements; the recovery process practically began on August 7.

Latvia's Competition Council received a merger notification from AIBE pārtika SIA regarding acquisition of decisive influence over SIA LAUMIŅA 1, which runs three retail stores in Viļāni. A decision is due within one month (by September 21), extendable for an in-depth review until November 21, with stakeholder comments accepted until September 3. AIBE plans to continue operations without major changes to range or staffing.

Capitalica Asset Management has signed a €31 million loan agreement with Rietumu Banka to complete construction of building D in the Verde office quarter, bringing the bank's total financing for Verde's C and D buildings to €50 million. Building D is due for completion by the end of 2027.

Reviewing its May–July index data, LTRK found business sentiment about respondents' own companies cautiously optimistic (index at 50.76 points), while overall economic activity in the country is viewed pessimistically. The index rose 0.5 points compared with Q4 2025.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) explains that under Sections 224(8) and 306(3) of the Commercial Law, a board member may resign at any time by giving notice to the company.

At its 25 August session, the Public Benefit Commission decided to recommend that the State Revenue Service grant public-benefit organization status to several associations and foundations under the relevant law. The decision is one of the commission's routine recommendations to the tax authority.

The law, adopted by the Saeima and in force since 26 August, sets a special procedure for the state to act as shareholder, creditor and bondholder in the financial stabilization of Air Baltic Corporation AS. It provides for coordinated action on equal footing with the company's other creditors should the airline face financial difficulty.

The government on Tuesday backed extending until 30 December this year the repayment deadline for airBaltic's remaining €18 million state loan principal, amending the loan agreement signed in April 2026. An extra 2% annual fee continues to accrue on the deferred amount.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) explains the principle of competitive neutrality for state- and municipality-owned companies and notes the Competition Council has named this area a 2026 priority.

The Competition Council has officially published its 4 August decision finding that state forestry company Latvijas valsts meži breached Article 14.1 of the Competition Law through long-term timber-harvesting agreements. The company was ordered to comply and fined; the decision was published in the official gazette on 24 August.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) explains that a board member's civil liability for a company's obligations and tax debts can persist after their term in office ends.

EUIPO and Frontex, working with Europol and EU member states, ran a joint operation that seized counterfeit goods shipments worth over €17 million within a few days. The operation targeted intellectual property rights infringements in the movement of goods.

The Procurement Monitoring Bureau reminds contracting authorities about EU Regulation 2024/1735 (Net-Zero Industry Act) requirements, which have applied more broadly to public procurement since 1 July. The authority explains how to factor these requirements into procurement procedures.

From 1 September 2026, under Cabinet regulations adopted on 25 August, Latvia bans imports of several industrial goods – including printed matter, clothing and toys – from Russia and Belarus, including via third countries.

The Procurement Monitoring Bureau reminds buyers that under Section 8(7)(3) of the Public Procurement Law, a negotiated procedure without prior publication may be used only for unforeseeable emergencies such as accidents.

The Cabinet approved rules banning, from 1 September 2026, imports of printed materials, clothing, footwear and toys originating in Russia and Belarus, including goods routed through third countries. The rules supplement existing EU sanctions and will be reviewed annually. Imports from these countries have fallen 91% since 2022.

The Cabinet decided that line ministries must, by 30 September, review planned and ongoing public procurements valued at 140,000 euros or more for supplies/services, or 1 million euros for construction. They must assess whether the procurement is necessary, whether supplier requirements are proportionate, and the risk of cost overruns. State-owned enterprise supervisors must complete their reviews by 1 September.

The Construction State Control Bureau removed, from 28 August, the option to log into the BIS1 and BIS2 construction information systems with just an email and password. Users must now use secure electronic identification means, affecting everyone in the construction sector who uses the system.

The Procurement Monitoring Bureau reminds contracting authorities of the criteria for using a negotiated procedure based on the Public Procurement Law's emergency-circumstances provision. The clarification follows the recent storm damage in the country.

Riga municipality has announced a repeat auction for lease rights to a commercial property at Torņa iela 15, with a six-year lease term envisaged. Applications on the electronic auction platform are accepted until 10 September, with the auction closing on 21 September.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) opens a series on accounting for construction contracts, noting that companies using the percentage-of-completion method must set up project accounting at signing, while micro-companies may use simplified rules.

The answer explains that after employment ends, the employer should be asked in writing for the final settlement, unpaid wages and holiday compensation if not already paid voluntarily. If unpaid, the employee has the right to go to court to recover the debt.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) explains leave accrual under Section 149(1) of the Labour Law and analyses handling leave unused for years, including consequences on termination.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) examines a case where an employee moved to part-time work shortly before leave, and analyses whether holiday pay should use an eight- or four-hour working day.

The consultation clarifies that reaching retirement age does not automatically end employment; the employee must submit written resignation notice one month in advance under the Labour Law, and separately file a pension application with the State Social Insurance Agency no earlier than one month before eligibility.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) explains that the Labour Law does not require an employer to provide parking for an employee's car when used only to commute.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) explains what documentation is needed when employment contract terms change — duties, pay, working hours or workplace location — referencing Section 97 of the Labour Law on amendments made by mutual agreement of the parties.

The State Labour Inspectorate clarifies that the Labour Law does not automatically grant parents a paid day off on 1 September, though employers may offer it at their discretion. Parents raising three or more children under 16 are entitled to three extra paid leave days, while parents of children under 8 may, under Article 148, request flexible hours or remote work. The Inspectorate advises employees to discuss their needs with employers in advance.

Amendments to the Law on Maternity and Sickness Insurance, published on 25 August, change how parental benefit is calculated for working parents who are not on formal child-care leave. From 1 January 2027 such parents will receive the benefit at 75% of the full rate. The law took effect on 8 September, though the new rule only applies from 2027.

State company Valsts nekustamie īpašumi sold a building at Smilšu iela 7 in Old Riga, currently housing the State Education Quality Service, at auction for €2.61 million against a €2.2 million starting price. Six bidders took part over 41 bids, with a legal entity winning.

The Russian-language version of the same VNĪ auction story: the building at Smilšu iela 7 in Old Riga, housing the State Education Quality Service, sold for €2.61 million against a €2.2 million starting price. Six bidders made 41 bids, with a legal entity winning.

The article (only the intro is visible) notes nearly a third of this year's mortgages went to unmarried clients, and advises couples buying a home together to formalise ownership and financial arrangements beforehand.

Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns met with Land Register judges to discuss future development models, including a proposal to shift some judicial functions to a new "court jurist" post. Land Register cases make up about 74% of the workload of specialised judges, and 13 of 68 posts are currently vacant. The Ministry pledged to compare several reform models on legal certainty, cost and service quality, with no final decision yet made.

The consultation explains that co-owners have a two-month right of first refusal when a share is sold to an outside party. If co-owners cannot agree on dividing shared property, any of them may petition a court to terminate joint ownership under Civil Law Section 1074, with the court able to award separate plots, compensation, a sale, or a lottery.

German owners of a Riga apartment have been unable to move into their 80-square-metre flat for seven years because the tenant refuses to leave and has gone to court, citing a psychiatric opinion on suicide risk if evicted. The case has dragged through repeated court delays to the eviction.

The consultation notes that under Article 4 of the Apartment Ownership Law, loggias and balconies form part of the co-owned property, and owners must treat them carefully without creating problems for others. A dispute over a neighbour's altered drainage must be resolved within this co-ownership framework.

The article covers several amendments moving through the Saeima to the microenterprise tax, personal income tax and taxes-and-fees laws, drafted by MPs from various parties ahead of elections. It notes that last year 10,800 microenterprise filers fell short of the €25,000 turnover threshold.

Under a new Article 25.2 of the Customs Law, from 1 July 2027 only persons registered in a newly created register will be allowed to provide customs representation services in Latvia. The State Revenue Service informs businesses planning to continue this activity about the upcoming registration requirement.

Cabinet-approved amendments to the Personal Income Tax Law clarify that mandatory social insurance contributions a self-employed person pays for themselves may not be counted as business expenses.

Amendments will add a new paragraph to Section 6 of the Personal Income Tax Law requiring tax-relief information to be filed before the annual declaration, otherwise processing is delayed.

Latvia's State Revenue Service (VID) issued an opinion on how often VAT invoices must be issued for long-term services, such as a 12-month lease of land or hunting rights. VID concluded that a single invoice for the whole period is permissible if the transaction meets the conditions of Section 32(4) of the VAT Law — a service not received from another state, with no interim invoices or payments during the period. Otherwise more frequent invoicing is required to avoid late tax payment and default charges.

Draft amendments to the Personal Income Tax Law will add a definition of the wage tax booklet to Section 6 and specify who receives it; the Cabinet has approved the amendments, which still require Saeima adoption.

The government on Tuesday backed Finance Ministry amendments to the personal income tax law clarifying unregulated situations and cutting red tape. The key change raises the tax-free expense compensation cap for volunteers and religious-organisation staff from €1,000 to €3,000 a year, introducing a single compensation rate.

State Revenue Service data show Latvia's total tax arrears fell to €815.593 million as of 1 August 2026, down 1% from July. State budget debts stood at €339.521 million, municipal debts at €298.4 million, and social insurance debts at €177.672 million; €224.797 million of the total is suspended debt from insolvent companies, while €85.203 million has extended payment terms.

The Cabinet approved Finance Ministry amendments to the Personal Income Tax Law. Key changes raise the tax-exempt ceiling for volunteer and clergy expense reimbursements from 1,000 to 3,000 euros a year, exempt loyalty-programme cashback from tax, and widen tax-free gifts between relatives. The re-election period for the reduced patent tax is also shortened from five to two years.

The article lists common VAT errors made by Latvian businesses: over-deducting input tax on costs subject to statutory limits (business lunches, events, company cars), miscalculating the proportion in mixed taxable/non-taxable transactions, late VAT reporting, and incorrectly applying the reverse-charge mechanism. It also recaps Latvia's VAT rates, including the 12% rate for certain goods.

The article describes a Finance Ministry package of amendments to the personal income tax law, due before the government on 25 August. One change requires a dependant's declared residence to be in Latvia, another EU or EEA country, effectively excluding the dependant tax relief for those living in Russia.

The tax authority clarified that under simplified bookkeeping, payments such as PayPal should be recognised when funds reach the platform account, while Stripe-type receipts count on arrival in the bank account, and platform commissions must be documented.

The answer explains that people who have reached pension age, including farm owners outside employment relationships, are in certain cases exempt from mandatory state social insurance contributions. The exact rule depends on the person's status and type of economic activity.

The answer confirms that a self-employed person registered in Latvia may carry out economic activity abroad too, including invoicing foreign clients, while keeping self-employed status. Further details are on the State Revenue Service website.

LV portāls explains consumers' 14-day no-reason withdrawal right from consumer credit agreements, requiring repayment of principal and interest within 30 days. Creditors cannot charge penalties for withdrawal except unreimbursed state fees, with exemptions for loans under €140, overdrafts and interest-free credit.

ERGO received about 1,300 claims across the Baltics for damage from the 22-23 August storm, 97% of them in Latvia and Lithuania, forecasting payouts in Latvia could reach EUR 3 million.

ESMA has authorised EuroCTP to act as the single consolidated tape provider for shares and exchange-traded funds across the EU. This means market participants will be able to access aggregated real-time trading data from one EU-wide source.

The European Banking Authority published an opinion responding to observations in the European Parliament's 2024 Discharge Report. The EBA notes only nine of the report's observations directly concern the authority and none require follow-up action.

The article explains a loan's total cost includes fees and contract/account charges besides the interest rate, and advises comparing the annual percentage rate (APR) rather than the nominal rate alone.

Rietumu Banka has granted a €20 million credit line to Estonian mortgage lending group Omega Laen to refinance existing obligations and expand in the Baltics and Poland. The financing comprises two credit lines — for the Estonian parent and its Lithuanian subsidiary.

Also reported by: nra.lv

Farms earning at least 80% of income from agriculture will be able to access an Altum refinancing loan of EUR 100,000-1.5 million if they show financial difficulty and submit a recovery plan.

A new Altum programme funded with EUR 19 million from the EU rural development fund will let farmers write off up to 50% of a loan's principal, capped at EUR 100,000, once investment targets are met.

Within three days of the storm, Compensa received 531 claims in Latvia, with decisions on 95 already made and nearly EUR 55,000 paid out, while its helpline took 1,517 calls.

The Cabinet approved draft laws by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Latvia transposing EU Directive 2025/1 on recovery and resolution of insurers. Insurance and reinsurance companies will have to prepare recovery plans, and if a company faces serious difficulty, the supervisor may apply resolution tools such as business or asset sales, a bridge institution, or write-down of liabilities. Costs will be covered by the Insurance Guarantee Fund, funded by licensed insurers.

The article explains EU residents' right to open a basic payment account at a bank and the conditions under which a bank may refuse or close one. Fees may not exceed average market rates by more than 25%, and consumers can appeal to PTAC or the financial ombudsman.

In a ruling dated 16 July 2026, Latvia's Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) found that AS "DelfinGroup" had inadequately assessed consumer solvency before granting credit, relying on data from only one credit bureau, and imposed a fine of EUR 285,000. DelfinGroup disagrees with the interpretation and plans to appeal. Latvia has two credit information bureaus — Kredītinformācijas birojs and CREFO Birojs — and the issue is becoming especially relevant for deferred-payment service providers too.

The article gives practical guidance after storm damage: document damage with photos before clean-up, keep receipts for emergency repairs, and contact the insurer promptly, since insurers can face a backlog of claims after major storms.

After a destructive weekend storm, Swedbank received nearly 400 home and vehicle insurance claims on Monday, with EUR 800,000 already reserved for home-insurance payouts.

The road traffic safety directorate CSDD says compensation for data stolen in the cyberattack will hinge on a Data State Inspectorate ruling on CSDD's liability for a GDPR breach. Claiming compensation now is deemed premature, and clients will be informed separately of next steps.

Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns convened a meeting with state agencies and cybersecurity experts on rising cyber threats in the justice sector. He stressed that under the National Cybersecurity Law, managing risk and ensuring resilience of critical services is the responsibility of an organisation's leadership, not just IT staff. The Ministry committed to strengthening inter-agency cooperation and treating security audits as an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise.

Deputy director of the Data State Inspectorate Lāsma Dilba said on "Rīta Panorāma" that the greatest risk to those affected by the CSDD cyberattack arises when fraudsters combine the stolen data with information from other public registers, such as the Land Register, enabling a precise personal profile. The inspectorate is assessing whether CSDD did all it could to protect the data.

Latvia has registered standard LVS EN 18286:2026 on an AI quality-management system for EU AI Act purposes, setting risk-, data- and incident-management requirements for organisations developing AI systems.

Sworn advocate Lauris Klagišs's office has published guidance on social media for drivers after the CSDD cyberattack, which exposed data on 1.2 million people and roughly 200,000 legal entities spanning 18 years. It stresses the importance of data subjects understanding their GDPR rights and possible next steps.

EU Court judge Ineta Ziemele said on "Rīta Panorāma" that all 1.2 million people whose data was stolen in the CSDD cyberattack already have grounds to claim compensation for moral damage, since the rights violation occurred regardless of whether the data has been misused yet. She stressed that responsible authorities, not individuals, should decide on such compensation.

The Russian-language version of the same story: EU Court judge Ineta Ziemele explains that the 1.2 million residents affected by the CSDD cyberattack already have a right to claim moral-damage compensation, since the violation occurred regardless of any later misuse of the data. She stresses the importance of data protection as a core EU value.

Latvia's Ombudsman states that insurers may not demand, and medical practitioners may not provide, a patient's complete medical history for evaluating an insurance claim. Only information directly relevant to the specific insured event may be shared, in line with the data-minimisation principle. The opinion addresses insurers' practices when handling clients' health data.

The Ombudsman's Office clarifies that an insurer may request, and a provider may release, only the health data directly needed to assess a specific insurance claim, not a patient's whole medical history.

The article (only the intro is visible) examines whether AI can be considered the "author" of a text or image, given its growing use in content creation.

The article (only the intro is visible) warns fraudsters use obtained personal data – name, ID number, address – to build convincing scams, and advises how to protect such data.

Latvia's Data State Inspectorate explains how data controllers must notify individuals of a personal data breach, citing the summer CSDD security incident that affected roughly 1.2 million people's data as an example. It states that for mass incidents public notification (website, media) can replace individual letters if individual contact would be disproportionately burdensome, and notices must describe affected data, risks and recommended action.

Following lawyers' calls, a ready-made request template asking CSDD about one's data status after the cyberattack is circulating publicly, though lawyers themselves disagree on whether mass requests help. Some think it will make CSDD feel the consequences more sharply, others warn it could overload the agency and delay the investigation.

Amendments to the Personal Income Tax Law will, for the first time in ten years, raise the tax-exempt ceiling for volunteer expense compensation from EUR 1,000 to EUR 3,000 a year and simplify how it is substantiated.

The consultation explains the division of authority between the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers in setting national sanctions, referencing recent amendments to the Ukraine civilian support law restricting imports of certain industrial goods from Russia and Belarus. It notes the Saeima formally delegates setting the goods list to the Cabinet.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) examines whether EU Packaging Regulation 2025/40 also applies to small farms and self-employed persons selling to EU customers via online platforms.

The president has promulgated the airBaltic financial stabilisation law, adopted by the Saeima on 20 August under urgency procedure, allowing possible state participation of up to €30 million in bridge-financing bonds and capitalisation of €50 million in existing bonds. 54 MPs voted for, 21 against.

Also reported by: likumi.lv

Justice ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia met in Tallinn to discuss cooperation on protecting democratic institutions and the rule of law. Latvia's minister stressed that EU requirements should be transposed proportionately, avoiding unnecessary administrative burden on business. No specific legislative changes were announced.

The Senate's Criminal Cases Department terminated criminal proceedings against a businessman accused of large-scale embezzlement, ruling the dispute over unpaid German-supplied goods was a civil commercial matter, not a crime. Under applicable German law, ownership passed to the recipient's company at delivery, so he managed his own, not another's, property; the case now goes to civil courts.

The Supreme Court's Administrative Cases Department overturned a regional court ruling that had granted a former judge, whose term ended at the age limit, a right to severance pay, and remitted the case for reconsideration.

In case No. SKA-139/2026, the Senate overturned an appellate ruling and held that a former judge whose term ended due to reaching the maximum age limit has no right to severance pay. The Senate found the legislator deliberately excluded this ground from judges' compensation rules, unlike other dismissal grounds for state officials; the Justice Ministry had earlier refused payment.

Latvian fuel and oil products trader WO Trading has filed a case with the EU Court, challenging changes to customs duties on goods of Russian and Belarusian origin. Latvia's government on Tuesday approved the state's position in "WO Trading v European Parliament and Council", stressing its sanctions policy remains unchanged.

Company K2 Ventum has sharply criticised the government's refusal to approve its wind park project, calling the decision legally unfounded and pointing to serious procedural breaches after more than three years of assessment. The company plans to defend its rights in court, provisionally valuing a possible claim against the state at up to €120 million.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) reports that on 31 July 2026, in case SKA-112/2026, the Supreme Court issued a significant interpretation of the presumed-income rule for board members within corporate groups under the Personal Income Tax Law.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) describes a 13 May 2025 judgment in case A420126422, in which the Administrative Regional Court drew a line between reasonable due-diligence checks on a business partner and the burden of proof the tax authority may impose.

The article (paywalled, only the lead is visible) reports that on 31 July 2026, in case SKC-35/2026, the Supreme Court set out new findings on dismissing an employee during probation, partly departing from earlier case law on the employee's available remedies.

The Bar Council reminds candidates for sworn advocate assistant status that documents must be submitted by 1 October 2026. The notice concerns the bar's internal admission procedure.

Justice ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia met in Tallinn to discuss court-system digitalisation, data exchange between institutions and the use of AI in judicial processes, stressing that decisions remain with judges. They backed expanding the European Public Prosecutor's Office to cover serious EU sanctions breaches. The states agreed to continue coordinating on cross-border crime.

The Court Administration invites applications for vacant judge positions from individuals who have previously served as judges of the Constitutional Court or an international or supranational court. The call targets a narrow group of eligible candidates.