After the Ombudsman receives your application, he will decide whether to open a verification procedure. If he decides not to open it, he will explain the reasons for such a decision.

If the Ombudsman decides to open a verification case, he may request more information from you or the state institution/s that you have complained about. If needed, he may also request information from other institutions or experts.

After the Ombudsman has gathered all the information he needs for the examination of your case, he will issue an opinion. In the opinion, the Ombudsman can either conclude that there has been a violation of your human rights, or decide that your rights have not been violated.

If the Ombudsman has concluded that a state institution has violated your human rights, he may inform the relevant state institution about this opinion. Read more about the effect of this opinion.

If you submit a complaint to the Ombudsman, he will take a decision on whether to open a verification case and inform you about the decision within one month.

If the Ombudsman decides to open a verification case, he must conclude it within three months of its opening.

The Ombudsman may extend the time-limit for the verification case if your case is complex and he needs more information from the state institutions or private individuals for its examination. The maximum length of time a verification procedure can continue is 24 months.

note The filing of an application with the Ombudsman or the opening of a verification case does not interfere with any other time limits you may have in the Latvian courts or government agencies. It also does not interfere with the time limits for filing your application to the European Court of Human Rights or other international human rights institutions.