Complexes of lanthanide(III) (La–Lu) and Y(III) with 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid were obtained as crystalline compounds with a general formula Ln[C10H6(OH)COO]3⋅nH2O:n=6 for La–Tm and Y, n=2 for Yb and n=0 for Lu. IR spectra of the prepared complexes were recorded, and their thermal decomposition in air were investigated. Spectroscopic data suggest that in the coordination of metal-organic ligand only oxygen atoms from the carboxylate group take part. When heated, the complexes decompose to the oxides Ln2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11 and Tb4O7 with intermediate formation of Ln(C11H7O3)(C11H6O3).