Complexes of heavy lanthanide(III) (Gd-Lu) and Y(III) with 4-chlorophthalic acid were prepared and their IR spectra, solubility in water at 295 K and thermal decomposition were investigated. When heated the complexes with general formula Ln2[ClC6H3(CO2)2]3·nH2O where n=6 for Tb, Dy(III), n=4 for Gd, Ho and Er(III), n=2 for Tm-Lu(III) and n=3 for Y(III) decompose to the oxides Ln2O3, Tb4O7 with intermediate formation of oxochlorides LnOCl.