This review summarizes the structural characteristics and magnetic properties of trinuclear complexes containing the NiII-LnIII-NiII moiety and also oligonuclear complexes and coordination polymers containing the same trinuclear moiety. The ligands used are mainly polydentate Schiff base ligands and reduced Schiff base ligands and, in some cases, oximato, β-diketonato, pyridyl ketone ligands and others. The compounds reported are restricted to those containing one, two and three oxygen atoms as bridges between the metal ions; examples of carboxylato and oximato bridging are also included due to structural similarity. The magnetic properties of the complexes range from ferro- to antiferromagnetic depending on the nature of the lanthanide ion.