Lawyer in Belgium

A specific task rather than undefined ‘full support’

Assistance may begin with a consultation, an online discussion or a review of a contract and case papers. We then establish whether an application, negotiations, representation or another step is needed. Several related problems do not mean that all of them are automatically covered by the fee for an initial consultation.

For international clients, we clarify authority to act, the documents required and communication with the local professional. Originals, personal attendance and an interpreter depend on the procedure. If a notary, accountant or another provider is needed, their involvement and separate costs must be confirmed before work starts.

Family relationships and inheritance

We consider divorce, including where one spouse is a foreign national, division of assets, maintenance, establishing paternity, adoption and marital agreements. For matters involving children, state where they actually live and any existing decisions. For a family case we identify the specific claims and do not treat divorce as automatically resolving every related issue.

Inheritance enquiries may concern Belgian assets or a beneficiary living in another country. We need to identify the assets, any will, the basis of entitlement and steps already taken. Formalities, a notary’s involvement and court protection serve different purposes, so their sequence is agreed after the documents have been reviewed.

Property transactions and disputes

Before a purchase or investment, we review the property documents, the parties’ rights and the proposed terms. For a foreign buyer, we check the circumstances of the particular transaction. Legal advice does not replace a survey, valuation or financial forecast; these may require separate professionals.

Civil matters may concern ownership, contracts, use of property and performance of obligations. In a dispute, the desired outcome and available evidence need to be identified. A decision concerning property or money depends on proper substantiation, rather than merely on how long the dispute has lasted or how strongly the client believes in their case.

Business relationships, investment and tax

For businesses, we consider company formation, corporate documents, investment projects and insolvency. Contract work and consultancy are based on the actual transactions, authority to act and evidence of performance. The scope of ongoing legal work must be distinguished from a specific instruction for a particular transaction.

Tax matters, reporting and accounting may require different professionals. We first establish the parties’ countries, the purpose of payments and the documents involved. For intellectual and industrial property, we review the subject matter, ownership of rights and the purpose of registration or protection. None of these services can be promised as a universal way to remove all business risks.

Breach of contract and insurance compensation

For an unpaid supply, work or another obligation, we check the contract, payment deadline and actual performance. A commercial dispute may require a formal demand, negotiations or representation. Recovery of money or property, and international arbitration, have separate legal grounds which must be established from the documents.

An insurance matter requires the policy, notification of the event, and the insurer’s decision and calculations. Partial payment, refusal and delay may have different causes. A specialist loss assessment or examination is not automatically included: we first identify the fact or figure that needs checking.

Representation and lawful information checks

The availability of procedural document preparation, court involvement or defence depends on the client’s status and the professional required. Provide all documents received and the dates they were served. For a foreign party, language and proper representation are checked before the particular procedural step.

Companies, documents and facts are checked lawfully within the agreed scope. Enforcement of a Belgian decision and a possible application to the European Court of Human Rights are assessed separately. We do not promise access to restricted data, automatic reconsideration of a decision or successful recovery regardless of the circumstances.

Official documents and formalities

We can assess whether certificates, extracts, official records and other documents can be obtained using the required details and grounds. Before a legal translation we identify the recipient, language and format. Whether an apostille, a specially qualified translator or another form of authentication is required depends on the particular document and procedure.

Notarial acts may concern transactions, declarations, incorporation documents, inheritance and wills. They are carried out by the appropriate notary; legal preparation does not replace the necessary formalities. Planning requires the originals, signatories and possibility of acting through a representative to be clarified.

Documents and agreeing the next step

Describe the events, parties, city and outcome you seek. Keep the complete foreign-language document and proof of receipt. After reviewing these, we establish the scope, fees and third-party costs. Forward new correspondence and changes in circumstances before the next step so the position remains up to date.