Belgium · Courts
Court structure of Belgium
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Constitutional — Constitutional Court
- Twelve judges, six Dutch-speaking and six French-speaking; reviews statutes and settles competence disputes.
- Supreme — Court of Cassation
- Reviews points of law only; does not re-examine the facts.
- Administrative — Council of State
- Separate administrative order: annuls unlawful administrative acts and advises on draft legislation.
- Appellate — Courts of Appeal and Labour Courts
- Five appeal areas: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Mons.
- First instance — Tribunals of first instance, enterprise and labour tribunals
- Organised across twelve judicial arrondissements.
- Local — Justices of the peace and police tribunals
- 187 cantons; small claims, tenancy and traffic matters.
Every court in the hierarchy
- constitutionalBrusselsConstitutional CourtNational — federal statutes, regional and community decrees, and Brussels ordinances
- supremeBrusselsCourt of CassationNational — final review on points of law in civil, criminal, commercial and labour matters
- specialisedBrusselsCouncil of StateNational — administrative acts and regulations of every level of government
- appellateBrussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and MonsCourts of AppealFive appeal areas: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Mons
- first-instanceSeats across the twelve judicial arrondissementsTribunals of First InstanceTwelve judicial arrondissements
- first-instanceOne seat per cantonJustices of the Peace187 judicial cantons
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