Procedures
What to actually do, in order
Each procedure sets out who may file, the deadline that ends your right to act, every document you must produce, the realistic timeline and cost, and the specific pitfalls that cause cases to fail on technicalities.
- BelgiumLitigationbeginner
Bring a claim before the justice of the peace in Belgium
The justice of the peace is the most accessible Belgian court and where most disputes between individuals belong. It hears smaller money claims plus a mandatory list that includes residential tenancy, neighbour disputes, consumer credit and unpaid utility bills — whatever the amount. You may appear in person without a lawyer.
8 steps Two to six months to judgment in an undefended case Registry fee plus a contribution to the Legal Aid Fund; bailiff costs where a writ is used. Legal aid (pro deo) available on income grounds. - BelgiumRegulatory complaintbeginner
File a data protection complaint in Belgium
If an organisation ignores your GDPR rights — refusing access to your data, failing to erase it, or processing without a lawful basis — you can complain to the Belgian Data Protection Authority. Its Litigation Chamber can order compliance and impose fines. The procedure is free.
8 steps Several months; admissibility is decided first, then the substance Free