Understand the rule
First-line legal aid provides free initial legal information. Second-line aid can provide fully or partly funded lawyer assistance subject to conditions. Assistance with court expenses is a separate matter.
Prepare your next steps
- Summarise the issue, record when the latest letter arrived and note any scheduled hearing.
- Gather key papers and, for second-line aid, the income and household evidence requested by the relevant office.
- Contact a first-line service or legal aid office. Mention an approaching deadline or hearing immediately.
Practical example
Fictional example: you receive a summons about a disputed debt. A one-page payment and correspondence timeline helps the consultation. Bring the full summons too.
What to check
Financial conditions change and eligibility cannot always be inferred from salary alone. Use the office’s current thresholds and document requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does legal aid make everything free?
Not necessarily. Funding may be partial and some expenses fall under a separate procedure. Ask exactly what is covered.
Sources and useful texts
Sources consulted on 27 September 2026
General information about Belgian law. Region, date of events and your circumstances can change the applicable rule.
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