If a family member is arrested in Belgium on suspicion of a crime, the arrest can last no more than 48 hours. Within that time your family member is released or brought before an investigating judge (onderzoeksrechter). You cannot attend the questioning, but you can calmly gather information and contact a lawyer. What happens in […]
After an arrest, the family can mainly help in practical ways: arranging a prison visit in Belgium, paying money into the detainee’s account and giving the lawyer details that support a release under conditions. According to FOD Justitie, a suspect in pre-trial detention may receive visitors every day. In the first days, contact can be […]
An arrest warrant in Belgium (aanhoudingsbevel) is the decision of the investigating judge (onderzoeksrechter) to keep a suspect in detention for longer. That decision falls within 48 hours of the arrest, after a hearing at which the lawyer may be present. Within five days, the council chamber (raadkamer) then decides. What is an arrest warrant […]
At a detention hearing in Belgium, a judge of the council chamber (raadkamer) decides behind closed doors whether detention continues after an arrest warrant. The first hearing falls within five days of the warrant being executed. A new hearing follows after one month, and later every two months. The family waits outside; the lawyer is […]
Driving Spite Decay in Belgian Law: What You Should Know In Belgian traffic law, the concept of “driving despite lapse” plays an important role. It refers to situations in which a person drives while legally disqualified from driving. This can have serious consequences, both legally and personally. In this blog, we explain exactly what driving […]
In a divorce, the welfare of the children is the main focus. An important aspect of this is financial arrangements, such as child support. In addition to the basic needs of the child, extraordinary expenses may arise. But what exactly does this entail and how is it settled? What are extraordinary expenses? Extraordinary expenses are […]
Medical malpractice lawyer: The medical world is a very complex one, and medical errors are legion. When someone falls victim to medical treatment gone wrong, the consequences are often incalculable. As medical malpractice attorneys, we receive daily questions from clients about the options available to be compensated for the damages suffered in such a case. […]
New arrangement We already explained the new regulation in a previous blog. Until today, this arrangement applied to sentences up to a maximum of two years. The changes Information obligation of the director The director of the prison must explicitly inform the convicted person of the possibility of applying for a sentence modality at the […]
Rape and the importance of legal representation As rape attorneys, we have been assisting our clients for more than 20 years. Rape is the most serious sex crime. What should be understood by rape in Belgium was often a point of discussion. Indeed, the question arose whether only an act of penetration with the male […]