Wills & succession · Belgium
Find wills lawyers in Belgium who know your region and your language
Estate and succession questions in Belgium sit inside a federal system with three judicial languages and two national bars. Describe your situation once, and we match you with a Belgian-qualified lawyer who handles wills and estate matters where you live.
- Lawyers registered with AVOCATS.BE or the Orde van Vlaamse Balies
- Proceedings in Dutch, French or German, matched to your district
- Free matching with no obligation to instruct anyone
Free matching · No obligation · You decide whether to proceed
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Wills in Belgium
What to expect when you instruct a Belgian wills lawyer
Planning what happens to your assets, or dealing with an estate after a death, raises questions that touch on family relationships, property and procedures which differ from one part of Belgium to another. Belgium is a federal state: the courts and tribunals are organised at federal level, yet the language of proceedings depends on the district, and many everyday rules are set by the Communities and Regions. A lawyer who practises in your region and in your language can explain where you stand and handle the formal steps on your behalf. Below we set out how the Belgian system works, what costs and legal aid look like, and how our free matching service connects you with wills lawyers in Belgium who handle the kind of matter you are facing.
Belgium in practice
How wills and estate matters work in Belgium
Estate questions in Belgium are handled by lawyers registered with one of the country’s two national bars, practising in the language of the district concerned. The points below explain how the profession, the courts, costs and legal aid operate in Belgium.
Three judicial languages, determined by territory
Judicial proceedings in Belgium follow the language of the territory under the Law of 15 June 1935. Cases run in Dutch in the Flemish districts, in French in the Walloon districts and in German in the judicial district of Eupen. Brussels-Capital is bilingual: the introductory document follows the defendant’s domicile and the case is heard before the corresponding language section of the court.
Two national bars, two professional frameworks
The profession is organised into two national bars that mirror Belgium’s linguistic split. The Ordre des barreaux francophones et germanophone, branded AVOCATS.BE, groups the French-speaking and German-speaking bars; the Orde van Vlaamse Balies groups the Dutch-speaking bars. Each regulates its members, organises traineeships and continuing training, and applies its own deontological code, with the CAPA or BUBA aptitude examination depending on the community.
Who may act for you before a Belgian court
Registration with a bar is compulsory to practise as a lawyer in Belgium: a Belgian master’s degree in law, the oath before the Court of Appeal, enrolment as a trainee and a three-year stage ending in the CAPA or BUBA aptitude examination. Representation by a lawyer is in principle required before the courts of first instance and the courts of appeal, while parties may appear in person before the justice of the peace.
What litigation costs in Belgium, and who pays
Belgium has no general court tax. Costs consist mainly of modest registration fees charged in the enterprise and labour tribunals, bailiff fees for serving documents, and the sums awarded against the losing party. Since the Law of 21 April 2007 the losing party also pays a fixed procedural indemnity set by Royal Decree of 26 October 2007, which contributes towards the winner’s fees rather than covering them in full.
Two lines of legal aid, one of them means-tested
Legal aid in Belgium works on two lines. First-line legal aid gives everyone a free initial consultation through the legal aid commissions, with no income condition. Second-line legal aid assigns a lawyer to a specific case and is free or partly free depending on means: as indexed in September 2024, a single person with net monthly income below €1,582 qualifies for fully free aid, and a household below €1,884.
Federal and regional powers shape the rules that apply
Belgium is a federal state: the organisation of the courts is a solely federal competence, but legislative powers are shared with the three Communities and three Regions. Housing, environment, urban planning and parts of social and education law are regulated at Community or Region level, so the rules relevant to a matter can differ depending on where in Belgium the property or the people concerned are situated.
All country-specific information on this page comes from official Belgian and European sources — the Federal Public Service Justice, the Civil Code and Judicial Code published in the Moniteur belge, the two national bars and the EU e-Justice portal — reviewed against their latest published versions.
- e-Justice — National justice systems: Belgium
- AVOCATS.BE — How to become a lawyer
- Belgian Federal Public Service Justice — legal advice and legal aid
- Law of 15 June 1935 on the use of languages in judicial matters
- Belgian courts — the procedural indemnity (indemnité de procédure)
- Justice of the peace — official brochure
- Belgian Civil Code — limitation periods
- Judicial Code — time limit for appeal
- European Judicial Network — division of powers in Belgium
Common situations
What people bring to us
These are the situations clients most often describe when they first contact us about an estate in Belgium.
You are unsure which rules apply where you live
Belgium’s federal structure means the courts are organised nationally, yet the language of proceedings and many everyday rules depend on the district, Community or Region. Working out which framework governs your estate can be confusing without local guidance.
The family does not agree
Disagreements between heirs, or between a surviving spouse and children, are hard to discuss openly. A lawyer can set out the options in neutral terms, correspond with the other side and, where needed, bring the matter before the competent Belgian court.
Costs and timing feel unpredictable
Fees in Belgium are freely agreed, court costs include registration and bailiff charges, and only a fixed procedural indemnity is recoverable from the losing party. A lawyer can explain how fees will be agreed with you before you commit to anything.
How we help
Matching you with the right Belgian lawyer
We are not a law firm. We listen to your situation and introduce you to lawyers who handle this kind of work in Belgium.
Belgian-qualified lawyers
Every professional we match you with is registered with the Ordre des barreaux francophones et germanophone or the Orde van Vlaamse Balies, so you are speaking to someone who may practise as a lawyer in Belgium.
The right language for your district
We take account of the language of judicial proceedings — Dutch, French, German, or the French or Dutch section in Brussels-Capital — when we suggest lawyers, so you are not explaining your family’s situation through an interpreter.
Free matching, no obligation
Describing your situation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. We introduce you to lawyers who handle wills and succession matters; you choose whether to instruct one, and on what terms.
Clear information on costs and legal aid
We point you to what you need to know: how fees are agreed in Belgium, what court costs and the procedural indemnity cover, and whether first-line or second-line legal aid may be available in your circumstances.
Across Europe
Estate questions that cross a border
Belgian estates often involve heirs, property or bank accounts in another country. We also work with lawyers in neighbouring and other European jurisdictions.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I find wills lawyers in Belgium?
Tell us what you are dealing with — drafting a will, an estate that needs to be administered, or a disagreement between heirs — along with your region and preferred language. We match you with lawyers registered with a Belgian bar who handle that type of matter, and you decide whether to instruct one. Matching is free.
Does the language of my case depend on where I live?
Yes. Under the Law of 15 June 1935, proceedings are conducted in Dutch in the Flemish districts, in French in the Walloon districts and in German in the judicial district of Eupen. Brussels-Capital is bilingual: the introductory document follows the defendant’s domicile and the case is heard before the corresponding language section of the court.
Can I get advice before committing to pay a lawyer?
Yes. First-line legal aid in Belgium is a free initial consultation available to everyone through the legal aid commissions, with no income condition. If the matter goes further, second-line legal aid can assign a lawyer to your case free of charge or at reduced cost, depending on your means.
What happens if I want to challenge a first-instance judgment?
An appeal against a first-instance judgment must be brought within one month. Not every decision can be appealed, however: there is no appeal against a justice-of-the-peace judgment on a claim not exceeding €2,000. Because the deadline is short and strictly applied, speak to a lawyer as soon as you receive the judgment.
Are lawyers’ fees in Belgium fixed by law?
No. Fees are freely agreed between you and your lawyer, who practises as an independent professional; there are no binding official tariffs. If you win, the losing party pays a fixed procedural indemnity set by Royal Decree of 26 October 2007 and scaled to the value of the claim, which covers only part of your legal costs.
How long do I have to bring a claim connected with an estate?
It depends on the type of claim. General contractual and personal claims are subject to a ten-year period, while tort claims, actions for nullity of a contract and periodic payments such as annuities or maintenance are subject to five years. Employment and wage claims are time-barred after one year, so early advice matters.
Next step
Tell us about your estate matter in Belgium
Describe your situation in a few lines — what has happened, where the property or the people concerned are, and which language you prefer. We will introduce you to wills lawyers in Belgium who handle that kind of work, free of charge and with no obligation to instruct them.