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Free Guide to Hiring a Family Lawyer
Hasselt, Belgium Attorneys in related practice areas.
Family law in Hasselt covers the rules that govern relationships within families, including marriage, legal cohabitation, divorce, parental responsibility, child residence and contact, child and spousal maintenance, adoption, recognition of parentage, name issues, and the protection of vulnerable family members. Most rules come from Belgian federal law, while services that support families are largely organized by the Flemish authorities.
Cases in Hasselt are heard by the Family and Juvenile Court within the Court of First Instance of Limburg, section Hasselt. Proceedings are typically conducted in Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch, ask your lawyer about interpretation or translation options. Many disputes are resolved by negotiated agreement or mediation, but the court can impose binding decisions when needed.
A family lawyer helps you understand your rights and obligations, choose the best procedure, prepare documents, negotiate settlements, and represent you in court. You may need legal help if you are divorcing or separating, setting up or dissolving legal cohabitation, arranging parental authority, residence and contact for children, calculating or enforcing child or spousal maintenance, addressing domestic violence and urgent protection, recognizing or contesting parentage, planning marital or cohabitation property arrangements, dividing assets and debts after separation, relocating with a child or preventing a wrongful relocation, handling international issues such as jurisdiction or child abduction, adopting or becoming a guardian, or formalizing agreements through a notary.
A lawyer can also check if you qualify for partial or full legal aid and can coordinate with mediators, notaries, and social services in Hasselt to reach a durable solution.
Marriage and cohabitation. Belgium recognizes marriage for different-sex and same-sex couples. Partners can also register legal cohabitation at the municipality. Couples can regulate property and financial arrangements through a notarial contract. Without a contract, the default matrimonial regime is community of acquisitions. Legal cohabitants have more limited property consequences than married spouses.
Divorce. There are two main routes. Divorce by mutual consent is based on a comprehensive agreement about all consequences. Divorce for irretrievable breakdown is possible if the relationship has clearly ended, proven by serious facts or by a period of separation. The court can grant provisional measures during proceedings, such as who stays in the family home, temporary maintenance, and arrangements for the children.
Children. Parents generally exercise joint parental authority. The court will determine the child’s residence and contact schedule based on the child’s best interests, considering stability, practical arrangements, any special needs, and the ability of parents to cooperate. Unmarried parents can recognize a child according to formal rules. Grandparents can request contact if it benefits the child.
Maintenance. Both parents must contribute to the costs of raising their children. Child support is calculated case by case, considering resources, needs, time spent with each parent, and specific expenses. Indicative scales are sometimes used as a reference but are not binding. Spousal maintenance after divorce can be awarded in limited situations and is usually time limited. The Service for Maintenance Claims, known as DAVO, can help recover unpaid maintenance and advance certain amounts if conditions are met.
Property division. On divorce or the end of legal cohabitation, assets and debts are divided according to the chosen regime or applicable rules. Complex cases may require a notary to conduct liquidation and partition. Personal items and assets owned before marriage or cohabitation can receive special treatment depending on evidence and the regime.
Domestic violence and protection. Victims can seek urgent protection orders from the Family Court. The prosecutor or mayor can impose a temporary home exclusion order in serious cases of intrafamilial violence. Police reports, medical certificates, and witness statements are important. Safety planning and support services in Hasselt can assist you alongside legal measures.
International families. Many Hasselt families have cross border ties. Jurisdiction and recognition questions are often governed by EU rules such as Brussels IIb for divorce and parental responsibility and the EU Maintenance Regulation, and by Hague Conventions such as the 1980 Child Abduction Convention. A lawyer can assess which court can hear your case, what law applies, and how to enforce decisions abroad.
Court structure and procedure. The Family and Juvenile Court centralizes family disputes and encourages amicable solutions. Judges can request social reports or appoint experts. Mediation is available at any stage. Urgent matters can be handled in summary proceedings. Decisions can be appealed within strict deadlines.
Language and accessibility. In Hasselt the court language is Dutch. Interpretation can be arranged in appropriate cases. People with low income may qualify for first line free legal information and second line legal aid that appoints a lawyer at reduced cost or for free, depending on your situation.
The Family and Juvenile Court of the Court of First Instance of Limburg, section Hasselt, handles divorce, parental authority, residence and contact, maintenance, protection orders, and related issues for people living in the Hasselt area.
If you divorce by mutual consent, you still file an agreement for court approval, but you will usually have a brief and straightforward hearing. If you divorce for irretrievable breakdown, the court will hear the case and decide disputed points. Many couples settle most issues with help from lawyers or a mediator before the hearing.
Judges assess the needs of the child and the resources of both parents, the time each parent spends with the child, and specific costs such as childcare, schooling, and health expenses. There are indicative scales used as a non binding reference. Your lawyer can prepare a budget and evidence to support an appropriate amount.
The court applies the child’s best interests. Solutions range from alternating residence to a main residence with defined contact. The judge examines the child’s routine, distance between homes, parental cooperation, safety concerns, and the child’s views depending on age and maturity. Agreements negotiated by parents carry weight if they are balanced and workable.
Relocation that affects the other parent’s contact usually requires consent or a court order. The court weighs reasons for moving, the impact on the child, schooling, the feasibility of contact, and the parents’ ability to cooperate. Moving without consent or a court order can lead to urgent proceedings and enforcement measures.
You can request urgent protection orders from the Family Court, including temporary residence measures, contact restrictions, and financial support. In acute risk, the prosecutor or mayor can order a temporary home exclusion. Support services in Hasselt can help with safety planning, shelter, and counseling, and the police can intervene immediately.
Yes, marital property agreements and certain cohabitation contracts must be executed by a notary to be valid. A notary can advise on community, separation, or mixed regimes and on clauses about the family home and inheritance effects.
You can enforce the order through a bailiff and, in eligible cases, ask DAVO, the Service for Maintenance Claims, to recover arrears and advance payments. Keep detailed records of payments, bank statements, and correspondence to support enforcement.
Yes. First line legal aid provides short free legal information. Second line legal aid can appoint a lawyer at reduced cost or free based on your income, household, and special circumstances. Ask the Bureau for Legal Aid at the Limburg bar or your local social services for screening and documents required.
Cross border cases use EU rules and international conventions to decide jurisdiction, applicable law, and recognition. For example, Brussels IIb covers divorce and parental responsibility, and the Hague Child Abduction Convention provides rapid return mechanisms. A lawyer with international family law experience can coordinate proceedings and enforcement in multiple countries.
Family and Juvenile Court, Court of First Instance of Limburg, section Hasselt.
Bureau for Legal Aid at the Limburg Bar for second line legal aid applications.
First line legal aid desks in Hasselt for brief free legal information.
Service for Maintenance Claims DAVO at the Federal Public Service Finance for recovery and advances of maintenance.
Federal Public Service Justice for information on family procedures, mediation, and cross border issues.
Federale Bemiddelingscommissie, the Federal Mediation Commission, for lists of accredited family mediators.
Koninklijke Federatie van het Belgisch Notariaat, the Royal Federation of the Belgian Notariat, for guidance on marriage contracts, legal cohabitation, and partition.
Agentschap Opgroeien for child and youth support, adoption, and parenting resources in Flanders.
Huis van het Kind Hasselt and CAW Limburg for parenting support, counseling, and domestic violence assistance.
Police 101 and the 1712 helpline in Flanders for urgent safety and violence related assistance.
Write down your goals and concerns, including living arrangements for children, financial needs, and any urgent safety issues. Gather key documents such as identity cards, marriage or cohabitation documents, children’s birth certificates, proof of income and expenses, property and debt statements, prior court orders, and relevant correspondence.
Seek early advice. Contact a first line legal aid desk for initial guidance. If your situation is urgent, ask about fast track measures and protection orders. Consider mediation to explore an agreement, especially about parenting plans and maintenance. Mediation can run in parallel with legal advice.
Choose a family lawyer in Hasselt who understands your priorities and any international or complex financial aspects. Ask about strategy, timelines, costs, and whether you qualify for second line legal aid. If a notarial deed is needed, your lawyer can coordinate with a notary.
If you face immediate risk from domestic violence, prioritize safety. Contact the police or a local support service, and consult a lawyer promptly about urgent protective measures in the Family Court.
Follow through with documentation and court deadlines. Keep communication child focused, preserve evidence, and do not make unilateral changes that could prejudice your position. With the right support, you can reach a durable solution that protects your family and your rights.
