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Can I get a legal aid lawyer?

Second-line legal aid gives people on a low income a fully or partly free lawyer (art. 508/1 ff. Judicial Code); legal assistance covers the court costs (art. 664 ff. Judicial Code). Fill in your situation for a first indication.

An indication, not a decision: the bar’s legal aid office (BJB / BAJ) decides, on the basis of your documents.

Your situation

Household
Do you belong to one of these groups?

You are then presumed to lack sufficient means and your income does not count, on proof. The office can rebut this presumption, except for minors.

Not the full list: your office’s application form lists every group (art. 508/13/1 Judicial Code and royal decree of 18 December 2003).

Result

Enter your income or pick a group

The limits that apply

Single person

Fully free up to
€1,670.00 net a month
Partly free up to
€1,988.00 net a month

Indexed amounts, in force from 1 September 2026. Source: Balie Leuven — Pro Deo, Bureau voor Juridische Bijstand · La Tribune (avocats.be) — L’aide juridique aussi fait sa rentrée

What to bring

  • Your identity card.
  • Proof of your and your household’s income: recent pay slips, benefit or pension certificates, the last tax assessment.
  • A household composition certificate (from your municipality).
  • Proof that you belong to one of the groups above, if you do.
  • The documents of your case: summons, letters, judgment.

Documents usually may not be older than a month; ask your office what exactly it needs.

Where to apply

At the legal aid office (BJB / BAJ) of the bar in your judicial arrondissement, or directly with a lawyer who takes legal aid cases. Some arrondissements have more than one bar, each with its own office.

Find your BJB (advocaat.be)Find your BAJ (avocats.be)

Free advice first

First-line legal aid is free, with no income limit: a first advice or referral by a lawyer at a consultation session, at the house of justice, at the OCMW/CPAS or at a law shop.

First-line legal aid sessions (advocaat.be)

And the court costs?

With legal assistance (art. 664 ff. Judicial Code) you pay no registration fee, bailiff or expert. You ask the judge or the legal assistance office of the court hearing your case; the income limits are the same (art. 667 Judicial Code).

What does a case cost?

The legal aid office decides. The amounts come from the bars and are indexed every 1 September; check them with your office. This is not legal advice.