1. What does legal aid entail?
The initial consultation
A duty lawyer gives a brief consultation: this is the initial advice. Confined to providing simple legal information, the initial advice is given in a consultation in a general or specialised field (law on young persons, right of residence, social aid, housing law, consumer law).
The engagement of a lawyer
Providing the family and financial requirements are met, a duty lawyer will designate a colleague to expedite a procedure or give more in-depth advice. An attendance by appointment is also in a general or specialised field (law on young persons, right of residence, social aid, housing law, consumer law).
2. Who is able to benefit from legal aid?
The initial advice is available to all, with no payment conditions.
The engagement of a lawyer completely or partly without charge depends on whether the beneficiary falls within one of the specified legal categories.
Documentary supporting evidence must be provided to the duty lawyer.
3. Where and when are duty lawyers in attendance?
4. What you need to know
A reduced level of fees can be asked of beneficiaries of partly free legal aid.
Legal aid may be withdrawn if the beneficiary no longer satisfies the conditions, or if he/she fails to co-operate in protecting his/her interests.
Lawyers are bound by the duty of professional secrecy.
For further
information: contact the legal aid bureau (LAB) of the Bar of Liège.
Completely free legal aid
Legal aid is completely free to those falling into one of the categories shown in the table, on producing supporting documentary evidence.
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If you are:
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You must bring: (except in emergency)
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1
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A beneficiary of social-integration income (R.I.S.) or social security assistance.
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Decision by the C.P.A.S.
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2
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A beneficiary of income guaranteed to the elderly or GRAPA
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The annual certificate of the National Pensions Office
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3
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Beneficiary of income top-up allowances for the disabled (other than integration allowance)
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The decision to grant the allowance
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4
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A person who cares for a child benefiting from guaranteed family benefits
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The O.N.A.F.T.S. certificate
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5
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Social-housing tenant paying a minimum rent
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The most recent rent-calculation notice
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6
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Minor
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Identity card
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7
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- foreigner lodging an application to regularise residency or commence recourse against an order to leave the country,
- asylum applicant or person lodging an application for refugee (displaced) status
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A confirmatory document (e.g.: appendix 26bis, O.Q.T. etc)
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8
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Person living alone who shows their monthly income is below € 878
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Composition of the household
& document proving your income (example: most recent job notice extract, certificate issued by the unemployment benefit payment office, certificate by mutual insurance company, latest individual salary breakdown, file 281.10, etc)
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9
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Person cohabiting with a spouse or other person with whom she forms a household, providing she shows that the household's net monthly income is below € 1128 (+ € 145,16 per dependent person).
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Composition de ménage
& document proving the income for your household (e.g.: most recent job notice extract, certificate issued by the unemployment benefit payment office, certificate by mutual insurance company, latest individual salary breakdown, file 281.10, etc)
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10
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Person in the process of a collective debt-settlement procedure, upon production of the decision of admissibility in accordance with article 1675/6 of the Legal Code.
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Decision of admissibility in accordance with article 1675/6 of the Legal Code + current mediator's certificate.
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11
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Person over-extended by debt, upon production of a declaration by them, according to which benefit of legal assistance or second-line legal aid is applied for with a view to introducing a collective debt-settlement procedure.
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Statement written in the applicant's own hand, stating that he/she is applying for the implementation of a collective debt-settlement procedure.
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The following are presumed to be persons not enjoying adequate financial resources :
- people held in detention,
- an accused person required immediately to appear in a court of law,
- a mentally-ill person.
Partially free legal aid
Legal aid is partially free for those falling into one of the following categories :
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If you are:
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You must bring: (except in emergency)
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1
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person living alone, who shows their net monthly income is between € 878 and €1128.
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Composition of household
& evidence proving your income (example: most recent job notice extract, certificate issued by the unemployment benefit payment office, certificate by mutual insurance company, latest individual salary breakdown, file 281.10, etc)
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2
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Person cohabiting with a spouse or other person with whom she forms a household, providing she shows that the household's net monthly income is between € 1128 and € 1377 (+ € 145,16 per dependent person).
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Composition of household
& evidence proving your income (example: most recent job notice extract, certificate issued by the unemployment benefit payment office, certificate by mutual insurance company, latest individual salary breakdown, file 281.10, etc)
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