Legal Aid in Belgium 2026: Eligibility, Procedure & Income Thresholds

Legal Aid in Belgium: Ensuring Access to Justice

Belgium provides two forms of legal assistance to persons with limited financial means, guaranteed by Articles 508/1 to 508/25 of the Belgian Judicial Code and anchored in the constitutional right of access to justice (Article 23 of the Belgian Constitution). The system also aligns with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 47, which guarantees the right to an effective remedy and legal aid for those who lack sufficient resources.

Two Levels of Legal Aid

• Aide juridique de première ligne (Primary legal aid): Free initial legal consultations available to everyone, regardless of income. Provided by legal aid offices (maisons de justice), CPAS/OCMW offices, and various legal aid clinics. No application needed — walk-in consultations are available.
• Aide juridique de deuxième ligne (Secondary legal aid / Pro Deo): Appointment of a free or partially free lawyer for ongoing legal matters. This is means-tested and requires a formal application to the Bureau d'Aide Juridique (BAJ) attached to the local Bar association.

Income Thresholds for 2026

The income thresholds are updated annually by Royal Decree. The criteria are based on net monthly income:

• Full free legal aid: Single person with net monthly income below approximately EUR 1,526 (threshold subject to annual indexation)
• Partial free legal aid: Single person with net monthly income between approximately EUR 1,526 and EUR 1,817
• Increased thresholds for dependents: The threshold increases by approximately EUR 20 per month per dependent

Note: These figures are based on the indexed 2025/2026 values. The exact amounts are published annually by the SPF Justice. Always verify the current thresholds when applying.

Automatic Eligibility Categories

Certain categories of persons are automatically presumed to have insufficient means and qualify for full legal aid without income verification:

• Recipients of social integration income (revenu d'intégration sociale / CPAS)
• Recipients of guaranteed income for the elderly (GRAPA/IGO)
• Recipients of disability benefits (allocation de remplacement de revenus)
• Tenants of social housing paying a reduced rent
• Minors
• Asylum seekers and persons under subsidiary protection
• Persons involved in certain proceedings (adoption, involuntary commitment, etc.)
• Persons in collective debt restructuring (règlement collectif de dettes)

Application Procedure

To apply for secondary legal aid (Pro Deo):

• Step 1: Go to the Bureau d'Aide Juridique (BAJ) at the courthouse (Palais de Justice) of your judicial district. Each Bar Association (Ordre des avocats / Orde van advocaten) has a BAJ.
• Step 2: Bring required documentation: proof of identity, proof of income (pay slips, tax assessment, social benefit attestation), proof of the legal issue (correspondence, court summons, etc.)
• Step 3: The BAJ reviews your application and, if eligible, assigns a lawyer from its roster. You can also request a specific lawyer who accepts Pro Deo cases.
• Step 4: The assigned lawyer handles your case. You may be asked to contribute a nominal amount (typically EUR 25-50) for partial legal aid.

What Does Legal Aid Cover?

Secondary legal aid covers the lawyer's fees for:

• Legal advice and consultation
• Drafting of legal documents
• Representation in court proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative, family)
• Mediation procedures
• Appeals

However, it does not cover court costs (frais de justice), bailiff fees, or expert fees. For those, you may need to apply separately for judicial assistance (assistance judiciaire) under Articles 664-699 of the Judicial Code, which waives court fees for the same income categories.

EU Cross-Border Legal Aid

Under EU Directive 2003/8/EC on legal aid for cross-border disputes, EU citizens can apply for legal aid in another Member State. Belgium has a designated authority for processing these applications. The income assessment is based on the cost of living in Belgium, not the applicant's country of residence.

Check Your Eligibility with DroitAI

DroitAI's legal aid eligibility calculator can instantly determine whether you qualify for free legal assistance in Belgium. Enter your income and family situation, and our tool will apply the current thresholds. Our AI assistant can also help you prepare your application documents and locate the nearest BAJ office.