Tribunal of first instance (Belgium)

The Court of First Instance (Dutch: Rechtbank van eerste aanleg, French: Tribunal de première instance, German: Gericht erster Instanz) in Belgium consists of three divisions: the Civil Court, the Correctional Court and the Juvenile Court. There is a Court of First Instance for each Judicial Arrondissement.

Belgian judicial hierarchy (2018).
Court building of the tribunal of first instance of Dendermonde.
Palace of Justice in Antwerp, where (amongst others) the tribunal of first instance of the city is located.

Divisions

Civil Court

The Civil Court consists of the civil chambers of the Court of First Instance. Each civil chamber consist of one or of three judges. The Civil Court deals in first instance with civil cases that exceed the competences of the justice of the peace, but it also hears appeals against decisions of justices of the peace in civil cases if the amount involved exceeds 1,240 euro. If the amount involved doesn't exceed this amount, no appeal against the decision of the justice of the peace is possible. The Civil Court also deals with divorces, cases regarding lineage, disputes regarding the execution of court decisions and rulings, the right of reply and tax returns. In addition, the Civil Court has jurisdiction over cases not explicitly assigned to another court. The Civil Court also has appellate jurisdiction with regard to decisions of the police tribunal regarding compensation claims arising from traffic accidents.[1][2]

Decisions of the Civil Court, with the exception of decisions regarding appeals against decisions of the justice of the peace or the police tribunal, can be appealed against to the civil chambers of the Court of Appeal. Decisions of the Civil Court regarding appeals against decisions of the justice of the peace of the police tribunal can only be appealed against on points of law to the Court of Cassation.

Correctional Court

The Correctional Court consists of the correctional chambers of the Court of First Instance. Each correctional chamber consists of one or of three judges. The Correctional Court deals with misdemeanors and has appellate jurisdiction over decisions of the police tribunal. It also deals with correctionalised felonies. Felonies are normally dealt with by the Court of Assize, but the Chamber of Indictment can take into account mitigating circumstances and "correctionalise" the felony, i.e. refer the case to the Correctional Court instead.[3]

The Correctional Court doesn't have jurisdiction with regard to offences related to traffic, which fall under the jurisdiction of the police tribunal. It doesn't have jurisdiction with regard to political crimes and press-related crimes either as those crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the Court of Assize, with the exception of press-related crimes that were inspired by racism or xenophobia. The latter do fall under its jurisdiction.[4][5]

Decisions of the Correctional Court can be appealed against to the correctional chambers of the Court of Appeal, except in the case of appeals against decisions of the police tribunal heard by the Correctional Court. Decisions of the Correctional Court regarding appeals against decisions of the police tribunal can only be appealed against on points of law to the Court of Cassation.

Juvenile Court

The Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases involving minors.[6][7]

List of tribunals of first instance
Map of the judicial arrondissements of Belgium (French names).

As of 2018, there is a seat of a tribunal of first instance in the following municipalities (per judicial arrondissement):

Arrondissement of West Flanders:

Arrondissement of East Flanders:

Arrondissement of Antwerp:

Arrondissement of Brussels:

Arrondissement of Leuven:

Arrondissement of Limburg:

Arrondissement of Hainaut:

Arrondissement of Walloon Brabant:

Arrondissement of Namur:

Arrondissement of Luxembourg:

Arrondissement of Liège:

Arrondissement of Eupen:

(*): Due to the sensitive political situation in and around Brussels, there are two independent tribunals of first instance in the arrondissement of Brussels.

See also

References
  1. "De rechtbank van eerste aanleg, burgerlijke kamers" (in Dutch). www.pers-gerecht.be. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  2. "Le tribunal de première instance, chambres civiles" (in French). www.presse-justice.be/. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  3. "Factsheet on the organisation of the judiciary" (PDF). The Belgian Chamber of Representatives. 2006-07-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  4. "Correctionele rechtbank" (in Dutch). www.pers-gerecht.be. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  5. "Le tribunal correctionnel" (in French). www.presse-justice.be. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  6. "Jeugdrechtbank, tussen burgerlijk recht en strafrecht" (in Dutch). www.pers-gerecht.be. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  7. "Le tribunal de la jeunesse, entre justice civile et justice pénale" (in French). www.presse-justice.be. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
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