🇧🇪 Country guides

Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Belgium

How creditors recover debts in Belgium: the out-of-court IOS procedure for undisputed B2B debts, judicial recovery, the bailiff, and EU enforcement.

LG
The LawyerGo Team
· 6 min read
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Belgium

Belgium has a distinctive fast lane for business debts that avoids the courts entirely when the debt is not contested.

The IOS procedure

For undisputed B2B debts, the IOS procedure (recovery of uncontested debts / invordering onbetwiste schulden) lets a bailiff (huissier de justice / gerechtsdeurwaarder) obtain an enforceable title administratively, without a judge, if the debtor does not respond. It is faster and cheaper than litigation.

Disputed or consumer debts

Where the debt is contested, or the debtor is a consumer, recovery goes through the courts in the ordinary way.

Enforcement

With a title, the bailiff enforces by attachment (saisie) of accounts, wages or goods.

Cross-border recovery

The European Payment Order is available for cross-border claims, and EU judgments are enforced in Belgium under Brussels Ia.

For foreign creditors

Whether the IOS route fits depends on the debt type and region/language. A verified Belgian colleague can pick the right path and instruct the bailiff.

Scope of the IOS route can change — confirm with admitted Belgian counsel.

LG
The LawyerGo Team
Editorial

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