Pro Bono ('Pro Deo')

For individuals who do not have sufficient means to pay for a lawyer, there is the possibility of receiving free legal assistance. This is better known as 'pro bono' (or 'pro deo' in Dutch).

If you meet the conditions, Stéphane Heusequin can assist you 'for free.'

To be eligible for pro bono assistance, you must first submit an application and provide certain documents. You can read how to do this below.

Attention: Stéphane Heusequin only accepts pro deo cases in the Kortrijk region. If you have ongoing proceedings, for example in Antwerp, you cannot turn to him for this.

Do I qualify for pro deo?

MINOR?

You always qualify for pro deo.

18 OR OLDER?

It depends on your net household income. The total income of everyone aged 18 or older who lives at the same address must not be higher than a certain amount.

The following maximum monthly amounts currently apply:

HOUSEHOLD	INCOME
Single	€ 1.920,00
+ 1 person	€ 2.581,21
+ 2 people	€ 2.936,42
+ 3 people	€ 3.291,63
+ 4 people	€ 3.646,84
+ 5 people	€ 4.002,05
+ 6 people	€ 4.357,26

Example: you live with your partner and two children under 18 (+ 3 other people). You earn €2,000 per month and your partner receives a sickness benefit of €1,000 per month. Your total net household income is therefore €3,000. According to the table, the maximum net household income for someone living with three other people is €3,291.63. You therefore qualify for legal aid.

How do I apply?

If you think you qualify for legal aid, please follow these steps:

Request a certificate of household composition from your local municipality (or online).
Collect proof of income for the last four months (salary slips and / or benefit statements) for yourself and for every other adult living at your address.
Send these documents by WhatsApp, email, or through the contact form. Also include a short explanation of your problem ("Why do you need a lawyer?") and mention that you would like to apply for legal aid.

What happens next?

If all required documents have been received, your application will be submitted to the Bureau for Legal Aid.

If your application is approved, Stéphane Heusequin will inform you and invite you for a consultation.

Please note:

In some cases, legal aid is only partially free. This means you will have to pay a one-time contribution towards your lawyer's fees of at least €25 and at most €125.
Approval for legal aid is always granted 'per case', not per person. It is therefore possible that multiple applications may need to be submitted for a single person.

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