Legal Glossary

GIW-garantie

GIW guarantee

The GIW guarantee is a warranty scheme for newly constructed dwellings that protects the purchaser against construction defects and the contractor’s bankruptcy.

Garantie

Guarantee

A guarantee is a contractual undertaking whereby a party warrants that a product, service or performance meets certain requirements, with liability potentially arising in the event of defects.

Garantietermijn

Warranty Period

Period during which the seller guarantees the quality of the delivered product.

Gebiedsverbod

Area ban

An area ban is a measure whereby a person is prohibited from entering or remaining in a designated area.

Gebonden bevoegdheid

Bound Competence

Competence of an administrative body that is obligated to take a specific decision.

Gebondenheid

Binding Force

The legal binding of parties to an agreement, decision, or judgment.

Geboorteregister

Birth Register

Civil status register in which births are recorded.

Gebreken

Defects

Shortcomings in a delivered item that deviate from what the buyer could expect.

Gebrekenaan­sprakelijkheid

Product Defect Liability

Liability of the producer for damage caused by a defective product.

Gebruiksvergoeding

Compensation for use

A use fee is a monetary compensation payable for the use of property or goods. Such compensation commonly arises in the context of leases, loans for use, or unauthorised use following the termination of an agreement.

Geconsolideerde balans

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Balance sheet of a group of companies as if they were one enterprise.

Geconsolideerde jaarrekening

Consolidated annual accounts

A consolidated financial statement is the financial statement in which the financial data of a parent undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are presented as a single economic entity.

Gedaagde

Defendant

The defendant is the party against whom a claim is brought in civil proceedings and who is summoned by the claimant.

Gedekt evenement

Covered Event

Event falling within the coverage of an insurance contract.

Gedelegeerd bestuurder

Managing Director

Director to whom special tasks and powers have been delegated.

Gedeponeerd actief

Deposited Asset

Asset deposited with a third party for safekeeping.

Gedeputeerde Staten

Provincial Executive

Daily executive of a province, consisting of deputies and the King's Commissioner.

Gederfde inkomsten

Lost Income

Income lost as a result of a damage-causing event.

Gederfde winst

Lost Profit

Profit not realized due to a breach of contract or tort.

Gedetineerde

Detainee

Person lawfully deprived of liberty in a penitentiary institution.

Gedingstuk

Pleading Document

Written document submitted in judicial proceedings.

Gedoogbeschikking

Toleration Decision

Decision by an administrative body not to enforce against a violation.

Gedwongen opname

Involuntary Commitment

Admission to a psychiatric institution against the person's will.

Gefailleerde

Bankrupt

The natural or legal person declared bankrupt.

Gefixeerde schadevergoeding

Fixed Compensation

Compensation whose amount is predetermined by law or contract.

Gehandicaptenparkeerkaart

Disabled Parking Permit

Card entitling the holder to use disabled parking spaces.

Geheimhouding

Confidentiality

Obligation not to disclose certain information to third parties.

Geheimhoudingsbeding

Confidentiality Clause

A confidentiality clause is a contractual provision whereby the parties undertake not to disclose confidential information to third parties. It protects sensitive information in business relationships.

Geheimhoudingsovereenkomst

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Agreement in which parties agree to keep certain information confidential.

Geheimhoudingsplicht advocaat

Lawyer's Duty of Confidentiality

The lawyer’s duty of confidentiality constitutes the statutory obligation to keep all information obtained in the course of providing services to the client confidential and not to disclose it to third parties.

Geheimhoudingsverplichting

Duty of Confidentiality

Legal duty not to share confidential information with unauthorized persons.

Gekwalificeerde meerderheid

Qualified majority

A qualified majority is a voting requirement stricter than a simple majority, such as two-thirds or three-quarters of the votes, and often applies to important resolutions of legal entities.

Geldigheidsvereisten

Validity Requirements

Conditions a legal act must meet to be valid.

Geldvordering

Monetary Claim

Claim for payment of a sum of money.

Geliberaliseerde huur

Liberalized Rent

Residential rent above the liberalization threshold, subject to less tenant protection.

Gelijkheidsbeginsel

Principle of Equality

The principle of equality entails that like cases must be treated alike and unlike cases unlike, insofar as this is objectively justified.

Gemeenschap

Community

A community is a legal relationship in which two or more persons are jointly the owners of property or assets, without constituting a partnership.

Gemeenschap van goederen

Community of Property

Matrimonial property regime where spouses' assets are jointly owned.

Gemeenschappelijke ruimte

Common Area

Space in a building shared by multiple users.

Gemeenschapsmerk

EU Trade Mark

Trade mark valid throughout the entire European Union, registered at EUIPO.

Gemeenschapsrecht

EU Law

The law of the European Union, formerly referred to as Community law.

Gemeentewet

Municipalities Act

Organic law governing the organization and administration of municipalities.

Gemengde overeenkomst

Mixed agreement

A mixed contract is a contract that incorporates elements of several different types of contracts provided for by law.

Gemiste winst

Lost Profit

Profit not achieved as a result of a breach of duty.

Geneeskundig onderzoek

Medical Examination

Examination of a person's physical or mental condition by a physician.

Genezing

Recovery

Restoration of health after illness or injury.

Gentlemen's agreement

Gentlemen's Agreement

Non-binding agreement based on trust and good faith.

Geobjectiveerde zorgvuldigheidsnorm

Objectified Standard of Care

Standard of care independent of the personal characteristics of the actor.

Geografische aanduiding

Geographical Indication

Indication identifying a product as originating from a specific geographical area.

Georganiseerde misdaad

Organized Crime

Structural cooperation aimed at committing serious criminal offenses.

Geplaatst kapitaal

Issued capital

The issued capital is the nominal amount of the shares subscribed by the shareholders upon incorporation or a capital increase.

Gerecht EU

General Court

Judicial instance of the European Union, part of the Court of Justice of the EU.

Gerechtelijke bewaring

Judicial Custody

Court-ordered custody of goods with a third party.

Gerechtelijke plaatsopneming

Judicial Inspection

Inspection by the court of a location or object relevant to the dispute.

Gerechtsdeurwaarder

Court bailiff

A bailiff is an independent public official who enforces court judgments and serves legal documents.

Gerechtshof

Court of Appeal

Judicial instance judging appeals against district court judgments.

Geschil

Dispute

Disagreement between parties about rights or obligations.

Geschillenregeling

Dispute Resolution

A provision in contracts or articles of association that sets out the procedure for resolving disputes between the parties, such as shareholders in a company.

Geschillenregeling ondernemingsrecht

Corporate Dispute Resolution

Statutory procedure for resolving disputes between shareholders.

Geschriftenbescherming

Writings Protection

Copyright protection of writings lacking original character.

Gesprekken

Conversations

Oral or written communication between two or more persons.

Gestanddoeningsverplichting

Stand-By Obligation

Obligation to honor a previously made bid or offer.

Gestort kapitaal

Paid-up capital

Paid-up capital is the portion of the issued share capital that shareholders have actually paid in. It represents the actual financial contribution to the company.

Getekende verklaring

Signed Statement

Written statement signed by the author or the person concerned.

Getuigenbescherming

Witness Protection

Measures to protect witnesses against threats or violence.

Getuigenbewijs

Witness Evidence

Evidence consisting of witness statements.

Getuigenverhoor

Examination of Witnesses

A witness examination is the formal questioning of a witness by the court or the parties in civil or criminal proceedings to establish the facts.

Getuigenverklaring

Witness Statement

A witness statement is an oral or written declaration by a witness concerning facts observed by him or her. Such a statement serves as evidence in civil or criminal proceedings.

Gevaarzetting

Endangerment

Creating or allowing a dangerous situation to persist.

Gevangenisstraf

Imprisonment

Custodial sentence imposed by the criminal court.

Gevoelsstoornis

Sensory Disorder

Impairment of sensory ability as a result of injury or illness.

Gevolgschade

Consequential damages

Consequential damages are indirect losses arising from primary loss, such as lost profits or additional costs that result indirectly from a breach of contract or a tort.

Geweldsmisdrijf

Violent Crime

Criminal offense involving the use of violence or threat of violence.

Gewichtige reden

Important reason

A compelling reason is a grave circumstance that justifies an exceptional measure, such as the immediate termination of an employment contract without notice.

Gezag

Authority

Authority, or parental authority, is the right and duty of parents to care for, raise and represent their minor child in legal matters.

Gezag van gewijsde

res judicata

The authority of res judicata is the binding effect of a final and unappealable judgment, by virtue of which the same legal question may not be submitted again between the same parties.

Gezagsregister

Parental Authority Register

Register recording parental authority over minors.

Gezagsverhouding

Relationship of authority

A relationship of authority is the hierarchical relationship in which one party (usually the employer) may give instructions to the other party and supervises the performance of the work.

Gezamenlijk gezag

Joint Parental Authority

Parental authority exercised jointly by both parents.

Gezinsvervangende tehuizen

Residential Care Homes

Small-scale residential facilities for persons unable to live independently.

Gezinsvoogd

Family Guardian

Person charged with executing a supervision order for a minor.

Geïntimeerde

Respondent

The respondent is the party against whom an appeal has been lodged in civil proceedings.

Gijzeling

Civil Imprisonment

Coercive measure detaining a debtor to enforce payment.

Glasverzekering

Glass Insurance

Insurance covering damage to glass in buildings.

Goed

Good

A good is an object that may be the subject of ownership rights or other patrimonial rights.

Goed huurderschap

Good tenant conduct

Good tenant conduct is the statutory obligation of the tenant to use and maintain the leased property in a careful and reasonable manner.

Goed werkgeverschap

Good employer conduct

Good employer practices constitute the employer's statutory duty to behave towards the employee as a reasonable and fair employer, as laid down in Article 7:611 BW.

Goede trouw

good faith

Good faith is the sincere conviction of a party that it is acting lawfully, without knowledge or suspicion of facts that would preclude such action.

Goodwill

Goodwill is the intangible excess value of an undertaking, consisting of factors such as reputation, customer base and brand name that enhance its profitability.

Goodwillvergoeding

Goodwill Compensation

Compensation for the intangible value of a business upon transfer.

Goodwillverwatering

Goodwill Dilution

Decrease in a business's goodwill due to external or internal factors.

Gratie

Royal Pardon

Remission or reduction of a sentence imposed, granted by the Crown.

Gratificatie

Bonus

One-time or periodic extra payment on top of regular wages.

Grief

Ground of Appeal

Objection raised by the appellant in appeal against the first instance judgment.

Grievenstelsel

Grievance System

Procedural system determining the scope of appeal based on grounds of appeal.

Griffie

Court Registry

Administrative department of a court supporting proceedings.

Griffier

Court Clerk

Official assisting the judge with the court's administration.

Griffierecht

Court fees

Court fees are the amount payable by a party to the court in order to commence or continue legal proceedings.

Grijsmaken beslag

Graying attachment

Contesting an attachment is the process by which a third party challenges a levied attachment on the grounds of invalidity or uncertainty as to ownership.

Grijze lijst

Grey list

The grey list is the list of clauses in general terms and conditions set out in Article 6:237 BW that are presumed to be unreasonably onerous.

Groep

Group

A group is an economic unit in which legal persons and companies are organisationally connected.

Groepsaansprakelijkheid

Group Liability

Joint liability of participants in a group causing unlawful damage.

Groepsmaatschappij

Group company

A group company is a legal entity that forms part of a group of companies under central management.

Groepsvennootschap

Group Company

A group company is a company that forms part of a group of companies under common control or management.

Grondrecht

Fundamental right

Fundamental rights are the fundamental rights laid down in the Constitution and international treaties that protect citizens against unjustified government interference.

Grondrechtenhandvest

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Treaty establishing the fundamental rights of EU citizens.

Grootoudercontact

Grandparent Contact

Right of grandparents to have contact with their grandchildren.

Grosse

Enforceable Copy

First copy of a notarial deed or court judgment having executory force.