Legal Glossary

Ongerechtvaardigde verrijking

Unjust Enrichment

Increase in wealth of one party at the expense of another without legal basis.

Vacatio legis

Vaderschapsactie

Paternity Action

Legal proceedings to establish or deny paternity.

Vaderschapsonderzoek

Paternity Investigation

Investigation, usually via DNA test, to establish biological paternity.

Vakantiedag

Vakantiedagen

Holiday Days

Statutory right of the employee to paid days off.

Vakantiegeld

Valsheid in geschrifte

Vastgoedbeheer

Property Management

Managing and operating real estate on behalf of the owner.

Vastgoedschade

Vaststellingsovereenkomst

Veiling

Venire contra factum proprium

Vennootschap onder firma

Vennootschappelijk belang

Verbalisant

Reporting Officer

Law enforcement officer who draws up an official report of a criminal offence.

Verbalisant

Verbetertraject

Performance Improvement Plan

Formal process to give an employee the opportunity to improve underperformance.

Verbeurdverklaring

Forfeiture

Criminal measure confiscating objects related to a criminal offence.

Verbintenis

Obligation

Legal relationship in which one party owes a performance to another.

Verbintenissenrecht

Verblijfplaats

Place of Residence

The actual place where a person resides or lives.

Verblijfplaatsbepaling

Determination of Place of Residence

Court decision on the residence of a minor child of separated parents.

Verbod op staatssteun

Prohibition of State Aid

EU prohibition on government subsidies that distort competition.

Verbod van vooringenomenheid

Prohibition of Bias

Obligation of administrative bodies to make decisions without prejudice.

Verborgen gebrek

Verdachte

Suspect

Person against whom a reasonable suspicion of guilt of a criminal offence exists.

Verdediging

Defence

The right of the suspect to defend against criminal charges.

Verdeling

Division (Partition)

Allocation of communal property to the individual co-owners.

Verdeling erfenis

Division of Estate

The allocation of estate assets to the heirs.

Verdrag

Treaty

Written agreement between states or international organisations under international law.

Verdragsstaat

Contracting State

State that is party to an international treaty.

Verdragswijziging EU

EU Treaty Amendment

Procedure for amending the treaties of the European Union.

Vereenzelviging

Vereffenaar

Vereffening

Vereffeningsprocedure

Liquidation Procedure

Procedure for settling the estate of an inheritance or dissolved legal entity.

Vereniging

Vereniging van eigenaren

Verevening

Pension Equalisation

The division of pension rights between ex-spouses upon divorce.

Vergaderrecht

Right to Attend Meetings

Right of shareholders or certificate holders to attend general meetings.

Vergewisplicht

Vergoeding

Compensation

Financial compensation for damage suffered, costs or lost income.

Vergoeding affectieschade

Affection Damage Compensation

Compensation for grief of close relatives upon serious injury or death of a loved one.

Vergunning

Permit

Authorisation from a government body to perform a certain activity.

Verhinderdata

Unavailability Dates

Notification of dates when parties or their lawyers are unavailable for hearings.

Verhoor

Interrogation

Questioning of a suspect, witness or expert by police or judge.

Verhoorprotocol

Interrogation Protocol

Established rules and guidelines for questioning suspects and witnesses.

Verhuurmakelaars

Letting Agents

Agents who mediate in the rental of real estate.

Verhuurvergunning

Rental Permit

Municipal permit required for renting out certain dwellings.

Verificatie vordering

Claim Verification

The examination of whether a claim filed in bankruptcy is correct and lawful.

Verificatievergadering

Claims Verification Meeting

Meeting in bankruptcy where filed claims are examined.

Verjaring

Verjaringstermijn

Limitation Period

The statutory period within which a legal claim must be filed.

Verkeerde been

Wrong Foot (Misleading)

Misleading a party in proceedings causing them prejudice.

Verkeersaansprakelijkheid

Traffic Liability

Liability for damage caused by a traffic accident.

Verkeersboete

Traffic Fine

Monetary fine imposed for a traffic offence.

Verkeersongeval

Traffic Accident

Unforeseen event in traffic causing personal injury or property damage.

Verkiezingen

Elections

Procedure by which citizens choose their representatives.

Verklaring derdenbeslag

Third-Party Attachment Declaration

Declaration by a third party about what it owes to the attachment debtor.

Verklaring van erfrecht

Verklaring van geen bezwaar

Certificate of No Objection

Declaration that no objection exists to a proposed action.

Verklaring van waardeloosheid

Declaration of Worthlessness

Court declaration that a mortgage registration has lost its value.

Verklaring voor recht

Declaratory Judgment

Court ruling establishing a legal relationship or fact without a condemnation.

Verknochtheid

Personal Attachment (Matrimonial Property)

Property so closely connected to one spouse that it falls outside the community of property.

Verkoop op afstand

Distance Selling

Sales contract concluded without simultaneous physical presence of the parties.

Verkoper

Seller

Party who undertakes to deliver a thing in exchange for a purchase price.

Verkrijgende verjaring

Verlies van arbeidsvermogen

Loss of Earning Capacity

Damage consisting of inability to work or reduced earning capacity due to injury.

Verlies zelfwerkzaamheid

Loss of Self-Reliance

Damage for being unable to perform household and other tasks independently.

Verlofdagen

Leave Days

Statutory or contractual right to days off for specific circumstances.

Vermeerdering van eis

Increase of Claim

Amendment of the claim by increasing the amount or adding elements.

Verminderde belastbaarheid

Reduced Capacity for Work

Medically established limitation in the ability to perform work.

Verminderde verdiencapaciteit

Reduced Earning Capacity

Reduction in the ability to generate income as a result of injury or illness.

Vermindering van eis

Reduction of Claim

Amendment of the claim by reducing the amount claimed.

Vermissing

Missing Person

The disappearance of a person whose whereabouts are unknown.

Vermogensmisdrijf

Property Crime

Criminal offence directed against another's property.

Vermogenspositie

Financial Position

The financial condition of a person or legal entity in terms of assets and liabilities.

Vermogensrecht

Vermogensschade

Vernietigbaarheid

Voidability

The ability to annul a legal act by invoking a defect of will.

Vernietiging besluit

Annulment of Decision

Setting aside an administrative decision by the court or higher authority.

Vernietiging pauliana

Actio Pauliana

Annulment of a legal act that prejudices creditors.

Verordening

Ordinance (Regulation)

Generally binding regulation adopted by a representative body.

Verordening (EU)

EU Regulation

Directly applicable and binding legislative instrument of the European Union.

Verpanding

Verpanding aandelen

Verpleging

Nursing Care

Medical care and support during illness or injury.

Verplichtingen

Obligations

Legally enforceable acts that one party must perform towards another.

Verrekenbeding

Settlement Clause

Clause in prenuptial agreement on settlement of assets upon divorce.

Verrekening

Verschoningsrecht

Verslag

Report

A report is a written account of facts, findings, or discussions, such as official minutes or an expert report.

Verstek

Verstekvonnis

Vertegenwoordigingsbevoegdheid

Vertragingsschade

Vertrekpremie

Verwatering

Verweer

Defense

Defense is responding to a claim or accusation in legal proceedings by presenting counter-arguments.

Verweerschrift

Verwerping

Rejection

Refusal of an inheritance by an heir

Verworven recht

Verzekering

Insurance

Agreement for payment upon uncertain event in exchange for premiums

Verzekeringsgeneeskunde

Insurance medicine

Medical specialty for assessing incapacity for work

Verzekeringsovereenkomst

Insurance contract

An insurance contract is an agreement in which the insurer undertakes to make payments in exchange for premium payments.

Verzekeringsplicht

Insurance obligation

Legal requirement to take out certain insurance policies

Verzending

Dispatch

Sending of documents or goods, often decisive for deadlines

Verzet

Verzet (faillissement)

Opposition (bankruptcy)

Legal remedy against a default bankruptcy declaration

Verzetdagvaarding

Verzetprocedure

Verzoekschrift

Verzoening

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is restoring the relationship between parties after a conflict, often through mediation.

Verzuim

Verzuimbegeleiding

Absence management

Measures to reduce sick leave and promote reintegration

Vestigingsfase

Establishment phase

Period during which a business is founded

Veto

Vexatoir beslag

Vi coactus

Vice versa

Vijandige overname

Vis maior

Visum

Visa

A visa is an official authorization to enter, stay in, or transit through a country.

Voeging

Volenti non fit iniuria

Volmacht

Voogd

Guardian

A guardian is a court-appointed person who exercises authority over a minor whose parents are unable to do so.

Voogdij

Guardianship

Authority over a minor by a non-parent

Voorarrest

Pre-trial detention

Deprivation of liberty of suspect before trial

Voordeelstoerekening

Set-off of advantages

Set-off of advantages means that benefits the victim gained from the damage-causing event are deducted from the compensation.

Voorgeleiden

Arraignment

Bringing a suspect before the examining magistrate

Voorkeursrecht

Voorlopig getuigenverhoor

Voorlopig gezag

Provisional custody

Provisional custody is a temporary measure in which the court provisionally assigns authority over a minor.

Voorlopige hechtenis

Pre-trial detention

Pre-trial detention is the deprivation of liberty of a suspect pending the hearing of their criminal case.

Voorlopige surseance

Provisional moratorium

Temporary court-ordered suspension of payment obligations

Voorrang EU-recht

Primacy of EU law

Primacy of EU law means that European law takes precedence over national law of member states in case of conflict.

Voortgezette handeling

Continued act

A continued act is a series of criminal offences considered as one whole due to their interconnection.

Voorwaardelijke ontbinding arbeidsovereenkomst

Voorwaardelijke straf

Suspended sentence

Sentence not executed unless conditions are violated

Voorwaardelijke verbintenis

Voorzitter

Chairman

Person who presides over a meeting or hearing

Vormerkung

Vragenrecht

Right of interpellation

Right to question the board or government

Vrije nieuwsgaring

Vrije sector

Private rental sector

Rental properties with rent above the liberalization threshold

Vrijheidsbenemende maatregel

Custodial measure

A custodial measure is a court-imposed measure in which someone is deprived of liberty, such as involuntary commitment.

Vrijspraak

Acquittal

Acquittal is the court's judgment that it has not been proven that the accused committed the charged offence.

Vrijstelling mededinging

Competition exemption

A competition exemption permits certain agreements that would normally be prohibited under competition law.

Vrijwaring

Vrijwaringsbeding

Indemnification clause

An indemnification clause is a contractual provision obligating one party to compensate the other for certain claims or losses.

Vrijwillige verschijning

Voluntary appearance

Voluntary appearance is appearing before a court on one's own initiative without a summons having been issued.

Vruchtgebruik

Vuistpand