Legal assistance with a dispute or conflict
Do you have a problem another entrepreneur, a customer, or an employee? And are you unable to reach an agreement? You can You can seek legal advice and legal assistance (legal aid) from different types of professionals and bodies.
Do you want to take the problem to a third party for a decision? Then this is called a dispute. You can have your dispute resolved by a court. But there are also other ways to resolve your case, without going to court.Â
Lawyer
A lawyer is a legal advisor and provides legal assistance. They must be registered in the National Register of Lawyers (Landelijk Advocaten Tableau, LAT). You can look up all registered lawyers through the website of the Netherlands Bar Association (Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten, in Dutch).
Company lawyer
A company lawyer (legal counsel) advises on commercial legal matters within a company.
Arbitrator
In arbitration, you let experts (arbitrators) from a specific sector decide on your case. It is an alternative to going to court. The Netherlands Arbitration Institute NAI offers various types of arbitration procedures.
Sector organisations and employers' organisations
Sector organisations and employers' organisations represent the interests of their members. Members can sometimes obtain legal advice from the sector organisation and/or employers' organisation in which they participate.
Disputes committee
A dispute committee (geschillencommissie) solves disputes without the intervention of a court. Disputes committees have been set up for a large number of sectors (in Dutch). They work together in the Dutch Foundation for Consumer Complaints Boards (De Geschillencommissie). This foundation manages complaints between consumers and business owners, and between business owners.Â
Debt collection agency or bailiff
If your customer does not pay, you can call in a debt collection agency or a bailiff to collect the debt.
Mediator
Do you want to settle a dispute outside the court? You can use mediation. A mediator is a specialist in negotiations. In case of a dispute they mediate between you and the other party to help find a mutually agreed settlement.
A certified mediator must meet certain quality standards. You can find a certified mediator in the register of the Netherlands Mediators Federation (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, in Dutch).
Civil-law notary
A civil-law notary is authorised to draw up notarial deeds and to give legal advice. They should be included in the register of civil-law notaries. Use the European Directory of Notaries or the Dutch register of civil-law notaries (in Dutch) to find a civil-law notary near you.
Legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance covers you for legal advice and legal assistance. The conditions of your legal expenses insurance state the disputes for which you are covered by your insurer.