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You cannot afford your legal aid contribution

You have a personal contribution for your lawyer and cannot pay it. Report this as early as possible. First ask what amount it is and what decision or agreement it is based on.

Duration: 1:40

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This video summarises the main points. The full article provides more detail, exceptions and official sources. This information does not replace advice about your case.

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Criminal Law in the Netherlands.

You have a personal contribution for your lawyer and cannot pay it. Report this as early as possible. First ask what amount it is and what decision or agreement it is based on.

A personal contribution to legal aid is different from a private lawyer's bill or a later recovery. Check the document and the sender before seeking a solution.

Discuss whether the data and applicable regulations have been used correctly. A decrease in income may require a separate assessment. Being unable to pay does not automatically mean that the personal contribution will lapse.

Ask what payment arrangement is possible and what you can actually meet. Determine amount, terms and contact person. Do not make promises that your financial situation does not allow.

Sometimes local financial support is relevant. Ask the municipality or a care provider what options and conditions exist. Do not assume that every contribution will be automatically reimbursed.

Determine with your lawyer what activities and deadlines will continue while you investigate financial aid. A payment problem should not remain undiscussed until just before a hearing or deadline.

Read the full explanation on the Criminal Law in the Netherlands website.

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Understand the supporting sources

Sources and supporting information

Here you can find the sources for this page. Open the original publication for the full explanation, conditions and exceptions.

  1. Legal Aid Act: conditions, financial assessment and proceduresOpens in a new tabwetten.overheid.nlhttps://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0006368/
  2. Legal Aid Board: personal contribution, calculation and special financial situationsOpens in a new tabrechtsbijstand.nlhttps://www.rechtsbijstand.nl/mediation-rechtsbijstand/hoeveel-betalen/eigen-bijdrage/
  3. Legal Aid Board: situations without personal contribution and additional conditionsOpens in a new tabrechtsbijstand.nlhttps://www.rechtsbijstand.nl/mediation-rechtsbijstand/hoeveel-betalen/geen-eigen-bijdrage/
  4. Legal Aid Board: explanation of reference year change to 2026, conditions and income conceptOpens in a new tabrechtsbijstand.nlhttps://www.rechtsbijstand.nl/mediation-rechtsbijstand/hoeveel-betalen/peiljaarverlegging/toelichting-verzoek-peiljaarverlegging/
  5. Dutch Bar Association: rules of conduct, relationship to the client and rule 17 feeOpens in a new tabadvocatenorde.nlhttps://www.advocatenorde.nl/voor-advocaten/wet-en-regelgeving/gedragsregels/gedragsregels-advocatuur/de-advocaat-de-verhouding
  6. Municipality of The Hague: apply for special legal assistance; example of local conditions and implementationOpens in a new tabdenhaag.nlhttps://www.denhaag.nl/nl/werk-bijstand-en-uitkering/bijzondere-bijstand-voor-rechtsbijstand-aanvragen/
  7. Dutch Bar Association: office complaint, dispute committee and deanOpens in a new tabzoekeenadvocaat.advocatenorde.nlhttps://zoekeenadvocaat.advocatenorde.nl/niet-tevreden-over-uw-advocaat

Sources accessed at .

A source reference does not constitute a legal review of this page.

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