Your personal contribution to legal aid
A bill alongside Dutch subsidised legal aid may be a personal contribution. First check exactly what you are being asked to pay.
Duration: 1:13
Further reading and sources
This video summarizes the main points. The full article provides more detail, exceptions and official sources. The information concerns adult suspects and does not replace advice about your case.
Read the full articleSpoken transcript
Download the transcriptCriminal Law in the Netherlands.
A bill alongside Dutch subsidised legal aid may be a personal contribution. First check exactly what you are being asked to pay.
The personal contribution is your share of the cost of subsidised legal assistance. You pay that amount directly to the lawyer.
Compare the invoice with the legal aid decision. Check the case, the legal aid reference number and the amount that was set.
Some forms of appointed legal assistance have no personal contribution. Ask which exemption, if any, applies in your particular circumstances.
If your income has fallen, discuss changing the reference year. Difficulty paying does not automatically alter the existing legal aid decision.
If you cannot pay, ask your lawyer about a payment arrangement. It only applies once you have actually reached an agreement.
Read the full explanation on the Criminal Law in the Netherlands website.
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