Belgium is a civil law jurisdiction, meaning that the legal system is based on legislation contained in written laws. The primary source of law is the Civil Code, which was issued in 1804 and revised in 1808. It contains provisions on a wide range of topics, including property law, inheritance, family law, contracts, and commercial law.
The Belgian judicial system is based on the principles of separation of powers and judicial independence. Belgium is divided into three regions – Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels – and each has its own courts. The Court of Cassation is the highest court, located in Brussels, and is the court of last resort.
Belgium also has a court of arbitration, which is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system. This court is designed to provide a less costly and quicker solution to disputes than the traditional court system.
Belgium has several specialized courts, including the Constitutional Court, the Labour Court, and the Commercial Court. The Constitutional Court is responsible for determining the constitutionality of laws. The Labour Court deals with disputes between employers and employees, and the Commercial Court has jurisdiction over commercial matters.
Belgium is a member of the European Union and is subject to the European Court of Justice. The European Court of Justice is the highest court in the EU and its rulings are binding on all member states. It has jurisdiction over matters such as the interpretation and application of EU law and can also give advisory opinions on matters relating to EU law.