{ "blogListing": { "readMore": "Read More" }, "blogOverview": { "archiveSubtitle": "Browse our archive of legal analyses", "archiveTitle": "Earlier articles", "back": "Back to blog", "recentSubtitle": "The latest insights from our team", "recentTitle": "Recent articles", "reportBadge": "Exclusive report", "reportBody": "What do Belgian clients expect from their legal adviser? Discover the results of our research.", "reportCta": "View the report", "reportTitle": "AI in the Legal Landscape", "stayUpdated": "Stay Updated with Our Latest Insights", "subscribe": "Subscribe to Newsletter", "title": "Legal Insights & Commentary" }, "cookieConsent": { "banner": { "accept": "Accept cookie", "preferences": "Preferences", "text": "Ex Ante processes personal data to measure the number of unique visitors to the news pages. With your consent we use a cookie for this. 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You can change it or withdraw your consent at any time.", "statusUnknown": "You can change your choice or withdraw your consent at any time.", "stored": { "choice": { "duration": "12 months, after which we ask again", "purpose": "Your choice and when you made it, so we don't ask again on every visit", "when": "As soon as you make a choice", "where": "Local storage" }, "duration": "How long", "language": { "duration": "Until you clear it", "purpose": "The language you chose for Ex Ante's website", "when": "Only when you choose a language yourself", "where": "Local storage" }, "posthog": { "duration": "12 months; the session storage until you close the tab", "purpose": "A random reader code and your session, so PostHog recognises you as the same reader", "when": "Only with your consent", "where": "Cookie, local storage and session storage" }, "purpose": "What for", "title": "What we keep in your browser", "when": "When", "where": "Where" }, "title": "Cookies on Ex Ante News", "what": { "data": "To do so we process personal data: which pages you view and when, what you click on, which website you came from, your browser and device, and your IP address, from which your country and city are derived. We use this data only for such statistics: not for advertising, and not to build a profile of you.", "processor": "The measuring is done by our analytics service PostHog, as a processor on our behalf, on servers in the European Union. We share the data with no one else.", "purpose": "EX ANTE BV wants to know how many people read Ex Ante News, per day, week and month, and which articles they read. This shows us what readers find useful, helps us improve the news and lets us show which articles are most read this week.", "title": "What we measure and why" } }, "settings": { "description": "Choose which cookies we may use. You can change your choice at any time under ‘Cookie settings’ at the bottom of the page.", "save": "Save choice", "title": "Cookie settings" } }, "document": { "details": "About this document", "not-found": { "title": "We can't find this document", "text": "Check the link, or search for the document in Ex Ante." }, "pdf-error": "The PDF of this document is not available.", "search-close": "Close search", "search-open": "Search Ex Ante", "search-placeholder": "Search more than a million documents", "seo": { "description": "A document from Ex Ante, the legal search engine for Belgian law: legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature." }, "trial-cta": { "feature-1": "All official sources in one platform", "feature-2": "Advanced search engine and AI support", "feature-3": "Thousands of sources published nowhere else" }, "viewer": { "loading": "Loading document", "search": "Search in the document", "search-placeholder": "Search in the document", "clear-search": "Clear search", "close-search": "Close search", "previous-match": "Previous match", "next-match": "Next match", "previous-page": "Previous page", "next-page": "Next page", "page-number": "Page number", "zoom-in": "Zoom in", "zoom-out": "Zoom out", "fit-width": "Fit to width", "download": "Download PDF" } }, "reference": { "case-number-prefix": "no.", "copied": "Copied!", "copy-reference": "Copy reference", "court-mapping": { "appeal_aapen": { "abbreviation": "Antwerp Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Brussels Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_gent": { "abbreviation": "Ghent Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_liege": { "abbreviation": "Liège Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_mons": { "abbreviation": "Mons Court of Appeal" }, "cass": { "abbreviation": "Cass." }, "comm_env_inf": { "abbreviation": "Commission access environmental information" }, "comm_gov_doc": { "abbreviation": "Commission access administrative documents" }, "comm_indemn": { "abbreviation": "Commission financial compensation inoperative pre-trial detention" }, "comm_priv": { "abbreviation": "Commission protection privacy" }, "comm_vio": { "abbreviation": "Commission financial aid victims intentional acts of violence " }, "const": { "abbreviation": "GwH" }, "ecjg": { "abbreviation": "GC" }, "ecjj": { "abbreviation": "CJEU" }, "entr_aapen": { "abbreviation": "Orb. Antwerpen" }, "entr_gent": { "abbreviation": "Orb. Gent" }, "entr_hain": { "abbreviation": "Orb. Henegouwen" }, "entr_liege": { "abbreviation": "Orb. Luik" }, "entr_wbrab": { "abbreviation": "Orb. Waals Brabant" }, "first_aapen": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Antwerpen" }, "first_eupen": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Eupen" }, "first_hain": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Henegouwen" }, "first_leuven": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Leuven" }, "first_liege": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Luik" }, "first_limb": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Limburg" }, "first_lux": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Luxemburg" }, "first_namur": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Namen" }, "first_ovla": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Oost-Vlaanderen" }, "first_wbrab": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Waals Brabant" }, "first_wvla": { "abbreviation": "Rb. West-Vlaanderen" }, "flem_gov": { "abbreviation": "Vl.Reg.", "reference-label": "Environmental Permit Decision of the Flemish Government of" }, "fr_entr_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Orb. Brussel (FR)" }, "fr_first_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Brussel (FR)" }, "fr_lab_first_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb. Brussel (FR)" }, "gba": { "abbreviation": "DPA" }, "group_appeal": { "abbreviation": "Court of Appeal" }, "group_entr": { "abbreviation": "Orb." }, "group_first": { "abbreviation": "Rb." }, "group_lab_appeal": { "abbreviation": "Arbh." }, "group_lab_first": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb." }, "hhc": { "abbreviation": "HHC" }, "lab_appeal_aapen": { "abbreviation": "Arbh. Antwerpen" }, "lab_appeal_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Arbh. Brussel" }, "lab_appeal_gent": { "abbreviation": "Arbh. Gent" }, "lab_appeal_liege": { "abbreviation": "Arbh. Luik" }, "lab_appeal_mons": { "abbreviation": "Arbh. Bergen" }, "lab_first_aapen": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb. Antwerpen" }, "lab_first_gent": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb. Gent" }, "lab_first_hain": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb. Henegouwen" }, "lab_first_liege": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb. Luik" }, "lab_first_wbrab": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb. Waals Brabant" }, "muni": { "abbreviation": "Municipal Executive Board", "reference-label": "Environmental Permit Decision of the Municipal Executive Board of" }, "nat_discpl": { "abbreviation": "National Disciplinary Council" }, "nl_entr_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Orb. Brussel (NL)" }, "nl_first_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Rb. Brussel (NL)" }, "nl_lab_first_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Arbrb. Brussel (NL)" }, "ovb": { "abbreviation": "Appeals body openness of governance " }, "prov": { "abbreviation": "Dep.", "reference-label": "Environmental Permit Decision of the Provincial Executive of" }, "rstvb": { "abbreviation": "RSTvb" }, "rverkb": { "abbreviation": "Council for Election Disputes (Flanders)" }, "rvsce": { "abbreviation": "RvS" }, "rvv": { "abbreviation": "CALL" }, "rvvb": { "abbreviation": "RvVb" }, "arrond_court": { "abbreviation": "Dist. Ct." }, "assizes": { "abbreviation": "Assizes Ct." }, "echr": { "abbreviation": "ECtHR" }, "entr_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Ent. Ct. Brussels" }, "entr_eupen": { "abbreviation": "Ent. Ct. Eupen" }, "entr_leuven": { "abbreviation": "Ent. Ct. Leuven" }, "first_bxl": { "abbreviation": "First Inst. Ct. Brussels" }, "just_peace": { "abbreviation": "JP" }, "lab_first_bxl": { "abbreviation": "Lab. Ct. Brussels" }, "lab_first_eupen": { "abbreviation": "Lab. Ct. Eupen" }, "lab_first_leuven": { "abbreviation": "Lab. Ct. Leuven" }, "pol_court": { "abbreviation": "Police Ct." } } }, "report-banner": { "action": "Read report", "body": "Do Belgian clients find it acceptable for lawyers to use AI tools when providing legal advice? In collaboration with research agency BUFFL, we conducted a survey among 500 respondents to answer this question, among others." }, "report": { "downloadButton": "Download the report", "mainText": "What does the general public expect from online legal information sources? To what extent do they trust tools such as Google or ChatGPT for legal advice? And do they find it acceptable for lawyers themselves to use AI tools in their advisory services? This report provides answers to these questions and discusses the implications for the adoption of legal tech in the sector.", "modal": { "cancel": "Cancel", "description": "Please enter your email address to download the report.", "download": "Download", "downloading": "Downloading...", "emailLabel": "Email Address", "emailPlaceholder": "Enter your email", "mailingList": "Join the mailing list", "title": "Download Report" }, "subtitle": "What do Belgian Clients Expect from Legal Professionals?", "title": "Ex Ante Report:\nAI in the Legal Landscape" }, "seo": { "blog": { "description": "Stay ahead with expert analysis on Belgian law and legal AI technology. Read the latest commentary on case law, regulations, and industry trends.", "title": "Legal Insights & Commentary - Ex Ante Blog" }, "report": { "description": "Are Belgian clients ready for legal AI? Download the comprehensive report of our independent study on customer expectations for AI in the legal sector.", "title": "AI in Legal Landscape Report - Ex Ante" } }, "signup": { "description": "Join our mail list", "email": "Email", "error": { "email": "Please enter a valid email address.", "firstName": "Please enter a valid first name.", "lastName": "Please enter a valid last name.", "licensesNumber": "Please enter a valid amount of licenses", "minLicense": "Please enter at least 5 licenses", "organisation": "Please enter your organisation name.", "role": "Please select a role." }, "firstName": "First name", "governmentOfficial": "Government official", "lastName": "Last name", "lawyer": "Lawyer", "lawyerTrainee": "Lawyer trainee", "legalCounsel": "Legal counsel", "organisation": "Organisation", "other": "Other", "placeholder": { "organisation": "Organisation", "role": "Role" }, "role": "Role", "student": "Student", "submit": "Submit", "title": "Sign Up" }, "site": { "nav": { "home": "Ex Ante, to the home page", "mainMenu": "Main menu", "product": "Product", "practiceAreas": "Practice areas", "pricing": "Pricing", "news": "News", "allAreas": "All practice areas", "login": "Log in", "demo": "Book a demo", "trial": "Try for free", "openMenu": "Open menu", "closeMenu": "Close menu", "language": "Language" }, "areaMenuNames": { "internationaal-en-europees-recht": "Int'l & EU law" }, "products": { "search": { "name": "Search engine", "description": "Every Belgian source in one search" }, "wordAddin": { "name": "Word add-in", "description": "Search and cite from your brief" }, "assistant": { "name": "Assistant", "description": "Dig deeper, with a source at every step" }, "sources": { "name": "Sources", "description": "More than a million documents" } }, "cta": { "trial": "Try free for 3 weeks", "demo": "Book a demo", "promise": "Three weeks free, no credit card required." }, "paths": { "alone": { "title": "You work on your own", "text": "Three weeks free, then from €55 per month." }, "firm": { "title": "You work at a firm", "text": "A 30-minute demo in your practice area, with your own questions." } }, "breadcrumb": { "label": "Breadcrumb", "home": "Home" }, "footer": { "claim": "Close to the source.", "questions": "Questions? info@ex-ante.be", "company": "© {{year}} Ex Ante · BE 1022.676.047", "product": "Product", "practiceAreas": "Practice areas", "exAnte": "Ex Ante", "legal": "Legal", "privacy": "Privacy", "terms": "Terms of use", "eula": "EULA", "cookies": "Cookies" }, "areas": { "administratief-recht": "Administrative law", "burgerlijk-recht": "Civil law", "economisch-recht": "Economic law", "fiscaal-recht": "Tax law", "gegevensbeschermingsrecht": "Data protection law", "gerechtelijk-recht": "Judicial law", "grondwettelijk-recht": "Constitutional law", "internationaal-en-europees-recht": "International and EU law", "omgevingsrecht": "Environmental law", "overheidsopdrachtenrecht": "Public procurement law", "sociaal-recht": "Employment law", "strafrecht": "Criminal law", "vennootschapsrecht": "Company law", "vreemdelingenrecht": "Immigration law" }, "languages": { "nl-BE": "Nederlands", "fr-BE": "Français", "en": "English" }, "search": { "seo": { "title": "Belgian case law and legislation search | Ex Ante", "description": "Search legislation, case law, decisions and legal literature in one go. Every result opens at the relevant passage." }, "searchLabel": "Search query", "hero": { "title": "Every Belgian source in one search.", "lede": "Legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature, searched together. Every result opens at the passage you're looking for, highlighted in the full document.", "promise": "Three weeks free, no credit card required.", "demoLabel": "Example: one question returns results from five types of sources", "question": "Can WhatsApp messages be used as evidence?", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Brussels Labour Court", "passage": "The court admits the messages as evidence, even though they were not intended for the employer." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Civil Code, Book 8", "passage": "Evidence may be provided by any means of evidence, save for the exceptions laid down by law." }, { "kind": "parlementair", "institution": "Chamber, explanatory memorandum", "passage": "Means of evidence also include electronic messages." }, { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Data Protection Authority", "passage": "The employer must inform the employee in advance about the monitoring of their messages." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "The court weighs the privacy of third parties against the right to evidence." } ] }, "meaning": { "title": "Search for what you mean.", "text": "Ex Ante understands your question, even when the court used different words. Looking for an exact term or article? Search by keyword.", "typedLabel": "You type", "typed": "summary dismissal after theft", "institution": "Labour Court", "passage": "… the dismissal for serious cause on the grounds of misappropriation of the employer's goods is justified …", "pairs": [ { "typed": "summary dismissal", "found": "serious cause" }, { "typed": "theft", "found": "misappropriation" } ] }, "sources": { "title": "One search, five types of sources.", "text": "No more searching five databases one by one. One question returns the legislation, the preparatory works, the case law, the decisions and the legal literature on it.", "barLabel": "How the documents divide over the five types of sources", "kinds": { "rechtspraak": "From the Court of Cassation and the Council of State to the labour tribunals.", "wetgeving": "Federal, Flemish, Walloon, Brussels and community legislation.", "parlementair": "Explanatory memoranda, reports and amendments.", "beslissingen": "From the Data Protection Authority to decisions on access to administrative documents.", "rechtsleer": "Journal articles, handbooks, doctoral theses and more." }, "total": "More than a million documents in total.", "all": "See all sources" }, "views": { "title": "Search only what the court itself says.", "text": "A judgment also sets out the positions of the parties. With Exclude party arguments, Ex Ante searches only the parts where the court or authority gives its own view.", "small": "Find what was decided, not what a party claimed.", "query": "dismissal serious cause late", "settings": "Search settings", "switch": "Exclude party arguments", "on": "Ex Ante searches only the court's assessment.", "off": "Ex Ante also searches the parties' positions: a hit for the claimant too.", "judgment": { "reference": "Ghent Labour Court, judgment (example, translated from Dutch)", "parties": [ { "who": "The employee's position", "text": "7. The employee argues that the dismissal for serious cause came too late. The facts date from 3 March; the dismissal only followed on 14 March, well beyond the three working days allowed by Article 35 of the Employment Contracts Act." }, { "who": "The employer's position", "text": "8. The employer counters that the time limit only started to run after the internal investigation, which was completed on 11 March with the hearing of the employee." } ], "court": { "who": "The court's assessment", "paragraphs": [ "9. Dismissal for serious cause must be given within three working days after the employer became aware of the facts. The employer is aware once it has sufficient certainty to form a view, with full knowledge of the matter, on the serious cause.", "10. An investigation needed to obtain that certainty can postpone the start of the time limit, provided it is carried out without delay. The court finds that the hearing of 11 March was needed to know the employee's version.", "11. The dismissal of 14 March was given in time and is not late." ] } } }, "testimonial": { "quote": "In complex cases there are often hundreds of potentially relevant sources. Ex Ante shows the relevant passages straight away, which saves an enormous amount of time.", "name": "Koen Daniëls", "role": "senior adviser, CDRO Consulting" }, "faq": { "title": "Questions about the search engine", "items": [ { "question": "Which sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "Legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature: more than a million documents in total. On the Sources page, you can see how many documents are available for each institution." }, { "question": "What's the difference between semantic search and keyword search?", "answer": "Semantic search means Ex Ante searches by meaning. So you also find passages that use different words from yours, such as \"serious cause\" for \"summary dismissal\". With keyword search, you find exactly the term or article you type." }, { "question": "What does Exclude party arguments do?", "answer": "In case law, Ex Ante then searches only the parts where the court or authority gives its own view, not the positions of the parties." }, { "question": "Can I search the Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation and the Council of State in one search?", "answer": "Yes. Among others, Ex Ante brings together the case law of the Court of Cassation, the Constitutional Court and the Council of State with that of the courts and tribunals, the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Court of Human Rights. One search covers them all. With the institution filter, you limit your results to a single court." }, { "question": "Can I find Dutch-language and French-language case law in one search?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches sources in Dutch and French. A question in one language also finds passages in the other that deal with the same issue. With the language filter, you choose whether to search one language or both." }, { "question": "How do I find case law for my submissions faster?", "answer": "Ex Ante speeds up your research in three ways. You ask your question in plain language. With Exclude party arguments, you see only what the court itself decided. And every result opens at the passage that matters. Writing in Word? With the add-in, you search directly from a selection in your submissions and add the footnote in one click." }, { "question": "Can I filter by practice area, institution and date?", "answer": "Yes. You refine your results by practice area, type of source, institution, language and date." }, { "question": "How up to date are the sources?", "answer": "We add new sources every day. Every night, Ex Ante checks whether new case law, legislation, decisions or legal literature have been published, and adds them. The Sources page shows how many documents are available per institution." }, { "question": "Does Ex Ante use AI?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning and always shows an AI overview of the sources found, with a reference for every statement to the passage it relies on. The results themselves are always the original documents." } ] }, "steps": [ { "title": "Ask your question", "text": "In plain language or with keywords. Ex Ante searches every source at once." }, { "title": "Pick a result", "text": "From legislation, case law, parliamentary documents, decisions and legal literature, each with the passage that fits." }, { "title": "Read the passage in the document", "text": "The document opens at the highlighted passage, with the context around it." } ] }, "sourceKinds": { "rechtspraak": "Case law", "wetgeving": "Legislation", "parlementair": "Parliamentary documents", "beslissingen": "Decisions", "rechtsleer": "Legal literature" }, "podium": { "title": "How it works", "step": "Step {{n}}" }, "wordAddin": { "seo": { "title": "Legal add-in for Microsoft Word | Ex Ante", "description": "Search case law from your brief, add correctly formatted footnotes and have your citations checked, without leaving Word." }, "hero": { "title": "Ex Ante in Word.", "lede": "Select a passage in your document and instantly find the case law and legislation to support your position. Add correctly formatted footnotes with a link to the source.", "install": "Install the add-in", "promise": "Works in Word for Windows, Mac and Word on the web. No separate subscription.", "demoLabel": "Example: a passage in a brief gets a correctly formatted footnote with a link to the source", "document": { "file": "Brief_environmental_permit.docx", "heading": "B. Breach of the duty of care", "before": "5. The respondent refused the application without examining the local residents' objections. It confines itself to a standard statement of reasons.", "selected": { "start": "6. Yet the authority must ", "selection": "act with care in preparing its decision and properly examine the factual and legal aspects of the case", "end": ". That did not happen here." }, "after": "7. The plea is well founded.", "footnotes": { "first": "RvS 9 mei 2023, nr. 256.453.", "link": "RvS 18 januari 2024, nr. 258.484", "linkEnd": ", 9." } } }, "steps": [ { "title": "Search from your text", "text": "Select a passage, right-click and choose Ex Ante, Search. Your selection becomes the query." }, { "title": "Pick the source", "text": "Results by type of source, with filters for institution, language and date." }, { "title": "Add a footnote", "text": "One click and the footnote is in your document, with a link to the source." }, { "title": "Open the source from your footnote", "text": "The link opens the document at the highlighted passage, also for whoever reads your brief." } ], "report": { "title": "Have all your footnotes checked.", "text": "The footnote verification report shows for each footnote whether Ex Ante found the source. Open the document to check, right before you file a brief.", "statuses": { "linked": "Linked", "partial": "Partially found", "notFound": "Not found", "noQuote": "No quote" }, "rows": [ { "status": "linked", "footnote": "fn 1", "citation": "RvS 9 mei 2023, nr. 256.453." }, { "status": "linked", "footnote": "fn 2", "citation": "RvS 18 januari 2024, nr. 258.484, 9." }, { "status": "partial", "footnote": "fn 3", "citation": "RvVb 24 februari 2022, nr. RvVb-A-2122-0492 (date differs)" }, { "status": "notFound", "footnote": "fn 4", "citation": "Gent 12 mei 2022, example" }, { "status": "noQuote", "footnote": "fn 5", "citation": "See also the preparatory works." } ], "summary": { "footnotes_one": "{{count}} footnote", "footnotes_other": "{{count}} footnotes", "linked_one": "{{count}} linked", "linked_other": "{{count}} linked", "partial_one": "{{count}} partially found", "partial_other": "{{count}} partially found", "notFound_one": "{{count}} not found", "notFound_other": "{{count}} not found", "noQuote_one": "{{count}} no quote", "noQuote_other": "{{count}} no quote" } }, "install": { "title": "Install the add-in.", "text": "In a few clicks, in Word for Windows, Mac and Word on the web. The add-in is included in every Ex Ante subscription.", "link": { "title": "Through the direct link", "text": "Opens the add-in in Microsoft Marketplace, where you install it in Word." }, "word": { "title": "Yourself in Word", "steps": [ "Click Insert, then Add-ins.", "Search for \"Ex Ante\".", "Click Add and sign in." ] }, "it": { "title": "For your IT department", "text": "Your IT department can roll out the add-in to the whole firm at once through the Microsoft 365 admin center.", "button": "Instructions for IT" } }, "help": { "title": "Need help installing?", "text": "Leave your email address and your question. We'll help you out.", "email": "Email address", "emailPlaceholder": "name@firm.be", "emailHint": "We only use your email address to reply.", "emailError": "Enter a full email address, for example name@firm.be.", "question": "Your question", "questionPlaceholder": "For example: the add-in doesn't appear in Word.", "questionError": "Enter your question.", "submit": "Send your question", "failed": "Your question couldn't be sent. Email us at info@ex-ante.be.", "done": "Thank you. We reply within one working day." }, "faq": { "title": "Questions about the add-in", "items": [ { "question": "What is the Ex Ante add-in for Microsoft Word?", "answer": "The Ex Ante add-in brings the Belgian legal search engine into Microsoft Word. You select a passage in your submissions, search case law and legislation without leaving Word, and add footnotes in the Belgian citation style with a link to the source. With footnote verification, you have all your references checked before you file." }, { "question": "Which versions of Word does the add-in work in?", "answer": "Word for Windows, Word for Mac and Word on the web." }, { "question": "Do I need a separate subscription?", "answer": "No. The add-in is included in every Ex Ante subscription. You sign in with your usual account." }, { "question": "Can I try the add-in during the free trial?", "answer": "Yes. During the three free weeks, you use the add-in with your trial account, no credit card required." }, { "question": "Can my IT department install the add-in for everyone?", "answer": "Yes. Through the Microsoft 365 admin center, your IT department rolls out the add-in to the whole firm in one go." }, { "question": "What is a correctly formatted footnote?", "answer": "A citation that follows the Belgian citation rules (Juridische verwijzingen en afkortingen in Dutch, the Guide des citations in French). Ex Ante drafts it for you, with a link to the source." }, { "question": "Does the add-in also work for French-language submissions?", "answer": "Yes. You search from a French-language selection and find sources in Dutch and French. French-language footnotes follow the Guide des citations, références et abréviations juridiques." }, { "question": "What does footnote verification do?", "answer": "It reads every footnote in your document and shows for each one whether Ex Ante found the source: linked, partially found, not found or no quote." } ] } }, "assistant": { "seo": { "title": "Legal AI assistant with sources | Ex Ante", "description": "Dig deeper into your search. The assistant shows its steps and links every statement to the passage in the source." }, "hero": { "title": "Dig deeper, with a source at every step.", "lede": "The assistant builds on your search. It shows the steps it takes and links every statement to the passage.", "promise": "Three weeks free, no credit card required.", "demoLabel": "Example: an answer from the assistant with the source passage for every statement", "sourcesLabel": "Sources for the answer", "question": "What if the phone call was recorded secretly?", "answer": [ { "text": "Whether a secretly recorded conversation can be used as evidence depends mainly on who made the recording", "ref": "1" }, { "text": "Someone who takes part in the conversation may in principle record it", "ref": "2" }, { "text": "An outsider who listens in without consent commits an offence", "ref": "2" }, { "text": "Even then, the court does not automatically exclude the evidence: it weighs the irregularity", "ref": "3" } ], "sources": [ { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "The legal assessment depends primarily on who made the recording." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Criminal Code, art. 314bis", "passage": "Anyone who intentionally listens in on or records private communications they are not part of shall be punished." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "Unlawfully obtained evidence is only excluded where its reliability is affected or the right to a fair trial is jeopardised." } ] }, "uses": { "title": "What do you use the assistant for?", "items": [ { "title": "Explore a case", "text": "Get a quick overview of the case law and legislation on a new question.", "questions": [ "What case law is there on secret recordings?", "What rules apply to camera surveillance in the workplace?", "When is a dismissal for serious cause too late?" ] }, { "title": "Compare case law", "text": "See how different courts rule on the same question.", "questions": [ "Do the courts of appeal rule differently from the Court of Cassation?", "Do the courts in Ghent and Antwerp rule differently on nuisance between neighbours?", "How has the case law on non-compete clauses evolved?" ] }, { "title": "Prepare a brief", "text": "Gather arguments for and against, each with its source.", "questions": [ "What arguments could the other side raise?", "What case law supports damages for harm to reputation?", "How do I counter the argument that the claim is time-barred?" ] } ] }, "steps": [ { "title": "Ask a follow-up", "text": "Build on your search with a follow-up question, in plain language." }, { "title": "Follow the steps", "text": "You see which sources the assistant searches and reads while it works." }, { "title": "Check every source", "text": "Every statement links to the passage in the original document." } ], "trust": { "title": "AI that speeds up your research without replacing it.", "text": "The assistant cites a source for every statement. You read the passage and decide." }, "testimonial": { "quote": "As a lawyer, accuracy is essential. Ex Ante delivers source-based results without hallucinations.", "name": "Johanna-Charlotte Devogelaere", "role": "lawyer, GD&A Advocaten" }, "faq": { "title": "Questions about the assistant", "items": [ { "question": "How is it different from the AI overview?", "answer": "The AI overview at the top of your results summarises what the sources say. With the assistant, you take it further: your search and the overview go along as context, and the assistant looks for additional sources itself." }, { "question": "Can the assistant make mistakes?", "answer": "Yes, like any AI. That's why it links every statement to the passage it relies on, so you can check it yourself." }, { "question": "How do I know a source the assistant cites really exists?", "answer": "Every statement by the Ex Ante assistant links to the passage in the original document it relies on: a judgment, a statutory provision or a journal article. You click it and read the source yourself. So you see straight away whether the source exists and whether it says what the assistant claims." }, { "question": "Which sources does the assistant rely on?", "answer": "By default, the Ex Ante assistant searches the same sources as the search engine: legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature, more than a million documents in total. While it works, you see which sources it searches and reads. Web search is off by default; you can switch it on yourself if you want." }, { "question": "Are my questions used to train models?", "answer": "No. Your questions and the documents you open are never used to train AI models." }, { "question": "Do my cases stay confidential?", "answer": "Yes. Your questions and conversations are visible only to you. All your data is stored securely on servers in the EU." }, { "question": "Can I ask the assistant about my own documents?", "answer": "Yes. You can also ask the assistant about your own documents or a complete case file, for example to check a contract against the applicable legislation and case law. Here too, it links every statement to the passage it relies on." }, { "question": "Why would I still use a search engine if AI can do my research?", "answer": "At Ex Ante, we believe AI should support lawyers, not the other way round. With a search engine you keep far more control over what is and isn't relevant, and you keep learning by reading and taking in the information yourself." } ] } }, "sources": { "seo": { "title": "Belgian legal database: every source | Ex Ante", "description": "More than a million documents: legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature. See what Ex Ante holds per institution." }, "title": "Every source in Ex Ante, searchable in one go.", "lede": "Legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature. More than a million documents, from a wide range of institutions.", "counter": { "before": "Ex Ante now holds", "after": "documents", "label": "{{total}} documents" }, "treemap": { "others": "Other institutions", "documents_one": "{{total}} document", "documents_other": "{{total}} documents", "institutions_one": "{{count}} institution", "institutions_other": "{{count}} institutions", "since": "since {{year}}" }, "list": { "title": "All institutions", "search": "Search an institution", "kind": "Type of source", "allKinds": "All types of sources", "area": "Practice area", "allAreas": "All practice areas", "count_one": "{{count}} institution", "count_other": "{{count}} institutions", "columns": { "institution": "Institution", "kind": "Type", "areas": "Practice areas", "documents": "Documents", "since": "Since" }, "everyArea": "All practice areas", "empty": "No institutions match these filters.", "clear": "Clear filters" }, "missing": { "before": "Missing a source? Let us know at ", "after": "." }, "faq": { "title": "Questions about the sources", "items": [ { "question": "Is Ex Ante a legal database?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante is a Belgian legal database of more than a million documents, and a search engine at the same time. You search legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature in one search, instead of in each database separately." }, { "question": "Which courts and tribunals does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "Ex Ante contains case law and decisions from dozens of institutions, including the Court of Cassation, the Constitutional Court, the Council of State, the Council for Alien Law Litigation, the Council for Permit Disputes, the courts of appeal, the labour courts, the courts of first instance and the enterprise courts. The table above shows how many documents there are for each institution." }, { "question": "Does it include European case law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the case law of the Court of Justice and the General Court of the European Union and of the European Court of Human Rights, alongside the Belgian case law that applies it." }, { "question": "Does Ex Ante include French-language and Dutch-language case law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains case law in Dutch and French, including that of the courts of appeal in Liège and Mons, the French-speaking labour courts and the courts in Wallonia and Brussels, as well as the Flemish courts. With the language filter, you choose whether to search one language or both." }, { "question": "Does Ex Ante include decisions by local and public authorities?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains decisions of municipal and provincial executives on environmental permits, as well as decisions of the Flemish Government, the Data Protection Authority and the bodies dealing with access to administrative documents. So you can see how an authority ruled before, next to the case law that followed." } ] } }, "practiceArea": { "title": "{{name}}: every source in one search.", "lede": "Case law, legislation, decisions and legal literature on {{lc}}, in one search. Every result opens at the passage that matters.", "demoLabel": "Example: a question on {{lc}} with three results", "more": "More questions on {{lc}}", "searchOn": "Keep searching in Ex Ante", "sources": { "title": "Sources for {{lc}}", "label": "Sources for {{lc}}: institutions, legislation, parliamentary documents and legal literature", "link": "See all institutions for {{lc}}", "none": "No institutions are filed under {{lc}} yet.", "all": "See all institutions", "institutions": "Institutions for {{lc}}, by their number of documents", "preparatory": "The preparatory works of:", "more": "and others" }, "faq": "Questions about {{lc}} in Ex Ante" }, "practiceAreas": { "seo": { "title": "Belgian case law by practice area | Ex Ante", "description": "From administrative law to immigration law: see per practice area which sources Ex Ante searches and which questions lawyers ask." }, "title": "Practice areas", "lede": "For each practice area, the sources Ex Ante searches and the questions lawyers ask about it.", "search": "Search a practice area", "quoted": "“{{question}}”", "institutions_one": "{{count}} institution", "institutions_other": "{{count}} institutions", "empty": "No practice area found.", "clear": "Show all practice areas", "faq": { "title": "Questions about practice areas", "items": [ { "question": "Which practice areas can I use Ex Ante for?", "answer": "Ex Ante searches the sources for every area of Belgian law. On this page, you can see for fourteen practice areas, from administrative law to immigration law, which institutions and instruments Ex Ante contains." }, { "question": "Can I search within a single practice area?", "answer": "Yes. In Ex Ante, you filter your results by practice area, and also by source type, institution, language and date." } ] } }, "areaPages": { "administratief-recht": { "lc": "administrative law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian Council of State case law search | Ex Ante", "description": "Judgments of the Council of State, the Formal Reasons Act, the Flemish Governance Decree and legal literature on administrative law, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Duty to state reasons when refusing a permit", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The formal duty to state reasons requires the legal and factual considerations to be set out in the act itself and to be adequate." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Act of 29 July 1991 on the formal statement of reasons", "passage": "The required statement of reasons must be adequate." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "The court reviews whether the authority, on the basis of correct facts, could reasonably have reached its decision." } ] }, { "question": "Right to be heard before a disciplinary sanction", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The person concerned must be able to state their position beforehand on the facts alleged against them." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Flemish legislation", "passage": "The staff member is invited in writing to be heard, at least ten days in advance." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The right to be heard applies even without a text, as a general principle of good administration." } ] }, { "question": "Time limit for an appeal to the Council of State", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The application is lodged within sixty days of the publication or notification." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The time limit only starts to run if the notification mentions the possibility of appeal." }, { "kind": "parlementair", "institution": "Chamber of Representatives", "passage": "The time limit must provide legal certainty for the administration without restricting access to the courts." } ] }, { "question": "Refusal of access to an administrative document", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Flemish legislation", "passage": "Access to an administrative document is refused only on the basis of an exception expressly laid down in the decree." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The refusal must state specifically why disclosure would harm the protected interest." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Openness is the rule; the exceptions are interpreted restrictively." } ] } ], "testimonial": "eggermont", "faq": [ { "question": "Which administrative law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The judgments of the Council of State, the case law of the courts and tribunals, decisions of the Flemish Government and other authorities, federal and regional legislation, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Council of State?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the Council, not the parties' pleas." }, { "question": "Can I also find administrative decisions?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains, among others, decisions on access to administrative documents and disciplinary decisions." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Formal Reasons Act?", "answer": "Type the article and the act, for example \"article 3 of the Act of 29 July 1991\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"can the municipality refuse my application without explaining why\" also finds judgments on the formal and substantive duty to state reasons and the duty of care." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on administrative law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on administrative law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment of the Council of State, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I search only French-language or only Dutch-language judgments?", "answer": "Yes. The Council of State rules in both Dutch and French. With the language filter, you choose whether to search one language or both." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my administrative law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on administrative law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Coordinated Acts on the Council of State", "title": "Acts on the Council of State, coordinated on 12 January 1973", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Formal Statement of Reasons Act", "title": "Act of 29 July 1991 on the formal statement of reasons for administrative acts", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Act on Public Access to Administrative Documents", "title": "Act of 11 April 1994 on public access to administrative documents", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Flemish Administrative Decree", "title": "Flemish Administrative Decree of 7 December 2018", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Brussels Joint Ordinance on Public Access", "title": "Joint Ordinance of 16 May 2019 on public access to administrative documents in the Brussels institutions", "parl": "true" } ] }, "burgerlijk-recht": { "lc": "civil law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian civil law case law and the new Civil Code | Ex Ante", "description": "Case law of the courts and tribunals, the new and old Civil Code and legal literature on civil law, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Latent defects in the sale of a house", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The buyer must prove that the defect existed at the time of the sale." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Civil Code", "passage": "The seller is bound to warrant against latent defects in the thing sold." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "The short time limit for the claim starts to run from the discovery of the defect." } ] }, { "question": "Liability for a defective thing", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "One is liable for damage caused by a defect in a thing in one's custody." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "A thing is defective if it has an abnormal characteristic that may cause damage." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The owner remains the custodian as long as he retains control over the thing." } ] }, { "question": "Evidence by electronic messages", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "An electronic writing serves as evidence if its author and its integrity are guaranteed." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The e-mails constitute a beginning of proof in writing." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Book 8 makes evidence by digital messages easier." } ] }, { "question": "Non-contractual liability under the new Book 6", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "Everyone is liable for the damage they cause to another through their fault." }, { "kind": "parlementair", "institution": "Chamber of Representatives", "passage": "Book 6 largely codifies the case law on the former articles 1382 to 1386bis." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Book 6 applies to events giving rise to damage on or after 1 January 2025." } ] } ], "testimonial": "devogelaere", "faq": [ { "question": "Which civil law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The case law of the Court of Cassation, the courts of appeal and the tribunals, the Civil Code and the old Civil Code, the preparatory works of the new books and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Court of Cassation?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the Court, not the parties' pleas." }, { "question": "Can I find both the old and the new Civil Code?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the old Civil Code and the new books, such as Book 8 on evidence and Book 6 on non-contractual liability, with their preparatory works. So you also find the case law on the old articles you still need." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Civil Code?", "answer": "Type the article and the code, for example \"article 1641 old Civil Code\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"after the sale the buyer finds damp in the cellar\" also finds case law on latent defects, the short time limit and the seller's duty of warranty." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on civil law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on civil law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it, and the preparatory works of the article it applies." }, { "question": "Can I filter on case law after a reform?", "answer": "Yes. You refine by date, for example to see only case law after 1 November 2020, when Book 8 on evidence entered into force." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my civil law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on civil law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Civil Code", "title": "Civil Code (the old code of 21 March 1804 and the new code, introduced by the Act of 13 April 2019)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Breyne Act", "title": "Act of 9 July 1971 regulating the construction of dwellings and the sale of dwellings to be built or under construction", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Motor Liability Insurance Act", "title": "Act of 21 November 1989 on compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Insurance Act", "title": "Act of 4 April 2014 on insurance", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Brussels Housing Code", "title": "Ordinance of 17 July 2003 establishing the Brussels Housing Code", "parl": "true" } ] }, "economisch-recht": { "lc": "economic law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian economic law case law and the CEL | Ex Ante", "description": "Case law of the enterprise courts, the courts of appeal and the Court of Cassation, the Code of Economic Law and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Abuse of economic dependence", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "There is economic dependence where there is no reasonably equivalent alternative." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Code of Economic Law, art. IV.2/1", "passage": "It is prohibited to abuse a position of economic dependence." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The prohibition does not require a dominant position on the market on the part of the abusing undertaking." } ] }, { "question": "Unfair terms between businesses", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "A term is unlawful if it creates a manifest imbalance between the rights and obligations of the parties." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "The term allows the supplier to change the price unilaterally and is void." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The rules apply to contracts concluded from 1 December 2020." } ] }, { "question": "Misleading advertising", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "A commercial practice is misleading if it is likely to deceive the average consumer." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "The claim 'the cheapest' is unproven and therefore misleading." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Courts of appeal", "passage": "A trader announcing a price reduction must be able to prove the previous price." } ] }, { "question": "Action for an injunction against unfair market practices", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The president of the enterprise court establishes the existence and orders the cessation of the infringement." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "The claim is heard as in summary proceedings, but the president rules on the merits." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The injunction judge does not award damages; that requires a separate claim." } ] } ], "testimonial": "daniels", "faq": [ { "question": "Which economic law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The case law of the enterprise courts, the courts of appeal and the Court of Cassation, the Code of Economic Law, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the enterprise courts?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the court, not the parties' arguments." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Code of Economic Law?", "answer": "Type the article and the code, for example \"article VI.91/3 CEL\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"my supplier threatens to stop deliveries if I don't accept his new prices\" also finds decisions on abuse of economic dependence and unilateral changes to terms." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on economic law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on economic law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my economic law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on economic law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Code of Economic Law", "title": "Code of Economic Law (Act of 28 February 2013)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Insurance Act", "title": "Act of 4 April 2014 on insurance", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Late Payment Act", "title": "Act of 2 August 2002 on combating late payment in commercial transactions", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Financial Sector Supervision Act", "title": "Act of 2 August 2002 on the supervision of the financial sector and on financial services", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "TFEU", "title": "Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union", "parl": "false" } ] }, "fiscaal-recht": { "lc": "tax law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian tax law case law search | Ex Ante", "description": "Tax case law, the Income Tax Code 1992, the VAT Code, the Flemish Tax Code and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Deductibility of business expenses", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "Business expenses are deductible if they are incurred to obtain or retain taxable income." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Income Tax Code 1992, art. 49", "passage": "The taxpayer must prove the genuineness and the amount of the expenses." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The tax authorities may not assess whether the expenses were advisable." } ] }, { "question": "Tax abuse and the general anti-abuse rule", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The taxpayer may show that the legal act is justified by other motives." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Since 2012, a legal act that amounts to tax abuse cannot be relied on against the tax authorities." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The tax authorities must prove the objective and the subjective element." } ] }, { "question": "Assessment period after a tax return", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The assessment is made within three years from 1 January of the assessment year." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "The extended period only applies if the tax authorities first establish the infringement." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Since 2023, the period depends on the complexity of the tax return." } ] }, { "question": "VAT deduction for mixed use", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "For motor vehicles, the deduction may in no case exceed 50 per cent." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The taxpayer may prove the business use of the asset by any legal means." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "With mixed use, the deduction follows the actual use for taxable transactions." } ] } ], "testimonial": "janssens", "faq": [ { "question": "Which tax law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The tax case law of the courts of appeal, the courts of first instance and the Court of Cassation, the Income Tax Code 1992, the VAT Code, the Flemish Tax Code, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the tax judgments of the courts of appeal?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the court, not the arguments of the taxpayer or the tax authorities." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Income Tax Code?", "answer": "Type the article and the code, for example \"article 49 ITC 92\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"can I deduct my home office as an expense\" also finds case law and decisions on business expenses, the professional part of a home and proof of expenses." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on tax law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on tax law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Does it include Flemish taxation?", "answer": "Yes. Besides federal taxes, Ex Ante searches the Flemish Tax Code, for example on registration duties and inheritance tax, and the case law on it." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my tax law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on tax law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Income Tax Code 1992", "title": "Income Tax Code 1992", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "VAT Code", "title": "Value Added Tax Code", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Code of Registration, Mortgage and Court Fees", "title": "Code of Registration, Mortgage and Court Fees", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Flemish Tax Code", "title": "Flemish Tax Code of 13 December 2013", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "VAT Directive", "title": "Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax", "parl": "false" } ] }, "gegevensbeschermingsrecht": { "lc": "data protection law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian GDPR case law and DPA decisions | Ex Ante", "description": "Decisions of the Belgian Data Protection Authority, case law, the GDPR, Belgian privacy legislation and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Camera surveillance in the workplace", "results": [ { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Data Protection Authority", "passage": "Camera surveillance in the workplace is only permitted if it is necessary and proportionate." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "General Data Protection Regulation, art. 6", "passage": "Processing is lawful only if at least one of the conditions is met." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour Court of Appeal", "passage": "The employee must be informed clearly and in advance of the purpose of the cameras." } ] }, { "question": "Time limit to respond to an access request", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The controller responds without undue delay and at the latest within one month of receipt of the request." }, { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Data Protection Authority", "passage": "The respondent exceeded the time limit without giving reasons for an extension." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The time limit may be extended by two months for complex or numerous requests." } ] }, { "question": "Using private messages as evidence", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "Unlawfully obtained evidence is excluded only in the cases provided for by law." }, { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Data Protection Authority", "passage": "Forwarding the messages was not necessary for the purpose pursued." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour courts and tribunals", "passage": "The employer was entitled to consult the messages on the professional account." } ] }, { "question": "Legal basis for processing employee data", "results": [ { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Data Protection Authority", "passage": "An employee's consent is rarely freely given because of the relationship of subordination with the employer." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour courts and tribunals", "passage": "The processing is based on the performance of the employment contract and is necessary for it." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Article 88 GDPR allows more specific rules for the employment relationship, including through collective bargaining agreements." } ] } ], "testimonial": "devogelaere", "faq": [ { "question": "Which data protection law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The decisions of the Data Protection Authority, the case law of the labour courts, the GDPR, the Act of 30 July 2018, the Camera Act, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the decisions of the Data Protection Authority?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. You can see how the Litigation Chamber ruled on similar processing before." }, { "question": "Can I also find case law on privacy at work?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the case law of the labour courts and labour tribunals, for example on camera surveillance, monitoring of e-mails and the use of private messages as evidence. With Exclude party arguments, you search only the court's assessment." }, { "question": "How do I find decisions on an article of the GDPR?", "answer": "Type the article, for example \"article 15 GDPR\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the decisions, case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"can my employer read my e-mails\" also finds decisions on monitoring electronic communications, the transparency principle and CBA no. 81." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on data protection?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on data protection law, alongside the decisions, case law and legislation. For a decision, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I search only decisions under the GDPR?", "answer": "Yes. You refine by date, to see only decisions after 25 May 2018, when the GDPR became applicable." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my data protection law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on data protection." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "GDPR", "title": "Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data (General Data Protection Regulation)", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Data Protection Act", "title": "Act of 30 July 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Data Protection Authority Act", "title": "Act of 3 December 2017 establishing the Data Protection Authority", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Electronic Communications Act", "title": "Act of 13 June 2005 on electronic communications", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Camera Act", "title": "Act of 21 March 2007 regulating the installation and use of surveillance cameras", "parl": "true" } ] }, "gerechtelijk-recht": { "lc": "judicial law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian civil procedure case law search | Ex Ante", "description": "Case law on jurisdiction, time limits and procedure, the Judicial Code, the Act on the use of languages in court and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Time limit for an appeal after service", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "The time limit starts to run from the service or notification of the judgment." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Judicial Code, art. 1051", "passage": "The time limit for lodging an appeal is one month from the service of the judgment." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "A late appeal is inadmissible as a matter of public policy." } ] }, { "question": "Jurisdiction of the justice of the peace", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The justice of the peace hears all claims up to and including EUR 5,000." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "The special jurisdiction in lease matters applies regardless of the amount." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Raising the threshold shifts cases from the tribunal to the justice of the peace." } ] }, { "question": "Costs and procedural indemnity", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The procedural indemnity is a flat-rate contribution towards the costs of the lawyer." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The court reduces the indemnity in view of the financial capacity of the losing party." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Constitutional Court", "passage": "The system is not discriminatory with regard to public authorities." } ] }, { "question": "Nullity of a writ of summons for a formal defect", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The court declares a procedural act null only if the irregularity harms the interests of the party raising it." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "A missing particular in the writ of summons does not lead to nullity without harm to interests." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The plea of nullity must be raised before any other plea." } ] } ], "testimonial": "janssens", "faq": [ { "question": "Which judicial law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The case law of the Court of Cassation, the courts of appeal and the tribunals, the Judicial Code, the Act of 15 June 1935 on the use of languages in judicial matters, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Court of Cassation?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the Court, not the parties' pleas." }, { "question": "Can I find case law on time limits and service?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the case law on when time limits start and how they are calculated, the validity of service and the consequences of a late appeal, from the justices of the peace to the Court of Cassation." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Judicial Code?", "answer": "Type the article and the code, for example \"article 1051 Judicial Code\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"I received the judgment very late, can I still appeal\" also finds case law on service, the time limit for appeal and force majeure." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on judicial law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on judicial law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I also find case law on the use of languages in court?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the Act of 15 June 1935 and the case law on procedural acts drawn up in the wrong language." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my judicial law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on judicial law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Judicial Code", "title": "Judicial Code of 10 October 1967", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Act on the Use of Languages in Judicial Matters", "title": "Act of 15 June 1935 on the use of languages in judicial matters", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Code of Private International Law", "title": "Act of 16 July 2004 establishing the Code of Private International Law", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Brussels Ia Regulation", "title": "Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 of 12 December 2012 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Royal Decree on Procedural Indemnities", "title": "Royal Decree of 26 October 2007 setting the scale of procedural indemnities referred to in Article 1022 of the Judicial Code", "parl": "false" } ] }, "grondwettelijk-recht": { "lc": "constitutional law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian Constitutional Court judgments | Ex Ante", "description": "Judgments of the Constitutional Court, the Constitution, the special acts and legal literature on constitutional law, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Equality principle and different limitation periods", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Constitutional Court", "passage": "A difference in treatment is only justified if it is based on an objective criterion and is reasonably justified." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Constitution, articles 10 and 11", "passage": "Belgians are equal before the law." }, { "kind": "parlementair", "institution": "Explanatory memorandum", "passage": "The legislator intends to align the time limits to avoid unequal treatment." } ] }, { "question": "Preliminary question to the Constitutional Court", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "The court is not obliged to refer the question if the Court has already ruled on the same subject." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The Court rules, by way of preliminary ruling, on questions concerning the violation of the Constitution." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Constitutional Court", "passage": "The question is admissible; the answer is useful for resolving the dispute." } ] }, { "question": "Standstill obligation in environmental protection", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Constitutional Court", "passage": "Article 23 prohibits a significant reduction in the level of protection without reasons of general interest." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The regulation does not significantly reduce the protection and does not breach the standstill obligation." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The standstill test is a comparison with the existing level of protection." } ] }, { "question": "Action for annulment against a decree", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The action is brought within six months of the publication of the act, decree or ordinance." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Constitutional Court", "passage": "The applicant must show that it may be directly and adversely affected by the contested provision." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The Court may maintain the effects of the annulled provisions to avoid legal uncertainty." } ] } ], "testimonial": "eggermont", "faq": [ { "question": "Which constitutional law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The judgments of the Constitutional Court, the case law of the Council of State and the Court of Cassation, the Constitution, the Special Act on the Constitutional Court, the Special Act on Institutional Reform, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Constitutional Court?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the Court's reasoning, not the summary of the parties' positions." }, { "question": "Can I find both actions for annulment and preliminary questions?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the Constitutional Court's judgments on actions for annulment and on preliminary questions, and the case law in which the question was referred." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Constitution?", "answer": "Type the article, for example \"articles 10 and 11 Constitution\". Ex Ante shows the text of the articles and the case law and legal literature that apply them, each opened at the passage where they are discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"is it unequal treatment that two kinds of claims have a different limitation period\" also finds judgments on the equality principle and reasonable justification." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on constitutional law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on constitutional law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I also find the preparatory works of a contested act?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the parliamentary documents of the Chamber and the Flemish Parliament. You read the legislator's intention next to the judgment that assesses the provision." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my constitutional law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on constitutional law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Constitution", "title": "The Belgian Constitution, coordinated on 17 February 1994", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Special Act on the Constitutional Court", "title": "Special Act of 6 January 1989 on the Constitutional Court", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Special Act on Institutional Reform", "title": "Special Act of 8 August 1980 on institutional reform", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Special Act on the Brussels Institutions", "title": "Special Act of 12 January 1989 on the Brussels institutions", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "ECHR", "title": "Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Rome, 4 November 1950)", "parl": "false" } ] }, "internationaal-en-europees-recht": { "lc": "international and EU law", "seo": { "title": "EU law and the ECHR in Belgian case law | Ex Ante", "description": "The TFEU, the ECHR and the Charter, the Belgian case law that applies them, the Code of Private International Law and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Direct effect of a directive", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The national court must interpret domestic law in conformity with the directive as far as possible." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, art. 288", "passage": "A directive is binding as to the result to be achieved." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "A provision has direct effect if it is sufficiently clear and unconditional." } ] }, { "question": "Primacy of EU law", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "In the event of a conflict, precedence goes to the directly effective rule of EU law." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Constitutional Court", "passage": "The Court takes into account the national identity of the Member States." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Primacy applies even with regard to subsequent national laws." } ] }, { "question": "Application of the ECHR by Belgian courts", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "Article 6 ECHR requires the proceedings as a whole to be fair." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The interference with private life is provided for by law and proportionate." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Belgian courts apply the Convention directly in domestic law." } ] }, { "question": "Competent court in a cross-border dispute", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "EU legislation", "passage": "Persons domiciled in a Member State are sued in the courts of that Member State." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Justice (EU)", "passage": "For the sale of goods, jurisdiction lies with the court of the place where the goods were delivered." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "If the defendant falls outside the Regulation, the Code of Private International Law determines jurisdiction." } ] } ], "testimonial": "eggermont", "faq": [ { "question": "Which international and EU law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The case law of the Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, the Code of Private International Law, the Belgian case law that applies them, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Court of Justice?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the court's assessment, not the parties' pleas." }, { "question": "Can I see how a directive was transposed into Belgian law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains federal and regional legislation and the parliamentary preparatory works, which usually explain how a directive is transposed." }, { "question": "How do I find Belgian case law on an article of the ECHR?", "answer": "Type the article, for example \"article 8 ECHR\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"can a citizen rely on a European directive against the state if it was never transposed\" also finds case law on direct effect and consistent interpretation." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on international and EU law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on international and EU law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my international and EU law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on international and EU law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "TFEU", "title": "Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "TEU", "title": "Treaty on European Union", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Charter of Fundamental Rights", "title": "Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "ECHR", "title": "Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Rome, 4 November 1950)", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Code of Private International Law", "title": "Act of 16 July 2004 establishing the Code of Private International Law", "parl": "true" } ] }, "omgevingsrecht": { "lc": "environmental law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian environmental law case law | Ex Ante", "description": "Judgments of the Council for Permit Disputes and the Council of State, Flemish planning law, permit decisions and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Suspension of an environmental permit for procedural errors", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Permit Disputes", "passage": "A suspension requires the applicant to demonstrate the urgency in concrete terms." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The authority must carefully gather the relevant facts before it decides." }, { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Provincial Executive", "passage": "The appeal is declared admissible; the noise study is insufficient to rule out nuisance." } ] }, { "question": "Noise nuisance and a permit application in a residential area", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Permit Disputes", "passage": "The permitting authority must assess the noise nuisance for local residents in concrete terms." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Flemish legislation", "passage": "In residential areas, stricter guide values for the specific noise of the installation apply." }, { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Provincial Executive", "passage": "The permit is granted on condition that a noise barrier is installed along the plot boundary." } ] }, { "question": "Recent Council for Permit Disputes case law on wind turbines", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Permit Disputes", "passage": "The municipal executive must adequately examine the shadow flicker on nearby homes." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "A wind turbine in an agricultural area is possible if the spatial impact remains limited." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Since the new sectoral standards, the Council for Permit Disputes reviews the reasons given on nuisance more strictly." } ] }, { "question": "When does an environmental permit lapse?", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Flemish legislation", "passage": "The permit lapses if the works have not started within two years." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Permit Disputes", "passage": "A suspension of the permit also suspends the lapse period." }, { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Municipal Executive Board", "passage": "The municipal executive finds that the permit has lapsed by operation of law." } ] } ], "testimonial": "daniels", "faq": [ { "question": "Which environmental law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The judgments of the Council for Permit Disputes (Raad voor Vergunningsbetwistingen) and the Council of State, the rulings of the Enforcement Board (Handhavingscollege), the decisions of provincial executives and municipal executives, Flemish, Walloon and Brussels legislation, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Council for Permit Disputes?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution so you only see its judgments, and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the Council's assessment, not the parties' pleas." }, { "question": "Can I also find decisions by provincial and municipal authorities?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains decisions of provincial executives and municipal executives on environmental permits. You can see how a permitting authority ruled on a similar application before, next to the case law that followed." }, { "question": "As a lawyer at a local authority, how do I keep track of case law on permits and enforcement?", "answer": "With Ex Ante, you search the judgments of the Council for Permit Disputes and the Council of State, the rulings of the Enforcement Board (Handhavingscollege) and the decisions of municipal and provincial executives in one search. Your searches are saved automatically. With the Ex Ante Nieuws newsletter, you get a weekly overview of new case law on the topics you choose." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Flemish Spatial Planning Code or the Environmental Permit Decree?", "answer": "Type the article and the instrument, for example \"article 4.3.1 VCRO\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"can my neighbour build a wind turbine right next to my garden\" also finds judgments on nuisance, shadow flicker and compatibility with good spatial planning." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on environmental law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on environmental law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment of the Council for Permit Disputes, you also find the commentary published on it, and the preparatory works of the rules it applies." }, { "question": "Does it include Walloon and Brussels environmental law?", "answer": "Yes. Besides Flemish legislation, Ex Ante searches Walloon and Brussels legislation and the case law of the Council of State, in Dutch and French." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my environmental law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on environmental law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Flemish Spatial Planning Code", "title": "Flemish Spatial Planning Code (VCRO)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Flemish Environmental Permit Decree", "title": "Decree of 25 April 2014 on the environmental permit", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Walloon Territorial Development Code", "title": "Walloon Territorial Development Code (CoDT)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Brussels Spatial Planning Code", "title": "Brussels Spatial Planning Code (CoBAT)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "EIA Directive", "title": "Directive 2011/92/EU of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment", "parl": "false" } ] }, "overheidsopdrachtenrecht": { "lc": "public procurement law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian public procurement case law | Ex Ante", "description": "Judgments of the Council of State, the Public Procurement Act of 17 June 2016, its implementing decrees and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Rejection of a tender with an abnormally low price", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The contracting authority must ask the tenderer for an explanation before rejecting an abnormal price." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Public Procurement Act of 17 June 2016", "passage": "Contracts are awarded with due regard to the equal treatment of tenderers." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "The price examination must be traceable in the administrative file." } ] }, { "question": "Reasons for the award decision", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The award decision states the reasons for choosing the tenderer." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The score per criterion must be apparent from the award report itself." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "A mere table of scores is not sufficient as a statement of reasons." } ] }, { "question": "Modification of a contract during performance", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "A modification is permitted if its value is below ten per cent of the initial contract." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The modification affects the economic balance of the contract and requires a new award procedure." }, { "kind": "parlementair", "institution": "Chamber of Representatives", "passage": "The rules transpose the case law of the Court of Justice into national law." } ] }, { "question": "Exclusion of a tenderer for grave professional misconduct", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The contracting authority may exclude a candidate who has committed a grave error in the exercise of its profession." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The contracting authority must examine the tenderer's corrective measures before excluding it." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The misconduct must be demonstrated by any appropriate means; a conviction is not required." } ] } ], "testimonial": "daniels", "faq": [ { "question": "Which public procurement law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The judgments of the Council of State, the case law of the courts and tribunals, the Public Procurement Act of 17 June 2016, the award and performance decrees, the Remedies Act of 17 June 2013, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Council of State?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the Council, not the pleas of the tenderer or the contracting authority." }, { "question": "Can I also find case law on the performance of a contract?", "answer": "Yes. Disputes on performance go to the ordinary courts. Ex Ante also contains that case law of the courts of appeal and the tribunals, next to the Council of State's judgments on the award." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Public Procurement Act?", "answer": "Type the article and the act, for example \"article 84 Public Procurement Act\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"the contracting authority chose a more expensive tender without explaining why\" also finds judgments on the formal duty to state reasons and the award report." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on public procurement law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on public procurement law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I search for a specific award procedure?", "answer": "Yes. Because Ex Ante searches by meaning, a question about the competitive procedure with negotiation, for example, finds the case law on that procedure, even if the judgment uses other words." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my public procurement law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on public procurement." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Public Procurement Act", "title": "Act of 17 June 2016 on public procurement", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Royal Decree on Award in the Classic Sectors", "title": "Royal Decree of 18 April 2017 on the award of public contracts in the classic sectors", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Royal Decree on General Implementing Rules", "title": "Royal Decree of 14 January 2013 establishing the general implementing rules for public contracts", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Remedies Act", "title": "Act of 17 June 2013 on the statement of reasons, information and remedies in public procurement and certain works, supply and service contracts and concessions", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Directive 2014/24/EU", "title": "Directive 2014/24/EU of 26 February 2014 on public procurement", "parl": "false" } ] }, "sociaal-recht": { "lc": "employment law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian employment law case law search | Ex Ante", "description": "Case law of the labour courts and tribunals, the Employment Contracts Act, collective bargaining agreements and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Dismissal for serious cause and the three-working-day time limit", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour Court of Appeal", "passage": "The time limit starts to run when the employer has sufficient certainty about the facts." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Employment Contracts Act, art. 35", "passage": "Dismissal for serious cause may no longer be given once the act has been known for at least three working days." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "The trial court assesses with unfettered discretion whether the facts constitute serious cause." } ] }, { "question": "Proof of overtime", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour courts and tribunals", "passage": "The employee must prove the hours worked with sufficient precision." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The employer keeps a register of deviations from the work schedules." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Since the judgment of the Court of Justice, the employer has a duty to record working time." } ] }, { "question": "Manifestly unreasonable dismissal (CBA no. 109)", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour courts and tribunals", "passage": "The dismissal is manifestly unreasonable; a normal and reasonable employer would not have decided so." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The compensation amounts to a minimum of three and a maximum of seventeen weeks' pay." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Master's theses", "passage": "The court carries out a marginal review of the reasonableness of the dismissal." } ] }, { "question": "Notice period for a dismissal by the employer", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The notice period is determined by the length of service the employee has reached when the notice period begins." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour courts and tribunals", "passage": "An employer who dismisses without notice pays compensation equal to the current remuneration for the length of the notice period." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Length of service also includes periods as a temporary agency worker with the same employer, up to one year." } ] } ], "testimonial": "janssens", "faq": [ { "question": "Which employment law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The judgments of the labour courts, the decisions of the labour tribunals, the case law of the Court of Cassation, the Employment Contracts Act, the Labour Act, the Well-being at Work Act, the collective bargaining agreements of the National Labour Council, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the labour courts?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the court, not the arguments of the employer or the employee." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Employment Contracts Act?", "answer": "Type the article and the act, for example \"article 35 Employment Contracts Act\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"my employer dismissed me without explanation after my illness\" also finds case law on manifestly unreasonable dismissal, the reasons for dismissal and discrimination based on health." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on employment law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on employment law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I see how different labour courts rule on the same question?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution to view the case law of one labour court. With the assistant, you compare in one answer how different courts rule, with a source at every step." }, { "question": "Can I search only French-language or only Dutch-language judgments?", "answer": "Yes. The labour courts and tribunals rule in Dutch or French, from Antwerp and Ghent to Liège and Mons. With the language filter, you choose whether to search one language or both." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my employment law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on employment law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Employment Contracts Act", "title": "Act of 3 July 1978 on employment contracts", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Well-being at Work Act", "title": "Act of 4 August 1996 on the well-being of workers in the performance of their work", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Labour Act", "title": "Labour Act of 16 March 1971", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Collective Agreements Act", "title": "Act of 5 December 1968 on collective labour agreements and joint committees", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Anti-Discrimination Act", "title": "Act of 10 May 2007 to combat certain forms of discrimination", "parl": "true" } ] }, "strafrecht": { "lc": "criminal law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian criminal law case law search | Ex Ante", "description": "Case law of the Court of Cassation and the courts of appeal, the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Unlawfully obtained evidence", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "Unlawfully obtained evidence is excluded only in the cases provided for by law or where it undermines reliability." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Code of Criminal Procedure, art. 32", "passage": "Irregularly obtained evidence can be declared null only in certain cases." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "The court weighs the seriousness of the irregularity against the right to a fair trial." } ] }, { "question": "Limitation of the criminal action", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The criminal action becomes time-barred after five years for misdemeanours, from the day of the offence." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "An investigative act interrupts the limitation period with respect to all offenders." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "For a continuing offence, the limitation period starts only after the last act." } ] }, { "question": "Suspension of the pronouncement of the sentence", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "Suspension is possible if the defendant has not previously been sentenced to more than twelve months." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Appeal", "passage": "The court grants suspension in view of the clean criminal record and the defendant's young age." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "A refusal must be reasoned in a precise manner." } ] }, { "question": "Continued pre-trial detention by the council chamber", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The council chamber decides within five days of the execution of the arrest warrant." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Court of Cassation", "passage": "The decision must explain by reference to the specific facts of the case why detention remains absolutely necessary." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "At each review, the council chamber must consider alternatives such as electronic monitoring." } ] } ], "testimonial": "janssens", "faq": [ { "question": "Which criminal law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The judgments of the Court of Cassation and the courts of appeal, the case law of the tribunals, the old and the new Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Pre-trial Detention Act, the Probation Act, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Court of Cassation?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the Court, not the appellant's pleas." }, { "question": "Can I find both the old and the new Criminal Code?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains both codes and their preparatory works. So you find the case law under the old law and the legislator's intention for the new one." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Code of Criminal Procedure?", "answer": "Type the article and the code, for example \"article 32 Preliminary Title Code of Criminal Procedure\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"the police searched my phone without a judge's authorisation\" also finds case law on unlawfully obtained evidence and searches of computer systems." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on criminal law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on criminal law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I search by offence instead of by article?", "answer": "Yes. A search like \"fraud through a fake online shop\" finds the case law on that offence, even if the judgment mostly refers to the articles." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my criminal law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on criminal law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Criminal Code", "title": "Criminal Code (the old code of 8 June 1867 and the new code, introduced by the Act of 29 February 2024)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Code of Criminal Procedure", "title": "Code of Criminal Procedure of 17 November 1808", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Pre-trial Detention Act", "title": "Act of 20 July 1990 on pre-trial detention", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Drugs Act", "title": "Act of 24 February 1921 on the trade in poisonous, soporific, narcotic, psychotropic, disinfectant and antiseptic substances and substances that can be used for the illicit manufacture of narcotic and psychotropic substances", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Road Traffic Act", "title": "Act of 16 March 1968 on road traffic policing", "parl": "true" } ] }, "vennootschapsrecht": { "lc": "company law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian company law case law and the CAC | Ex Ante", "description": "Case law of the enterprise courts and courts of appeal, the Companies and Associations Code, Book XX CEL and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Directors' liability for manifestly gross misconduct", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "Manifestly gross misconduct is misconduct that is obvious to any normally prudent director." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Companies and Associations Code", "passage": "Directors are liable for failures in the performance of their duties." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article", "passage": "The CAC sets amounts above which directors are not liable, except in the case of gross misconduct." } ] }, { "question": "Expulsion of a shareholder", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "A shareholder may be expelled for good cause, at the request of shareholders holding thirty per cent." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "Loss of trust is good cause if it paralyses the functioning of the company." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The price of the shares is determined on the date of the judgment." } ] }, { "question": "Alarm bell procedure for negative net assets", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The management body convenes the general meeting within two months of the finding." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "The directors are liable; the damage is presumed to result from the failure to convene." }, { "kind": "parlementair", "institution": "Chamber of Representatives", "passage": "The alarm bell must force the management body to take timely measures." } ] }, { "question": "Withdrawal of a shareholder from a BV/SRL", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "If the articles of association allow it, a shareholder may withdraw at the expense of the company's assets." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Enterprise Court", "passage": "Payment of the withdrawal share must pass the net asset test and the liquidity test." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "Absent a provision in the articles, the withdrawal share is the contribution paid up and not repaid." } ] } ], "testimonial": "daniels", "faq": [ { "question": "Which company law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The case law of the enterprise courts, the courts of appeal and the Court of Cassation, the Companies and Associations Code and its implementing decree, the former Companies Code, Book XX of the Code of Economic Law, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the enterprise courts?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the court, not the parties' arguments." }, { "question": "Can I also find case law under the former Companies Code?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the Companies and Associations Code and the former Companies Code, with the case law under both. So you also find older case law on rules the new Code took over." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Companies and Associations Code?", "answer": "Type the article and the code, for example \"article 2:56 CAC\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"the manager let the debts pile up while the company was no longer viable\" also finds case law on manifestly gross misconduct and directors' liability in bankruptcy." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on company law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on company law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I also find case law on insolvency?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains Book XX of the Code of Economic Law and the case law on judicial reorganisation and bankruptcy." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my company law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on company law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Code of Companies and Associations", "title": "Code of Companies and Associations (Act of 23 March 2019)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Royal Decree implementing the CCA", "title": "Royal Decree of 29 April 2019 implementing the Code of Companies and Associations", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Code of Economic Law", "title": "Code of Economic Law (Act of 28 February 2013)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Anti-Money Laundering Act", "title": "Act of 18 September 2017 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and on the restriction of the use of cash", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Financial Sector Supervision Act", "title": "Act of 2 August 2002 on the supervision of the financial sector and on financial services", "parl": "true" } ] }, "vreemdelingenrecht": { "lc": "immigration law", "seo": { "title": "Belgian immigration law case law search | Ex Ante", "description": "Judgments of the Council for Alien Law Litigation and the Council of State, the Aliens Act of 15 December 1980 and legal literature, in one search." }, "questions": [ { "question": "Family reunification with a Belgian and sufficient means", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Alien Law Litigation", "passage": "The authority must carry out a needs assessment if the means of subsistence are below the required amount." }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Aliens Act, art. 40ter", "passage": "The Belgian must prove that they have stable, sufficient and regular means of subsistence." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Constitutional Court", "passage": "The requirement is compatible with the Constitution, provided that the situation is examined in concrete terms." } ] }, { "question": "Appeal against an order to leave the territory", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The appeal is lodged within thirty days of notification of the decision." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Alien Law Litigation", "passage": "The respondent had to take into account the best interests of the child." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "An application under the extremely urgent procedure suspends the removal." } ] }, { "question": "Humanitarian regularisation", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Federal legislation", "passage": "The application can be made from Belgium in exceptional circumstances." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Alien Law Litigation", "passage": "A long stay and integration are not an exceptional circumstance in themselves." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council of State", "passage": "The minister has broad discretionary power." } ] }, { "question": "Refusal of a short-stay visa", "results": [ { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "EU legislation", "passage": "The visa is refused if there are reasonable doubts as to the intention to leave the territory." }, { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Council for Alien Law Litigation", "passage": "The Minister's delegate must assess the documents submitted regarding the return in concrete terms." }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal articles", "passage": "The refusal can be challenged by an action for annulment before the Council for Alien Law Litigation." } ] } ], "testimonial": "devogelaere", "faq": [ { "question": "Which immigration law sources does Ex Ante search?", "answer": "The judgments of the Council for Alien Law Litigation and the Council of State, the Aliens Act of 15 December 1980, the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981, the Reception Act, the Belgian Nationality Code, the parliamentary preparatory works and legal literature." }, { "question": "Can I search only the judgments of the Council for Alien Law Litigation?", "answer": "Yes. You filter by institution and refine by date and language. With Exclude party arguments switched on, Ex Ante searches only the assessment by the Council, not the applicant's pleas or the respondent's note." }, { "question": "Can I also find the Council of State's judgments in cassation?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains the judgments of the Council of State on cassation appeals against judgments of the Council for Alien Law Litigation." }, { "question": "How do I find case law on an article of the Aliens Act?", "answer": "Type the article and the act, for example \"article 40ter Aliens Act\". Ex Ante shows the text of the article and the case law and legal literature that apply it, each opened at the passage where the article is discussed." }, { "question": "Can I search in plain language, without knowing the exact terms?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches by meaning. A question like \"my partner can't come to Belgium because my income is too low\" also finds judgments on sufficient means for family reunification and the needs assessment." }, { "question": "Can I also find legal literature on immigration law?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante searches journal articles, handbooks and doctoral theses on immigration law, alongside the case law and legislation. For a judgment, you also find the commentary published on it." }, { "question": "Can I search only French-language or only Dutch-language judgments?", "answer": "Yes. The Council for Alien Law Litigation rules in both Dutch and French. With the language filter, you choose whether to search one language or both." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free on my immigration law cases?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. Working at a firm? We'll show you Ex Ante in a 30-minute demo, using your own questions on immigration law." } ], "legislation": [ { "short": "Immigration Act", "title": "Act of 15 December 1980 on access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of foreign nationals", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Royal Decree on Foreign Nationals", "title": "Royal Decree of 8 October 1981 on access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of foreign nationals", "parl": "false" }, { "short": "Belgian Nationality Code", "title": "Belgian Nationality Code (Act of 28 June 1984)", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Reception Act", "title": "Act of 12 January 2007 on the reception of asylum seekers and certain other categories of foreign nationals", "parl": "true" }, { "short": "Citizens' Rights Directive", "title": "Directive 2004/38/EC of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States", "parl": "false" } ] } }, "people": { "daniels": { "name": "Koen Daniëls", "role": "senior adviser, CDRO Consulting", "quote": "In complex cases there are often hundreds of potentially relevant sources. Ex Ante shows the relevant passages straight away, which saves an enormous amount of time." }, "eggermont": { "name": "prof. dr. Frederic Eggermont", "role": "professor of legal methodology at the VUB and first auditor at the Council of State", "quote": "I work with Ex Ante every day, and the gain isn't only the time saved: above all, it's the certainty that every step of my reasoning can be traced back to a source." }, "devogelaere": { "name": "Johanna-Charlotte Devogelaere", "role": "lawyer, GD&A Advocaten", "quote": "As a lawyer, accuracy is essential. Ex Ante delivers source-based results without hallucinations, exactly what I need." }, "janssens": { "name": "Lion Janssens", "role": "lawyer, Arcas Law", "quote": "Semantic search makes a big difference. You find case law based on its legal context, not just on its words." } }, "quoteMarks": [ "“", "”" ], "pricing": { "seo": { "title": "Pricing: from €55 per month | Ex Ante", "description": "Solo from €55 per month, Small firm from €45 per user, Organisation on request. Try free for 3 weeks, no credit card required." }, "title": "One subscription, every source.", "lede": "Try it free for three weeks, no credit card required. Then you decide.", "billing": { "label": "Billing", "monthly": "Monthly", "yearly": "Yearly, up to 18% off" }, "amount": "€{{amount}}", "vat": "excl. VAT", "plans": { "solo": { "name": "Solo", "for": "For lawyers working on their own", "perMonth": "per month", "perYear": "per month, billed yearly", "total": "€{{total}} per year", "features": [ "Every source: more than a million documents", "Unlimited semantic and keyword search", "AI overview for every search", "Assistant and Word add-in", "Advanced filters" ] }, "office": { "name": "Small firm", "for": "From 5 users", "perMonth": "per user per month", "perYear": "per user per month, billed yearly", "total": "€{{total}} per user per year", "lead": "Everything in Solo, plus:", "features": [ "User management", "One invoice for the firm", "Priority support" ] }, "organisation": { "name": "Organisation", "for": "For large firms and organisations", "custom": "Custom", "customText": "Price based on the number of users and integrations", "lead": "Everything in Small firm, plus:", "features": [ "API integrations", "Tailored onboarding" ] } }, "request": { "order": { "solo": "Order now", "office": "Order now", "organisation": "Request a price" }, "trialFirst": "or try it free for 3 weeks first", "demoFirst": "or book a demo first", "title": "Request {{plan}}", "text": "Leave your details. We'll get in touch as soon as we can.", "firstName": "First name", "lastName": "Last name", "organisation": "Firm or organisation", "organisationPlaceholder": "Your firm or organisation", "email": "Email address", "emailPlaceholder": "name@firm.be", "users": "Number of users", "usersHint": "From {{min}} users.", "errors": { "firstName": "Enter your first name.", "lastName": "Enter your last name.", "organisation": "Enter your firm or organisation.", "email": "Enter a full email address, for example name@firm.be.", "users": "Enter a number of at least {{min}}." }, "submit": "Send your request", "failed": "Your request couldn't be sent. Email us at info@ex-ante.be.", "done": "Thank you for your request for {{plan}}. We'll get in touch as soon as we can.", "close": "Close" }, "compare": { "title": "Compare plans", "feature": "Feature", "yes": "Yes", "no": "No", "rows": [ "Every source", "Unlimited semantic and keyword search", "AI overview for every search", "Assistant", "Word add-in", "Advanced filters", "User management", "One invoice for the firm", "Priority support", "API integrations", "Tailored onboarding" ] }, "team": { "title": "Working with a team?", "text": "One subscription and one invoice for the whole firm. You manage who has access, and we help your team get started.", "points": [ { "title": "Add and remove users", "text": "Invite colleagues by email address, at any time." }, { "title": "Onboarding for your team", "text": "A session on your practice area, with your own questions." }, { "title": "Priority support", "text": "Questions from your firm come first." }, { "title": "Invoice in the firm's name", "text": "With VAT number, for all users together." } ] }, "faq": { "title": "Questions about pricing", "items": [ { "question": "How much does Ex Ante cost for a sole practitioner?", "answer": "Ex Ante Solo costs €55 per month with an annual subscription (€660 per year), or €65 per month billed monthly, excl. VAT. It includes all sources, unlimited semantic and keyword search, the AI overview, the assistant and the Word add-in. You can try it free for three weeks first." }, { "question": "How much does Ex Ante cost for a law firm?", "answer": "Ex Ante Small firm is for firms with five or more users and costs €45 per user per month with an annual subscription (€540 per user per year), excl. VAT. You get everything in Solo, plus user management, one invoice for the firm and priority support. Larger organisations get a custom price, based on the number of users and integrations." }, { "question": "Is there a free version of Ex Ante?", "answer": "No. Ex Ante has no free version, but you can try it free for three weeks with all features, no credit card required." }, { "question": "What happens after the trial?", "answer": "After three weeks you decide whether to continue, and with which plan. You didn't give a credit card, so nothing is charged automatically." }, { "question": "How much do I save with an annual subscription?", "answer": "With an annual subscription, you pay less per month than with monthly billing: Solo then costs €55 instead of €65 per month. An annual subscription runs for a year. A monthly subscription can be cancelled every month." }, { "question": "Can I cancel monthly?", "answer": "With a monthly subscription, yes: it runs until the end of the month in which you cancel. A yearly subscription runs for a year and costs less per month." }, { "question": "How do I add users?", "answer": "With Small firm or Organisation, you invite colleagues yourself by email address and remove them when needed." }, { "question": "Can I get an invoice in my firm's name?", "answer": "Yes. You enter your firm's details and VAT number and receive one invoice for all users." }, { "question": "Do the prices include VAT?", "answer": "No, all prices exclude VAT." } ] } }, "demo": { "seo": { "title": "Book a 30-minute demo | Ex Ante", "description": "See Ex Ante in 30 minutes in your practice area, with your own questions. No obligation; pricing and users tailored to you." }, "title": "Book a 30-minute demo.", "lede": "We show you Ex Ante in your practice area, with your own questions, and work out together how many users you need.", "points": [ "In your practice area and with your questions", "Pricing and number of users tailored to you", "No obligation" ], "mail": "Prefer email?", "calendar": "Calendar: pick a day and a time for the demo", "loading": "Loading the calendar…", "try": { "title": "Rather try it yourself first?", "text": "Start a three-week trial. You can add your colleagues later." } }, "legal": { "documents": "Legal documents", "toc": "On this page", "also": "Also in", "and": "and", "languages": { "nl-BE": "Dutch", "fr-BE": "French", "en": "English" }, "onlyIn": "This document only exists in {{languages}}.", "privacy": { "seo": { "title": "Privacy policy | Ex Ante", "description": "How Ex Ante handles your personal data, and what your rights are." } }, "terms": { "seo": { "title": "Terms of use | Ex Ante", "description": "The terms on which you use Ex Ante: the trial, your subscription and permitted use." } }, "eula": { "seo": { "title": "Word add-in EULA | Ex Ante", "description": "The licence terms of the Ex Ante add-in for Microsoft Word." } } }, "notFound": { "seo": { "title": "Page not found | Ex Ante" }, "title": "This page doesn't exist (anymore).", "text": "It may have moved. Search Belgian law right away, or go to the home page.", "search": "Search legislation, case law and legal literature", "searchLabel": "Search Ex Ante", "submit": "Search", "links": { "home": "To the home page", "sources": "Sources", "pricing": "Pricing", "practiceAreas": "Practice areas" } }, "home": { "seo": { "title": "Ex Ante | Belgian legal search engine", "description": "Legislation, case law, decisions and legal literature in one search engine. Every answer with its source. Try free for 3 weeks." }, "label": "Ex Ante searches Belgian law", "intro": "Five types of sources, more than a million documents in total.", "title": "Belgian law in one search engine.", "lede": "Legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature: more than a million sources, searched by what you mean.", "promise": "No credit card needed.", "question": "Can WhatsApp messages be used as evidence?", "questionLabel": "Search: {{question}}", "resultsLabel": "Animation: a question searches legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature, and the result opens at the highlighted passage in the document.", "results": [ { "kind": "rechtspraak", "institution": "Labour court of appeal, sample judgment", "passage": "lawfully received messages may serve as evidence" }, { "kind": "wetgeving", "institution": "Civil Code, Book 8. Evidence", "passage": "governs which means of evidence are admissible" }, { "kind": "parlementair", "institution": "Evidence bill, explanatory memorandum", "passage": "electronic messages can also count as evidence" }, { "kind": "beslissingen", "institution": "Data Protection Authority, sample", "passage": "sharing third parties' messages must be proportionate" }, { "kind": "rechtsleer", "institution": "Journal article, sample", "passage": "the court may ask for the original message" } ], "document": { "running": "Labour court of appeal, sample judgment. Docket number 2025/AB/000", "heading": "IV. Assessment", "page": "p. 3 / 14", "paragraphs": [ "The employer submits messages that a colleague passed on to him. The employee disputes that they may serve as evidence, because they were sent in a private conversation and were not meant for third parties.", "The court holds that lawfully received messages may serve as evidence, even if the sender did not intend them for the court. The confidential nature of a message does not in itself make submitting it unlawful.", "The court does check whether the messages were submitted in full and not taken out of context, and whether the privacy of third parties was sufficiently respected.", "Here, the documents show that the entire conversation was filed. The plea is unfounded." ] }, "steps": { "label": "Steps in the animation", "items": [ "Sources", "Question", "Results", "Document" ] }, "chapters": { "label": "Three ways to work with Ex Ante", "items": [ "Search legislation, case law, decisions and legal literature in one go. Every result opens at the highlighted passage in the full document.", "Search from a selection in your brief, add footnotes and check your citations with the footnote verification report.", "Dig deeper into your search. The assistant shows its steps and cites the source for every statement." ] }, "closing": { "title": "Try Ex Ante for three weeks on your own cases.", "text": "No credit card needed. Working at a firm or a legal department? Book a 30-minute demo and we'll show you Ex Ante in your practice area." }, "faq": { "title": "Questions about Ex Ante", "items": [ { "question": "What is Ex Ante?", "answer": "Ex Ante is a Belgian legal search engine that searches legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature in one search: more than a million documents in total. You search semantically, by what you mean, or by keyword, and every result opens at the passage in the original document. Ex Ante also includes an assistant that cites the source for every statement, and an add-in for Microsoft Word." }, { "question": "Who is Ex Ante for?", "answer": "Ex Ante is for legal professionals working with Belgian law: sole practitioners, law firms, in-house counsel and lawyers at public authorities and local governments. Hundreds of legal professionals work with Ex Ante, including at GD&A Advocaten, Truyens, Arcas Law, Orys Advocaten and Xirius Public." }, { "question": "Does Ex Ante's AI make up case law?", "answer": "Ex Ante is built so you can always check for yourself. By default, the AI overview and the assistant rely only on documents in Ex Ante, and for every statement they link to the passage they rely on. The results themselves are always original documents: the judgment, the act or the article. Like any AI, a summary can be wrong. That's why you can read the source in one click." }, { "question": "Does Ex Ante work in Dutch and French?", "answer": "Yes. Ex Ante contains Dutch-language and French-language sources, from the labour courts in Ghent and Antwerp to those in Liège and Mons. A question in one language also finds passages in the other. With the language filter, you limit your results to one language. You can use Ex Ante itself in Dutch, French or English." }, { "question": "Does Ex Ante work in Microsoft Word?", "answer": "Yes. With the Ex Ante add-in for Microsoft Word, you select a passage in your submissions and immediately find the case law and legislation that support your position. You add footnotes in the Belgian citation style (V&A or the Guide des citations), with a link to the source, and have all your footnotes checked. The add-in works in Word for Windows, Word for Mac and Word online, and is included in every subscription." }, { "question": "How much does Ex Ante cost?", "answer": "For a sole practitioner, Ex Ante costs €55 per month with an annual subscription, or €65 per month billed monthly, excl. VAT. For firms with five or more users, Small firm costs €45 per user per month with an annual subscription. Larger organisations get a custom price. Every subscription includes all sources, the AI overview, the assistant and the Word add-in. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks first, no credit card required." }, { "question": "Can I use Ex Ante in line with my professional secrecy obligations?", "answer": "Ex Ante is built for lawyers who work on confidential matters. What you search and ask is visible only to you. Your data is stored on servers in the EU and is never used to train AI models. Ex Ante is currently working with an external partner towards ISO certification." }, { "question": "Who is behind Ex Ante?", "answer": "Ex Ante is a Belgian company based in Vilvoorde: Ex Ante BV, company number BE 1022.676.047, founded in May 2025 by Lucas Van Wichelen, Othman El Hammouchi, Bram Dewit and Stijn Desloovere. Ex Ante works with the VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel): law students give feedback, and together we research reliable legal AI. VLAIO, the Flemish agency for innovation and entrepreneurship, supports Ex Ante with its Innovatieve Starterssteun programme." }, { "question": "How is Ex Ante different from legal databases such as Jura or Strada lex?", "answer": "Ex Ante is built as a search engine. One search covers legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature at once, by meaning or by keyword, and every result opens at the passage you're looking for. With Exclude party arguments, you search only what the court itself says. So with Ex Ante, you find the one source you need to support your position much faster." }, { "question": "Is Ex Ante an alternative to legal AI tools such as Harvey, Legalfly, Alice or Nexa?", "answer": "Ex Ante specialises in legal research in Belgian law. The AI overview and the assistant work with more than a million Belgian and European sources and link every statement to the passage in the original document. You use Ex Ante to find sources, support your position and check documents such as contracts against the applicable legislation and case law." }, { "question": "Can I try Ex Ante for free?", "answer": "Yes. You can try Ex Ante free for three weeks, no credit card required. After that, you decide whether to continue, and with which subscription. Working at a firm or a department? Book a 30-minute demo and we'll show you Ex Ante in your practice area." } ] } }, "clients": { "label": "Clients and partners", "heading": "Hundreds of lawyers work with Ex Ante, including at", "items": { "vub": { "story": "The VUB partners with us on research into reliable legal AI.", "mark": "reliable legal AI" }, "gda": { "story": "GD&A Advocaten finds the case law a file rests on faster with Ex Ante.", "mark": "the case law a file rests on" }, "truyens": { "story": "Truyens Advocaten checks the footnotes in every brief with the Word add-in.", "mark": "the footnotes in every brief" }, "arcas": { "story": "Arcas Law starts every new file with the Ex Ante AI overview.", "mark": "with the Ex Ante AI overview" }, "xirius": { "story": "Xirius Public uses Ex Ante to search the decisions of local authorities.", "mark": "the decisions of local authorities" }, "orys": { "story": "Orys Advocaten searches legislation, case law and legal literature in one search.", "mark": "in one search" } } }, "schema": { "features": [ "Search across legislation, parliamentary documents, case law, decisions and legal literature", "Semantic and keyword search", "Dutch-language and French-language sources", "Exclude party arguments: search only what the court itself says", "AI overview linked to the source passage", "AI assistant with a source for every statement", "Word add-in with Belgian-style citations and footnote verification" ] } }, "sources": { "areaOfLaw": { "ADMINISTRATIVE_LAW": "Administrative Law", "CIVIL_LAW": "Civil Law", "CONSTITUTIONAL_LAW": "Constitutional Law", "CORPORATE_LAW": "Corporate Law", "CRIMINAL_LAW": "Criminal Law", "ENVIRONMENTAL_LAW": "Environmental Law", "IMMIGRATION_LAW": "Immigration Law", "INTERNATIONAL_AND_EUROPEAN_LAW": "International and European Law", "PRIVACY_AND_DATA_PROTECTION_LAW": "Privacy and Data Protection Law", "PUBLIC_PROCUREMENT_LAW": "Public Procurement Law", "SOCIAL_LAW": "Social Law", "TAX_LAW": "Tax Law", "JUDICIAL_LAW": "Judicial Law", "ECONOMIC_LAW": "Economic Law" }, "courts": { "Deputatie": { "name": "Provincial Executive" }, "Gemeente": { "name": "Municipal Executive Board" }, "Vlaamse Regering": { "name": "Flemish Government" }, "appeal_aapen": { "name": "Antwerp Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_gent": { "name": "Ghent Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_liege": { "name": "Liège Court of Appeal" }, "appeal_mons": { "name": "Mons Court of Appeal" }, "cass": { "name": "Court of Cassation" }, "comm_env_inf": { "name": "Federal Appeals Commission for Access to Environmental Information" }, "comm_gov_doc": { "name": "Commission for Access to and Reuse of Administrative Documents" }, "comm_indemn": { "name": "Commission for Compensation for Unjustified Pre-trial Detention" }, "comm_priv": { "name": "Commission for the Protection of Privacy" }, "comm_vio": { "name": "Commission for Financial Assistance to Victims of Intentional Acts of Violence" }, "const": { "name": "Constitutional Court" }, "ecjg": { "name": "General Court (EU)" }, "ecjj": { "name": "Court of Justice (EU)" }, "entr_aapen": { "name": "Antwerp Enterprise Court" }, "entr_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Enterprise Court" }, "entr_gent": { "name": "Ghent Enterprise Court" }, "entr_hain": { "name": "Hainaut Enterprise Court" }, "entr_liege": { "name": "Liège Enterprise Court" }, "entr_wbrab": { "name": "Walloon Brabant Enterprise Court" }, "first_aapen": { "name": "Antwerp Court of First Instance" }, "first_eupen": { "name": "Eupen Court of First Instance" }, "first_hain": { "name": "Hainaut Court of First Instance" }, "first_leuven": { "name": "Leuven Court of First Instance" }, "first_liege": { "name": "Liège Court of First Instance" }, "first_limb": { "name": "Limburg Court of First Instance" }, "first_lux": { "name": "Luxembourg Court of First Instance" }, "first_namur": { "name": "Namur Court of First Instance" }, "first_ovla": { "name": "East Flanders Court of First Instance" }, "first_wbrab": { "name": "Walloon Brabant Court of First Instance" }, "first_wvla": { "name": "West Flanders Court of First Instance" }, "flem_gov": { "name": "Flemish Government" }, "fr_entr_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Enterprise Court (FR)" }, "fr_first_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Court of First Instance (FR)" }, "fr_lab_first_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Labour Court (FR)" }, "gba": { "name": "Data Protection Authority" }, "hhc": { "name": "Enforcement Council" }, "lab_appeal_aapen": { "name": "Antwerp Labour Court of Appeal" }, "lab_appeal_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Labour Court of Appeal" }, "lab_appeal_gent": { "name": "Ghent Labour Court of Appeal" }, "lab_appeal_liege": { "name": "Liège Labour Court of Appeal" }, "lab_appeal_mons": { "name": "Mons Labour Court of Appeal" }, "lab_first_aapen": { "name": "Antwerp Labour Court" }, "lab_first_gent": { "name": "Ghent Labour Court" }, "lab_first_hain": { "name": "Hainaut Labour Court" }, "lab_first_liege": { "name": "Liège Labour Court" }, "lab_first_wbrab": { "name": "Walloon Brabant Labour Court" }, "muni": { "name": "Municipal Executive Board" }, "nat_discpl": { "name": "National Disciplinary Council" }, "nl_entr_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Enterprise Court (NL)" }, "nl_first_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Court of First Instance (NL)" }, "nl_lab_first_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Labour Court (NL)" }, "ovb": { "name": "Appeals Body for Access to Government Information" }, "prov": { "name": "Provincial Executive" }, "rstvb": { "name": "Council for Disputes on Decisions regarding Study Progress" }, "rverkb": { "name": "Council for Election Disputes" }, "rvsce": { "name": "Council of State" }, "rvv": { "name": "Council for Alien Law Litigation" }, "rvvb": { "name": "Council for Permit Disputes" }, "arrond_court": { "name": "District Court" }, "assizes": { "name": "Court of Assizes" }, "echr": { "name": "European Court of Human Rights" }, "entr": { "name": "Brussels Enterprise Court" }, "entr_eupen": { "name": "Eupen Enterprise Court" }, "entr_leuven": { "name": "Leuven Enterprise Court" }, "first_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Court of First Instance" }, "just_peace": { "name": "Justice of the Peace" }, "lab_first_bxl": { "name": "Brussels Labour Court" }, "lab_first_eupen": { "name": "Eupen Labour Court" }, "lab_first_leuven": { "name": "Leuven Labour Court" }, "pol_court": { "name": "Police Court" } }, "documentType": { "CASE_LAW": "Case Law", "DECISION": "Decisions", "JURISPRUDENCE": "Jurisprudence", "LEGISLATION": "Legislation", "OTHER": "Other", "PARLIAMENTARY_PROCEEDINGS": "Parliamentary Proceedings" } } }