Belgian Bailiff Ranking Exam key terms

A writ of execution served by a bailiff on a debtor, ordering payment of a judgment debt or performance of an obligation within a stated period, and acting as the formal starting point of enforcement.

A public officer and liberal professional appointed by the Crown who serves writs, drafts authentic instruments, and carries out court-ordered enforcement within a defined territorial jurisdiction.

The geographic area in which a bailiff may lawfully serve documents and conduct enforcement acts; acting outside it generally renders the act void or irregular.

A document drawn up by a public officer such as a bailiff or notary in the prescribed form, which provides conclusive proof of its contents and may be directly enforceable.

A decision or instrument, such as a final judgment or notarial deed, that legally authorises enforcement measures against a debtor's person or property.

A conservatory or executory seizure of a debtor's assets by a bailiff, aimed at preserving or realising those assets to satisfy a claim.

A seizure directed at a third party who owes money or goods to the debtor, obliging that third party to declare what it holds and to pay the creditor rather than the debtor.

The statement a garnishee must file with the bailiff, listing amounts or assets held for the debtor, which determines the extent of the attachment.

A protective attachment obtained before final judgment, subject to strict conditions and a short validity period, preventing the debtor from dissipating assets pending the outcome of proceedings.

The formal delivery of a writ or judgment to the opposing party through a bailiff, fixing the date from which appeal or objection periods begin to run.

A procedural situation in which a defendant fails to appear or respond after valid service, allowing the court to rule in absentia subject to possible relief.

The remedy by which a party condemned in absentia asks the same court to reopen the case and set aside the default judgment.

The quality of a judgment allowing it to be enforced immediately despite an appeal, usually ordered by the court and sometimes subject to a security.

A suspension of enforcement measures granted by a court, often in summary proceedings, when execution would cause manifestly excessive or irreparable harm.

An expedited procedure before the president of the court of first instance, granting urgent provisional measures where delay would prejudice a party's rights.

An attachment on a debtor's salary or wages, executed within statutory limits protecting a minimum income, and administered with the garnishee employer.

The portion of a debtor's income or benefits that is exempt from attachment, calculated according to statutory rules so the debtor retains a minimum means of subsistence.

A judicially supervised auction of attached movable or immovable property conducted by a bailiff or notary, transferring ownership to the highest bidder.

The ordered allocation of money realised from enforcement among competing creditors according to their ranking and privileges.

A legal preference attaching to certain claims, such as wage or tax debts, entitling the creditor to be paid ahead of unsecured creditors from specific or general assets.

A registered real security right over immovable property securing a debt, allowing the mortgagee to have the property sold and paid from the proceeds in priority.

The legal ability of a person to conclude binding agreements, which may be limited by minority, guardianship, or insolvency status.

A collective insolvency procedure in which a debtor's assets are realised and distributed among creditors, with certain acts performed by the trustee and supervised by the court.

A procedure offering a debtor in difficulty protection against enforcement while proposing a recovery plan or collective payment arrangement to creditors.

The lapse of time after which a creditor can no longer bring a claim or enforce a judgment, extinguishing the right of action subject to interruption or suspension.

The principal Belgian code governing court organisation, competence, procedure, and enforcement, including the rules bailiffs must apply in service and execution.

The general civil court of first instance in Belgium, hearing most civil claims, enforcement disputes, and certain insolvency matters.

A local court handling smaller civil claims, tenancy disputes, and certain family matters, with simplified and less costly procedure.

The public-law body representing and regulating bailiffs in Belgium, issuing professional rules, disciplinary oversight, and practice standards.

Formal proceedings before a disciplinary body examining alleged breaches of professional duties by a bailiff, potentially leading to warning, suspension, or removal.

A situation in which a bailiff's personal, financial, or family ties could improperly influence professional acts, requiring refusal or disclosure to safeguard impartiality.

The duty of a bailiff to keep confidential information learned in the exercise of the profession, subject to narrow statutory exceptions such as legal reporting obligations.

The EU regulation governing processing of personal data, requiring lawful basis, transparency, data minimisation, and security, and granting data subjects rights such as access and erasure.

The person or body determining the purposes and means of personal data processing; a bailiff generally acts as controller for client files and enforcement records.

An internal record listing processing activities, purposes, categories of data, recipients, and retention periods, required to demonstrate GDPR accountability.

The defined duration for which personal data or professional files may be kept before deletion or archiving, justified by legal obligations or legitimate purposes.

The delivery of procedural documents through a secure digital platform or registered electronic channel, producing legal effects equivalent to paper service where permitted.

The Belgian electronic identity card and qualified electronic signature tools used to authenticate bailiffs and to sign documents with legal validity equivalent to a handwritten signature.

An indirect tax on supplies of goods and services; bailiffs apply it to their fees, with specific rules on rates, exemptions, and invoicing obligations.

The regulated tariff structure determining a bailiff's remuneration for acts performed, often set by royal decree and subject to judicial review of excess.

An advance of costs paid by a bailiff on the client's behalf, such as registry or publication fees, recoverable from the client separately from professional fees.