When you bring a child into the world, you wish him/her all the best. However, there are so many factors that can prevent a child's childhood, youth and adolescence from going as expected.
What happens to the child if there is partner violence within the family and the child is a witness or a victim of it?
What if one of the parents has a drug problem or serious psychological problems?
The child may also end up in distressing situations for reasons of his own, which the parents cannot always control.
Swapping day and night rhythms and consequently knowing absences from school.
Or worse, it can get to the point where the child itself commits acts that would be regarded as a crime and punished for an adult.
These disturbing situations (when the child himself is in trouble) or juvenile offenses (when the child himself causes problems) sometimes necessitate a social response, in which the Public Prosecution Service and/or the Juvenile Court must intervene.
Within our office we have a skilled team that can assist you in any of these situations. Not only are we often officially appointed as legal counsel for the minor himself in the context of cabinet discussions, extrajudicial proceedings and court hearings, but we also act for the parents, as for civil parties/victims of acts committed by a minor.
Disturbing Situation (DS)
When we talk about 'disturbing situations', abbreviated also called DS (formerly PPS - problematic parenting situation), we first of all think of the files in which minors and their parents are involved in which there is a social necessity to intervene in the minor's life. . This may be the case, for example, if the child's school attendance or development is compromised or if the minor's physical integrity is threatened (see the example of drugs or violence in the parental environment). He is concerned here with the protection of the minor.
As counsel for the minor, we ensure that the minor is correctly informed about the procedure and his rights, we try to be a trusted person in his/her environment and monitor whether the measures imposed by the juvenile court/juvenile court are the most appropriate.
As counsel for (one of) the parents, we ensure that you are heard by the court. Suppose it is decided to remove your children from the parental environment and place them in a facility, then of course you want them back with you as soon as possible.
Juvenile delinquency, formerly defined as a felony (DAF)
Unfortunately, it also happens that a minor commits acts that – if an adult were to commit them – would be considered as a punishable offense. Your son is stealing a handbag. Your daughter is extorting a girlfriend. Some minors get into a fight among themselves. However, in view of the minors of the perpetrators, these facts are treated differently, which does not mean that no social intervention (referred to as a reaction) is necessary here.
In the past, these offenses were described as 'facts described as a crime', also referred to as MOF for short. From September 2019, however, under the new juvenile delinquency law we will speak of 'juvenile delinquency'. The emphasis is on the responsibility of the minor and in certain areas lines can really be drawn with 'adult criminal law'.
Here too we assist minors, to guide them through the procedure for handling at the level of the public prosecutor and/or court, and to ensure that a proportional measure (provisional) or sanction (final) is imposed.
But parents who are probably very worried about the future of their children, who may or may not suddenly decide to commit crimes, can also contact us.
Offenses, however, usually also mean that there are victims/civil parties involved. Here too, we act for persons or companies that have suffered damage as a result of a juvenile offense committed by a minor, but also for parents who are held responsible at civil law level for the actions of their children. Think, for example, of a shop that burns out because a minor started a fire. Or someone who has been fatally injured after intentional blows by a minor. The bill is soon presented to the parents.
Assistance in the settlement of a claim as a claimant or claimant
We have specialized in assisting those causing the damage (the minor) and their responsible persons (the parents) both in the 'criminal' defense before the juvenile court, or in civil assistance if a claimant believes that you are liable for the damage caused by him/her. her damage.
It is often a long wait for such procedures to be completed and appropriate interventions must be taken at each stage.
The right legal assistance is important at every stage of the process: from the start of the investigation to the stage before the Court. We actively monitor your file and take the necessary actions.
We are particularly specialized in assisting victims/damaged parties during criminal proceedings and as a result of possible civil proceedings, which are sometimes necessary to obtain compensation for the damage caused as a claimant.
It is often a long wait for such procedures to be completed and appropriate interventions must be taken at each stage.
The right legal assistance is important at every stage of the process: from the start of the investigation to the stage before the Court. We actively monitor your file and take the necessary actions.
If you are the victim of physical damage, you are entitled to compensation paid by the liable person or his insurer. It is important that you as a victim are correctly informed about which compensation you can claim and which you cannot.
A correct calculation of damage is an art in itself. We are consulted by private individuals and other lawyers to assist them in calculating the correct compensation.
Wanted Law systematically follows every evolution in the field of damage estimation techniques, in order to assist you with advice and assistance.
Discussions with insurance companies
The liable party can usually fall back on insurance to pay out the damage. For example, parents who are held liable for damage resulting from the acts committed by their children will often be able to rely on their family insurance.
We are happy to assist you in all possible discussions with or regarding the intervention of your family insurance, fire insurance, comprehensive insurance,…
This concerns the right of intervention, the amount of compensation to be paid, or disputes in the event of recourse or recovery claims by these companies.
We are also happy to help you clarify “the fine print” or defend your interests in the event of an unlawful refusal to intervene…
At the expense of the legal expenses insurer?
In such cases, a legal assistance insurer often intervenes, allowing you to choose your law firm freely, in order to best defend your interests.
Your legal expenses insurer is not only responsible for the payment of your lawyer, but usually also for the legal costs, the costs of any own technical expert to be appointed, etc.
Contact us without obligation and we will advise you appropriately about chances of success and check the possible charges and contact your broker or the company so that you do not have to worry about this.
Where can you contact us?
Please check appointment in legal aid
You can use this contact form to ask us to contact you in order to have your legal expenses insurer grant us a mandate to represent your interests after obtaining some basic information.