Dreessen Advocaten is a modern and dynamically progressive law firm where quality and efficiency are paramount. The firm is a general practice with specialisations that focus on various legal fields both for individuals and businesses.

Dreessen Advocaten is a firm that is known for its involvement, decisiveness and finesse.

Please contact us for an initial non-binding consultation.

We work on the basis of our very competitive rates or, if applicable, on a legal aid basis.

Costs

In order to save costs we first try to resolve disputes by means of consultation and negotiation in order to achieve a satisfactory result. If this is not successful, we will ascertain whether the desired outcome can be achieved by means of a court procedure.

Timely and competent interventions may reduce your costs. We also check whether you are eligible for legal aid from the Dutch Legal Council (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand). If this is the case, you pay us nothing or at most a ‘personal contribution’ and court fees (if any). We have been able to assist many clients this way. You can use the website of the Dutch Legal council (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand) to see if you are eligible for legal aid (’toevoeging’).

If you are not eligible for legal aid, we work for you on an hourly basis.  As efficiency is an integral part of our strategy, we are able to use very competitive rates. There are separate rates for urgent cases. We also arrange legal expenses insurance.

For businesses and organisations that require regular legal support, we offer a services package tailored to each particular case. For example, debt collection cases in conjunction with private detection. There are also options for fixed price agreements and rates related to achieved results.

Terms & Conditions

1. Dreessen Advocaten is a law practice run by Ms. Dreessen, LLM, and Mr. Gelissen, LLM. Ms. Dreessen, LLM (Chamber of Commerce 14114113) is the sole contracting party.
2. The agreement between client and lawyer is governed by Dutch law, whereby the applicability of articles 7:404 and 7:407, par. 2, of the Dutch Civil Code is excluded.
3. The lawyer is insured for professional liability in accordance with the Netherlands Bar Association regulations on professional liability. Liability is limited to the amount paid out by the professional liability insurance in a particular case, plus the excess payment. If liability is not covered by the insurance it is limited to the fees charged for the relevant case in the previous year.
4. The agreement between client and lawyer is governed by Dutch law. The Dutch courts have jurisdiction to hear any disputes arising from this agreement. If there are any disputes between lawyer and client, our office will refer these to the internal complaints procedure. Dreessen Advocaten is also affiliated with the Dutch Disputes Committee for the Legal Profession (Geschillencommissie Advocatuur).
5. Dreessen Advocaten can provide legal assistance on the basis of legal aid (’toevoeging’) set out in the Dutch Legal Aid Act (Wet op de rechtsbijstand). Entitlement to legal aid depends on income and capital see also (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand). The lawyer will be able to apply for this legal aid at the Dutch Legal Aid Council (Raad voor rechtsbijstand). If the Legal Aid Council assigns the lawyer, then he or she may work on this basis and the Legal Aid Council will (for a large part) pay the lawyer’s fees. The Legal Aid Council will only grant legal aid if a person’s income and capital is below a specific threshold and will carry out the necessary checks. In respect of this you must note that:
   • the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst) will provide the Legal Aid Council (at their request) with details about income and capital by using your citizen service number (‘BSN’) (including your partner’s details, if applicable);
   • the Legal Aid Council will check personal details and the citizen service number with the municipality you are registered with (including your partner’s details, if applicable);
   • the details (provided) will be entered into the Legal Aid Council’s records;
   • supplying incorrect information or withholding information may lead to refusal or cancellation of legal aid and may result in prosecution proceedings;
   • legal aid provided retrospectively may be withdrawn if a specific financial result is achieved by means of the legal assistance (50% of the applicable tax-free allowance, does not apply in criminal cases);
   • even if legal aid has been granted you must bear in mind that you must pay the lawyer a statutory ‘personal contribution’, the level of which depends on the level of your income.
   • you may be entitled to a € 52 reduction on your personal contribution if you first contact the Dutch Legal Services Counter (Juridisch Loket) regarding your legal issue and have them refer you to a lawyer.
   • you may be able apply to the municipal authority for special assistance regarding the costs of the personal contribution (and any other legal costs, such as court fees);
   • if and to the extent that during the process of your case or as a result of the outcome of your case, your entitlement to legal aid is cancelled, the standard lawyer’s fee will be payable by you.

 

6. The lawyers reserve the right not to deal with the case on the basis of legal aid. This will be assessed for each individual case.
7. If no legal aid has been obtained the lawyer will charge the agreed hourly rate. Work undertaken is invoiced periodically and according to the hourly rate or agreed rate on a monthly basis. The lawyer may require an advance before any work is undertaken.
8. Any bailiff’s costs (for service of a summons) and court fees (for a court procedure) will be passed on to you, even if you have been granted legal aid. The lawyer will only be able to instigate a procedure if these court fees have been paid in advance.
9. If you have legal expenses insurance, the costs of court fees, bailiff and lawyer may be covered. It is advisable to contact your legal expenses insurer as soon as possible to check your cover.
10. You must also bear in mind that, if it is necessary to instigate a procedure, there will be costs involved and that costs – even though the opposite party may be ordered to pay these costs – are often not reimbursed fully, that success is not guaranteed and that, if the case is lost, you may be ordered to pay the opposite party’s costs in the proceedings.
11. Monies the firm collects on your behalf, are managed on our clients’ account (Stichting Derdengelden), bank account number 150483317.
12. Unless required otherwise by law, the lawyer may destroy the dossier after a period of five years after the conclusion of the case without any further notice.