FAQ

It’s simple: On the landing page, you can enter up to three search criteria. You can choose to fill in all the fields or just a few — it’s entirely up to you. All the fields are optional, and you can use any combination of them. However, the more specific your search criteria, the easier it will be to find what you are looking for.

• Search-filter 1: Choose the area of law that best fits your situation from a predefined list. We understand that this can be tricky if you are unsure how to classify your situation. As a general rule, the type of person or party you are in conflict with usually indicates the relevant area of law. You can also refer to our FAQ for detailed explanations of each area. If you are still unsure, you can skip this step. However, taking your best guess can help refine your search results.
• Search-filter 2: Choose the preferred language(s) in which to communicate with a professional.
• Search-filter 3: Choose a region in which you want to look for a lawyer or mediator. From a legal perspective, the region does not matter. Lawyers and mediators can work anywhere in the country. However, if a lawyer needs to travel for you (e.g. for a court hearing), you may be charged for their travel time at their hourly rate. If you have to travel to meet the mediator or lawyer, you will have travel expenses and that will take up more of your time too. From a purely economic standpoint, we suggest clarifying with the professional you hire, where they will need to travel, and what the related costs will be.

After following those three steps, a list of legal professionals matching your three search criteria will be displayed. You may either directly start to go through these results or refine them further by using additional search filters.

Refine your search results using additional filters

On the left side, next to your search result list, you can further refine your results by applying additional filters to your search. Again, the more you narrow it down, the better the match. The filters are explained in detail below:

 “Lawyer or Mediator?”: Choose if you need help from a lawyer or mediator.

• Lawyers: Lawyers represent you and work in your best interests. They can provide legal advice, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in court if necessary. They are your advocates and will take your side in a dispute.
• Mediators: Mediators are neutral facilitators who do not take sides. They only provide advice if both parties request it, and even then, they remain impartial. Mediators help both parties communicate effectively to resolve the issue together in the most sustainable manner. This way, you stay in control of the outcome of your conflict.

Some lawyers are also trained mediators. If you would like to learn more about those professionals, please continue reading our FAQ.

“Qualified for legal aid?”: Choose if you qualify for legal aid or not. Only some lawyers and mediators accept legal aid cases. Therefore, if you qualify for legal aid, we strongly recommend seeking out professionals who handle these cases to avoid wasting time.

In general, you may qualify for legal aid if you have a low income and a low amount of savings. The specific financial criteria change annually. If you are a single person and your current income, or your income of two years ago, is under €33,200; or if you have a partner and/or minors and your income is under €46,900, we suggest looking into this option further.

Would you like to learn more about legal aid? Please take a look further down in our FAQ.

Yes. At first you can only select one language, the language in which you would like to be assisted in. The site then shows you the search results that match your search terms. However, you can then further refine your search in a second step and add a second language. You can do that by adding the second language on the left side of the screen after the search results have been shown.

Yes. You may contact as many professionals as you want.

Bear in mind though that every professional you contact will invest time and share their knowledge in trying to help you. Therefore, it is fair not to overdo it with the number of contact requests.

Using the Counselr website is completely free if you’re searching for a lawyer or mediator. You can browse profiles, read about professionals, and send them messages without incurring any cost. The legal professionals listed on Counselr pay an annual fee to be featured on the platform, so there is no charge to users for accessing the site.

However, if you decide to hire a lawyer or mediator, any fees related to their services are your responsibility. These costs are something you will agree on directly with the legal professional. Counselr is not involved in setting or managing these fees and does not take a commission or percentage from the agreement.

Please note that while using the platform to search and communicate is free, the costs for legal services will depend on the specific terms you agree on with the lawyer or mediator you choose.

Procurement law deals with the process of putting a (public) contract out to tender. For example, think of:

• public tendering,
• EU procurement law,
• contract award procedures that specify how contracts should be awarded based on certain criteria,
• supplier disputes with the contracting authorities,
• rules requiring entities to comply with procurement standards and allowing oversight by regulatory bodies,
• guidelines that encourage or require consideration of environmental sustainability and social factors in procurement decisions.

Read more about procurement law

Get legal help for procurement law issues

Employment law/ Labour law deals with regulations concerning, among other things, the relationship between an employer and an employee.

For example, think of:

• The content of employment agreements/ contracts,
• The applicability and meaning of general employment conditions,
• application and consequences of binding Collective Labour Agreements (“CAO”),
• dismissal of employees,
• dismissal of executives and board members,
• termination of employment contracts;
• reorganisations and restructuring,
• collective dismissal/ redundancy,
• non-competition issues and secrecy agreements;
• assistance in drafting personnel manuals and codes of conduct;
• obligations of the employer and employee during illness,
• expatriation and repatriation of employees,
• employment contracts for expatriates.

Get legal help for employment law issues

Asylum law governs the process and criteria by which individuals who are already present in a country can seek protection due to fear of persecution in their home country. Immigration law covers the regulations and policies governing the entry, stay, and status of foreign nationals in a country.

For example, think of:

• Getting a working permit to be allowed to work in the Netherlands,
• Family reunification, let them come to join you in the Netherlands
• Getting Dutch citizenship,
• Getting a residence permit,
• Asylum applications,
• Refugee Status determination,
• Deportation and Removal procedures, meaning you may have to leave the Netherlands.

Get legal help for immigration law issues

Tax law deals with regulations regarding the assessment and collection of taxes.

For example, think of:

• Income tax compliance,
• Tax audits and disputes,
• Corporate tax advice,
• Checking rules of tax deduction.

Get legal help for fiscal law issues

Administrative law centres around government decisions and rules the government has to follow to take those decisions.

For example, think of:

• Decision where events may take place,
• The city or other authority not deciding fast enough,
• applying for a building permit, for an extension, or transforming a commercial building into residential units.
• benefits,
• enforcement orders,
• getting damage payments as a result of the city’s or government’s plans.

Get legal help for administrative law issues

Inheritance law deals with the assets and debts of someone who has passed away.

The drafting and registering of a testament/ last will is the task of a notary. Lawyers and mediators can help you in case you have a conflict or try to avoid a future conflict.

For example, think of:

• Checking the applicable law,
• Explaining who can inherit and who cannot, who can be excluded from a will and who cannot be excluded,
• Contesting a will,
• Figuring out who is entitled to which assets that the deceased left behind,
• Helping you get the needed information from someone’s last will.

Get legal help for inheritance law issues

Health law deals with the rights of the patient, the healthcare provider, and the quality of care.

Get legal help for health law issues

Rental law deals with all aspects of leasing and renting.

For example, think of:

• Advice regarding your rental agreement with regards to a room, apartment, house, car or bike.
• Checking if the housing renting price is in accordance with the law,
• Conflicts with your landlord, e.g. who has to repair a broken heater, how to deal with a leakage or other issues in the house,
• When to get the deposit back,
• What the rights and duties are of landlords and the tenant

Get legal help for rental law issues

Insolvency law / bankruptcy law deals with various situations in which an individual or a company faces debt issues.

For example, think of:

• Bankruptcy/ insolvency of a company, meaning you can no longer pay your bills and have debts,
• Pausing/Suspension of payments (moratorium)
• Debt restructuring;
• Reorganisation of personnel, often combined with collective redundancy which means you also need employment law experts;
• Shareholder agreements;
• Director’s liability;
• Takeover negotiations/ management buy outs;
• Turnaround;

Vesting and enforcement of securities;

Get legal help for insolvency law issues

Intellectual property law deals with rights to developed ideas and creative concepts, such as music, trademarks, software, games, texts, and photographs.

Get legal help for intellectual property law issues

Personal injury law deals with liability for and the assessment of damages suffered by an individual who has been injured or has died due to the fault of another party.

Get legal help for personal injury law issues

Environmental law deals with regulations concerning the physical environment in which we live, including issues related to the environment, water, nature, and spatial planning.

Get legal help for environmental law issues

Business law/ Commercial law deals with all the rules related to running a business. It deals with the various laws that businesses must comply with in their day-to-day operations. This includes contracts, employment law, intellectual property, and commercial transactions. Commercial law, a subset of business law, specifically focuses on the laws concerning trade, sales, and commerce, such as the sale of goods, supply of services, and international trade.

Get legal help for business and commercial law issues

Education law deals with the quality assurance of students, as well as the funding of education and subsidies for students.

Get legal help for education law issues

Family law deals with matters concerning family and children, such as divorce, birth, parentage, and child protection measures.

For example, think of:

• Divorce, dissolution registered partnership,
• Child or partner alimony/maintenance payments
• Custody- disputes, meaning which parent gets to decide (e.g. on it’s location, vacation, school of the child, medical decisions etc.)
• Who gets to see the child when,
• With whom will the child live after separation,
• Determining whether a child can relocate, obtaining permission, or preventing a parent from moving with the child,
• recognition of fatherhood,
• DNA testing,
• Denial of paternity or disavowal of paternity
• Having a child being placed in foster care,
• Dealing with child protective services,
• Having your child under supervision of child protective authorities,
• Wanting to be informed about your child’s wellbeing,
• Division of assets ,
• Rainbow families, meaning the child may have four parents, two mums and two dads,
• Surrogacy,
• Duo-motherhood, meaning two mother’s raising a child,
• Adoption

Get legal help for family law issues

Privacy law deals with the regulations on privacy protection established in various laws and guidelines, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Get legal help for privacy law issues

Mental health law deals with involuntary admissions and treatments in psychiatry.

Get legal help for mental health law issues

Social security law deals with regulations that ensure people have an income during periods of disability, illness, retirement, or unemployment.

For example, think of:

• Applying for social security or disability benefits,
• Contesting a government’s decision to deny benefits.

Get legal help for social security law issues

Criminal law addresses what behaviour is punishable and what penalties apply for violations of the law. Criminal procedure law deals with the procedures that must be followed in enforcing and adjudicating these penalties.

For example, think of:

• Theft or larcency,
• Assault and battery,
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs,
• Drug offences,
• White-collar-crimes, like embezzlement, fraud, or insider trading,
• Domestic violence,
• Sexual offence allegations, such as sexual assault, rape, or child pornography,
• homicide (murder) or manslaughter.

Get legal help for criminal law issues

Transport and trade law deals with regulations concerning the trade and transportation of goods, whether by road, sea, inland waterways, rail, or air.

Get legal help for transport and trade law issues

Professional disciplinary law deals with disciplinary decisions and rules to which a professional group is subject.

For example, think of:

• Doctors,
• Lawyers,
• Accountants,
• Notaries.

Get legal help for professional disciplinary law issues

Real estate law deals with property, including the legal aspects of project development, financing, sale, purchase, and leasing.

For example, think of:

• Sale and purchase agreements,
• Structuring asset transactions,
• Neighbouring conflicts regarding the boarder of your property,
• Mortgage and liens,
• Building codes and regulations,
• Environmental permits,
• Land zoning and planning,
• Retail and office lease agreements,
• Tenancy,
• Owners associations (“VvE”);
• (Litigation in) planning procedures.

Get legal help for real estate law issues

Insurance law deals with legal rules that govern the relationships between the insurer and the policyholder and/or the insured.

Get legal help for insurance law issues

Company law / Corporate law primarily deals with the formation, governance, and dissolution of companies (corporations). It regulates the legal structure of companies, including how they are created, managed, and operated. This area of law is concerned with the rights and obligations of shareholders, directors, and officers, as well as issues like mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and compliance with corporate governance standards.

For example, think of:

• Formation and registration of companies,
• Shareholder rights and obligations,
• Director duties and responsibilities,
• Corporate governance,
• Mergers and acquisitions,
• Company dissolution.

Get legal help for corporate and company law issues

No and no. As long as you are connected to the internet, you can get assistance from a Dutch lawyer or mediator, no matter where you live. You do not need to live in the Netherlands, and you don’t need a Dutch Social Security Number / BSN-number.

Not necessarily. In many cases, it’s possible to manage things online.

For mediation, you can participate remotely, but being there in person can be helpful. This is because seeing body language in person can give the mediator more insight into everyone’s feelings and make the process more effective.

You can communicate with your lawyer online without any issues. If a court hearing is scheduled, you might be able to attend remotely as well. However, in some situations, especially depending on the area of law and what’s at stake, it might be better to be present in person.

Lawyers in the Netherlands are legal professionals who provide advice and representation to a party (person or company).

The core values of lawyers are:

• Independence: Lawyers are not dependent on the government or the judge. This independence guarantees a fair process.
• Partiality: The lawyer fights for your rights, not anybody else’s.
• Expertise: The lawyer can advise on what is reasonable and achievable and, if necessary, refer you to a colleague better equipped to help if the issue is not within their expertise.
• Integrity: The lawyer maintains objectivity, prevents conflicts of interest, and can justify their decisions within the legal system.
• Confidentiality: Maintaining confidentiality is vital for lawyers to effectively serve their clients, enabling open communication and informed decision-making.

Yes. “Lawyer” is a protected title. Only people who actually are registered as a member of the Dutch Bar Association can call themselves “advocaat”, the Dutch word for lawyer. You can check if someone is a lawyer or if a law firm is legitimate by typing in the name on the following site of the Dutch Bar Association: Please note that you can search for the name of a particular lawyer (“naam”) or the details of a law firm (“kantoor”).  The latter search will tell you all the lawyers working at the firm as well as providing their contact information. For an individual lawyer, you will see when they were first sworn in as a lawyer, which local bar association they are registered with, the area of law they practise in, potential memberships of expert groups, and if the person is employed or self-employed. If they exist, disciplinary decisions against a lawyer will show up here as well.

Lawyers must follow an extensive set of rules and obligations. Some rules affect the way parties communicate. For example:

• Once you are represented by a lawyer, the opposing party’s lawyer can no longer contact you directly You will always be informed by your lawyer, who will act in your best interests and explain your options to you.
• Your lawyer must remain respectful towards all parties involved.
• It is the lawyer’s task to de-escalate any conflict and work towards a solution.

Some rules affect the documents you need to provide at the start of your case and the information your lawyer must give you. For example, your lawyer must:

• Ask you to verify your identity to confirm who you are.
• Check for any conflicts of interest (e.g. with other clients) to ensure they can represent you.
• Get your written agreement to represent you and confirm the fees. This is usually done through a “confirmation of services” contract, where you’ll also agree to the firm’s terms and conditions.
• Many lawyers may ask for an advance payment because they start incurring costs as soon as they take on your case. This can cover both their work and external costs (like court fees). While common, this is not mandatory.
• Your lawyer should inform you early on about your chances of success and provide an estimate of the total costs involved.

You can pause your file with a lawyer at any time, and seek a second opinion. However, second opinions will mean you incur additional costs, regardless of whether or not you qualify for legal aid. You will be responsible for these expenses unless you have legal insurance that covers them.

Yes.

Seeking a second opinion is a choice.

However, sometimes the involvement of another lawyer is necessary. This is particularly true if your conflict involves multiple areas of law, where you might need a specialist lawyer for each area and these lawyers will need to work together.

If your case requires the Dutch court to apply foreign law, your Dutch lawyer might need to collaborate with a lawyer from another country. In such situations, it’s also a good idea to ensure that both lawyers speak a common language to avoid any miscommunication.

Mediation is a process where a neutral third person, known as a mediator, helps people who are in conflict to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone. It’s a way to resolve issues through an open dialogue and cooperation, avoiding the need to go to court. The mediator’s role is to guide the conversation, but not to make decisions for you.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the core principles:

• Voluntariness: Mediation is completely optional. Everyone involved agrees to participate and can choose to leave at any time. However, for mediation to be successful, everyone needs to be committed to working things out.
• Confidentiality: Anything discussed during mediation stays private. You can decide to share information with others if you and the other party agree, but generally, the details remain confidential to encourage honest communication.
• Neutrality: Mediators stay completely uninvolved in the personal feelings or stakes of the parties involved. The mediator‘s job is to help facilitate discussions without influencing the decisions being made.
• Impartiality: The mediator treats all parties equally, ensuring that no one is favoured or biased against. This helps to maintain fairness throughout the process.

In principle, all conflicts are suitable for mediation. It doesn’t matter whether it’s about employment disputes, conflicts with neighbours, divorces, family conflicts, consumer issues, or disagreements with the council or another (government) body. Whether mediation is suitable for your conflict depends on how you and the other party view the situation. Mediation can be effective if:

• A quick solution is needed. You want to move on and the sooner the conflict is resolved, the better.
• Both parties want to have control over the solution. In mediation, you negotiate the outcome yourselves.
• You want or need to maintain a relationship with the other party, for example, if you continue to work together or are divorcing, and there are children involved.
• You are willing to talk to the other party and work together to find a solution.
• There are communication issues, but you still want the conflict resolved.
• You are looking for a creative solution because a legal ruling can’t solve everything for you.

Mediation might not work if:

• You don’t feel safe being in the same room as the other person.
• There’s an imbalance of power: If one party has much more power or control, mediation might not be fair.
• One or more people aren’t really interested in mediation.
• If the other party won’t participate or compromise, you might need a lawyer to handle it in court.
• If the situation has escalated and you need legal protection or a formal ruling, having a lawyer is essential.

If mediation is not an option, it is recommended to contact a lawyer instead. Lawyers also try their utmost to find a solution and negotiate. Going to court is always the last resort. Therefore, contacting a lawyer is not a declaration of war, but simply making sure that someone is on your team and represents your interest.

Yes and no. ‘Mediator’ is not a protected title. Therefore, anyone can call themselves a mediator. However, there are two certification marks: MfN and ADR.

MfN stands for ‘Mediator Federatie Nederland’. It is a professional organisation in the Netherlands that sets standards for mediators, ensures quality assurance, and maintains a register of certified mediators. Mediators who are MFN-registered have met certain training and professional requirements, ensuring a high standard of practice in mediation.

ADR stands for ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’. It refers to an independent international register for active and professional conflict mediators.

All mediators listed on Counselr are MfN- registered mediators. You can check if someone is a registered MfN- mediator on the MfN-website by typing their name under the headline “Zoek op Naam”.

Cousnelr chooses to list only MfN-registered mediators because it ensures that mediators meet strict professional standards. These mediators have received thorough training and are required to continually update their knowledge. They follow clearly defined rules for the mediation process and failure to adhere to these standards can result in serious consequences, ensuring accountability.

Additionally, only MfN-registered mediators are legally allowed to handle cases on a legal aid basis, providing broader access to justice for those who may need financial assistance.

The MfN mediator title comes with a set of rules and obligations, which parties are informed of in writing prior to the actual start of the mediation. You will receive:

• The Mediation Agreement,
• A copy of the MfN Mediation Rules and an explanation of them,
• The MfN Code of Conduct the mediator has to follow,
• The Complaints Procedure against an MfN registered mediator.

Due to the number of legal documents parties receive at the beginning, the start of a mediation process can feel rather formal.

The Mediation Agreement is the main document. This is the contract all conflicting parties and the mediator sign. The signing of the contract marks the official start of your mediation process. In the document the core principles of mediation and the costs of mediation are stated. The mediator gives more detail on it and checks if the parties have any questions before they sign it.

The other documents are a more detailed elaboration of the core principles as well as possible consequences for a mediator if they do not follow the rules.

It depends on the type of conflict and how many people are involved. Most of the time, one mediator can handle conflicts between two parties. But for really complex issues or when there are multiple parties involved, more than one mediator might be needed. Usually, if this is the case, the mediator will suggest bringing in an additional mediator to help.

That’s a tricky question! Generally, mediation can work for almost any conflict as long as it hasn’t gotten too out of hand. But figuring out what “too far” means can be tough. Interestingly, mediation is also used in serious criminal cases, like rape and murder.

Counselr offers a list of the pros and cons of mediation (see above FAQ). If you’re unsure, simply reach out to a mediator or lawyer. A legal professional can assess your situation and guide you in choosing the best approach.

Yes, you can switch between the two or even have both.

Some people prefer to resolve their conflict with the help of a mediator while keeping a lawyer in the background. The benefit of this approach is that during mediation, the parties explore possible solutions to their conflict. Having a lawyer can help you understand what the likely outcome would be if the case goes to court, allowing you to determine whether a proposed deal is advantageous or not. Additionally, your lawyer can review the final agreement drafted by the mediator before you sign it. However, keep in mind that mediation is confidential, so after signing the mediation agreement, you’ll need permission from the other party to discuss mediation details with your lawyer.

Others feel more comfortable having someone they trust, like a lawyer, present during the mediation meetings themselves.

Another option is to pause a court case and try mediation. If you reach an agreement through mediation, the court can record your settlement. If not, the court proceedings continue and the judge will make a decision.

Some people choose not to involve a lawyer during mediation, preferring to resolve the conflict directly. If mediation doesn’t work and they still want to resolve the issue, contacting a lawyer becomes the next step.

Overall, mediation is becoming more popular in the Netherlands because court cases often take too long, are expensive, and many people are capable of finding solutions that work better for both parties than what a court might decide.

If you qualify for legal aid, the above mentioned choices may not be available to you. The reason for this is that the legal aid board does not cover the costs for legal support for the same issue twice – i.e. both a lawyer and of a mediator. As a general rule of thumb, the chances of the legal aid board paying for both increase if you get a lawyer first, and the mediator later.

Regarding the costs of legal help of either a lawyer or a mediator, there are three different possible starting points:

• People who have a lower income and who qualify for legal aid. They need to pay a small amount; the rest is covered by the Dutch Government.
• People who have legal insurance. They need to contact their insurance company first, before asking any professionals for support. The insurance may cover all costs, depending on the details of the contract you have with your insurance.
• People who do not qualify for legal aid and do not have legal insurance. They need to pay the professional themselves.

In a rule of law society, everyone should have equal access to justice, regardless of their financial situation. Despite a lot of issues within the system, the Netherlands is a rule of law society. Therefore, if you need a Dutch lawyer or mediator but have a low income, the Dutch Government covers most of the costs, and you only pay a small contribution.

It doesn’t matter where you are from or where you live. If you need legal support in the Netherlands and meet the financial requirements, you will be eligible for legal aid (in Dutch: “gefinancierde rechtsbijstand” or “toevoeging”).

The lawyer or mediator will apply for this on your behalf. You do not have to do it yourself. However, they may ask you to provide financial documents if you are earning income in another country.

To qualify for subsidised legal aid, your income and assets must fall below certain thresholds. These thresholds are adjusted annually to reflect economic conditions and ensure the system remains fair and effective.

In 2025:

• The maximum gross annual income for a single person is €33,200, and for couples or single parents, it’s €46,900. Additionally, assets (savings or investments) must not exceed €33,748 for a person to qualify for aid.
• The legal aid board’s decision is based on your current living situation (single person or family) and your income from two years ago (2023). For example, if you have been living with a partner for three months, your eligibility will be assessed based on both your and your partner’s income and assets in 2023.
• If your income and/or assets are now significantly lower than they were two years ago, you may, in exceptional circumstances, request that the legal aid board assess your application based on your current financial situation instead of your financial situation from two years ago.
• The legal aid board can revoke their decision if, as a result of receiving legal assistance, you receive more than €18,697.50.
• If you are eligible for legal aid, the total amount you will have to pay for a lawyer is between €241 to €1,050
• If you are eligible for legal aid, the total amount you need to pay for a mediator ranges from €65 to €129.
• If your case is extremely time consuming, the amount you have to pay can double.
• In addition to the lawyer or mediator costs, you may also need to cover court fees and the costs of obtaining documents, if applicable.

The costs not covered by the Dutch Government must be paid by the client to the lawyer or mediator.

Ultimately, the decision on your eligibility for legal aid rests with the legal aid board. The information provided here serves as a general guideline to help you assess whether you may qualify based on your income and assets.

Please note that a lot of lawyers and mediators do not accept cases on a legal aid basis. Therefore, if you think you qualify, it is strongly recommended to only contact legal professionals who do.

Just as you can get health or car insurance, you can also pay for legal insurance. However, it’s important to carefully review which areas of law and specific aspects of those areas your insurance covers.

If your legal insurance covers the issue you’re facing, the costs are typically covered to a great extent, depending on the details of your policy.

It’s advisable to contact your insurance provider as soon as a conflict arises to confirm whether your situation is covered. If it is, your insurer will connect you with a paralegal or lawyer who can provide advice and answer your questions. Initially, you won’t have the option to choose your legal representative yourself; the insurance will assign one to you. However, if the case goes to court, by law, you may choose either to continue with the lawyer provided by your insurance or to switch to another lawyer of your choice, with their fees covered by your insurance up to a certain amount.

The cost of a lawyer or mediator depends on their preferred payment structure. In most cases, legal professionals charge an hourly rate, while some may offer a fixed fee for the entire case.

Hourly rates typically range from €100 to €600, with the average cost for lawyers being around €200 to €300 per hour and for mediators, around €100 to €200. These fees depend on factors such as experience, expertise, the complexity of the case and other considerations. It is advisable to confirm the fees and estimated total costs in advance.

In the Netherlands, a “no cure, no pay” or “no win, no fee” arrangement — where the lawyer is only paid if they win the case—is prohibited, except in cases of personal injury and wrongful death.

If you qualify for legal aid, you are responsible for covering the costs of a second opinion, just as if you did not qualify for legal aid. Additionally, if you wish to change lawyers, you will need to pay your own legal aid contribution a second time.

If you have legal insurance, the costs of a second opinion depend on your policy. It is often free of charge.

If you need to cover the costs yourself, the costs will depend on the fees charged by the legal professional.

In Dutch culture, cash payments are quite rare.

While it is theoretically possible to pay a mediator in cash, whether they accept this method of payment is entirely up to them.

However, the law prohibits clients from paying their lawyer in cash. This is due to regulations designed to prevent money laundering. If a client absolutely cannot transfer the payment to the lawyer’s bank account, the lawyer may, in very rare cases, request an exception from the dean of the Bar Association.