Private international law
Identifying the competent courts and the law applicable to your case
An individual or company may face an international legal situation whenever an element of the dispute is connected to another country, such as a party’s residence, the place where a contract is performed, the place where an accident occurred, property located abroad, or a foreign judgment that must be recognised in Belgium.
Several questions may arise at the same time:
- Which court, Belgian or foreign, has jurisdiction over the dispute?
- Which law, Belgian or foreign, applies to the substance of the case?
- How can a foreign judgment or a decision of an international or European court be recognised and enforced in Belgium?
- How can an international contract be secured in advance through clauses on applicable law, jurisdiction, mediation or other dispute resolution mechanisms?
In Belgium, these issues are governed mainly by European instruments, including the Brussels I bis Regulation on jurisdiction and enforcement of judgments, the Rome I and Rome II Regulations on applicable law, and the regulations concerning matrimonial property regimes and registered partnerships. These are supplemented by the Belgian Code of Private International Law and specific legislation.
Pauline Goffioul assists clients throughout private international law matters, whether amicable or contentious, from determining jurisdiction to identifying the applicable law. Her approach focuses on clarity, prevention of disputes and legally robust solutions that remain sensitive to the human realities of the case.
How we can assist
Whatever the circumstances, every client deserves careful attention. Here are some examples of matters in which the firm can assist.
Child custody and wrongful removal
Proceedings based on international conventions concerning the return of a child, contact rights and mediation. Pauline Goffioul assists in protecting children’s rights in complex cross-border situations.
Marriage with a cross-border element
Determination of the law applicable to the matrimonial property regime, the spouses’ rights and duties, the effects of the marriage in Belgium and any formalities required for recognition in Belgium. Pauline Goffioul helps clients navigate the legal implications of international marriages.
International estates
Legal coordination where an estate involves several cross-border elements, for example where heirs or assets are located in different countries. Pauline Goffioul examines the law applicable to the estate and determines which courts have jurisdiction, helping manage complex international successions effectively.
International divorce
Determination of the competent court, assessment of possible parallel proceedings, commencement of proceedings and representation before the Belgian courts. Where a divorce has been granted abroad, Pauline Goffioul can also assist with recognition of the decision and cross-border enforcement.
