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Important prescription periods

Duration of some common prescription periods
 

Nature of the Debt  Period Comments 
Residential lease 5 years Article 2277 of the Belgian Civil Code
Adjustment of rental to cost of living 1 year Article 2273 of the Belgian Civil Code
Claim by tenant to recover incorrect payments 1 year Under Article 1728 (3) and 2273 of the Belgian Civil Code, recovery is possible for amounts that were paid no more than five years before the claim is instituted
Credit    
Capital 10 years Article 2262 (1) of the Belgian Civil Code
Interest 5 years Article 2277 of the Belgian Civil Code
Insurance    
Claim arising from an insurance contract 3 years In terms of Article 34 of the Act of 25 June 1992
the period runs either from the date of the loss, or from the date the existence of the loss became known
(maximum of 5 years)
the prescription period is interrupted if the loss is reported in good time until the insurer responds thereto in writing
Premiums 3 years Article 34 of the Act of 25 June 1992
Direct claim by victim (civil liability) 5 years Article 34 of the Act of 25 June 1992, same comment,
(maximum of 10 years),
the prescription period is interrupted if the insurer is aware of the victim’s wish to be compensated: the interruption ceases when the insurer responds in writing
Claim relating to life insurance reserve 30 years Article 34 of the Act of 25 June 1992
     
Maintenance 5 years Article 2277 of the Belgian Civil Code
Medical treatment 2 years Article 2277 (1) of the Belgian Civil Code
from the end of the month following the provision of the medical treatment
Prices of various goods and services    
Prices of goods sold by traders to private individuals 1 year Article 2272 of the Belgian Civil Code, Article 5 of the Act of 1 May
1913
from the end of the calendar year
Prices of work performed by artisan 1 year Article 5 of the Act of 1 May 1913
from the end of the calendar year in which the work is performed
Water, gas and electricity accounts 5 years Article 2277 of the Belgian Civil Code
 Justice    
Lawyers 5 years Article 2276 (1) of the Belgian Civil Code
from their end of their instruction
Debt mediators 5 years Article 2276 (3) of the Belgian Judicial Code
Judicial officers 1 year Article 2272 of the Belgian Civil Code
for the claim for payment of their fees for documents which they serve and for the instructions which they perform.
Judicial officers 2 years Article 2276 of the Belgian Civil Code
as from the performance of the instruction or service of the documents with which they were entrusted, judicial officers are no longer responsible for the documents.
Enforceability of a judgment 10 years Article 2262 (1) of the Belgian Civil Code