Coronavirus: temporary suspension of debts of private individuals

From 24 December 2020, private individuals will benefit from a temporary suspension of debts.

Suspension of executory attachments

From 24 December 2020 to 31 January 2021, executory attachments for private individuals are suspended.

This suspension applies to executory attachments on movable assets (in particular sums of money). The attachment on immovable assets, where the debtor is domiciled, is also suspended.

This suspension covers both new and current attachments.

Please note! The protective attachments on sums of money and the wage assignments referred to in Chapter VI of the Wage Protection Act of 12 April 1965 are also suspended.

Exceptions

The suspension does not apply to certain debts:

• Maintenance claims;
• Commitments to pay a sum in criminal cases;
• Recoveries due to tax or social fraud;
• Tax notifications so that the Treasury can take out a legal mortgage.

The debtor may also consent to the attachment or its continuation.

Source: Act of 20 December 2020 laying down various temporary and structural provisions relating to justice in the context of the fight against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, Belgian Official Gazette of 24 December 2020.