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Antwerp court asks lawyers to print case files

Lawyers in Antwerp must once again submit all documents for criminal cases on paper to the court clerk.

11 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Antwerp court asks lawyers to print case files — Archive photoPhoto: FaceMePLS · Flickr · BY

The court in Antwerp has decided that lawyers can no longer submit case files via email, but must print all documents themselves again. This decision was made because the court clerk can no longer manage digital submissions, making the workload and cost structure unfeasible. According to reports from VRT NWS, the clerk indicated that about half of their budget was spent on paper.

Previously, it was allowed to submit documents digitally, after which the clerk would print them out. The new policy aligns procedures again with other courts in the country, as communicated by the court.

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