Justice of the peace (Belgium)

The justice of the peace is the small claims court in the judicial system of Belgium, standing at the bottom of the judicial hierarchy of the country. It handles civil disputes involving amounts not exceeding 5,000 euros, with some exceptions such as disputes between companies that fall under other courts exclusive jurisdiction, and it holds original jurisdiction regardless of amount over matters such as the renting or leasing of real estate, evictions, easements, land consolidation, consumer credit and unpaid utility bills, as well as family law matters including legal guardianships for incapacitated seniors and the involuntary commitment of the mentally ill to psychiatric facilities. It also offers a free conciliation procedure in which the judge attempts to negotiate a settlement between disputants before any formal lawsuit proceeds. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/