Weerwind announces approach to strengthening access to justice

In a letter to the House of Representatives yesterday, the Minister for Legal Protection, Franc Weerwind, announced his approach and initial measures to improve access to justice. This is just the beginning: he is working with stakeholders to explore whether and how access to justice can be further strengthened.

Following informal consultations with various stakeholders, including the judiciary, notaries, and the Legal Desk, bottlenecks and potential measures were identified. This resulted in additional measures, such as improved information provision on rijksoverheid.nl, a structural initial contribution for mediation, and a reduction in court fees.

3 pillars
The approach announced in his letter is a first step. In consultation with stakeholders, Weerwind will explore in the coming period whether and how access to justice can be further strengthened. He focuses on three pillars: citizens must have access to objective and reliable information about their rights and obligations; they must be able to receive advice and support in exercising their rights and resolving disputes; and they must have the option of obtaining a decision from a neutral body. The notary profession is happy to contribute to this effort.

Social notary
Given the role of the notary, it is important that their services are accessible and affordable for everyone. Weerwind is commissioning research into whether the current provision in Article 56 of the Civil-Law Notaries Act for citizens with limited financial means is future-proof. They are also investigating whether everyone in the Netherlands has equal access to the notary profession and is treated equally. The desirability of a social notary system will also be examined. The research is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.