BELGIUM Law and Practice Contributed by: Larissa De Wulf, Carolyn Vanthienen and Alexandra Goossens, Tiberghien
3.4 ADR See 2.9 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) . 3.5 Media Access and Transparency As explained in 2.8 Media Access and Trans- parency , court hearings are open to the public. Proceedings regarding parental authority, child maintenance, upbringing, education and cross- border custody and visitation rights (as well as legal claims related to these proceedings, if they are dealt with at the same hearing) are excep - tions to the general norm and are not accessible to the public or the press.
heard. However, the child is never obliged to be heard and can refuse. The court will hear the minor at a place it consid - ers appropriate and, unless the court decides otherwise, the hearing will take place with no one else present except for the clerk of the Fam - ily Court. The record of the interview is attached to the court file and reflects what the minor has said. The minor is informed that the parties may take note of it. If, during the interview, the court finds that the minor does not have the neces - sary discernment, a note will be made of this in the report. The interview with the minor will not have the effect of making them a party to the proceed - ings. Appropriate importance will be attached to the minor’s opinion in accordance with their age and maturity.
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