Marriage bureaux
You register with a marriage bureau or dating agency in the hope of meeting your ideal partner.
A few months later, after paying a substantial fee, you have still not found a potential partner.
Marriage brokering activities are governed by the Law of 9 March 1993 .
The main objective of this law is to improve transparency in the industry and protect consumers from certain questionable or misleading practices that are contrary to human dignity.
According to law, marriage brokering means ‘any activity offering, in return for payment, meetings between individuals with the direct or indirect aim of producing marriage or stable union’. Therefore, this legislation does not only cover marriage bureaux, but also dating websites and associations or clubs which organise the activities covered by this definition of marriage brokerage.
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Where can you submit a complaint?
If you believe a marriage bureau, dating website, association or club is not complying with its legal obligations, you can submit a complaint to the Directorate-General Enforcement and Mediation.
Disputes and complaints
Regulation
- Arrêté royal du 18 novembre 2005 relatif au contrat-type de courtage matrimonial (MB 14.12.2005)
- Loi du 9 mars 1993 tendant à réglementer et à contrôler les activités des entreprises de courtage matrimonial
- Arrêté royal du 17 février 2006 réglant l'enregistrement du courtage matrimonial (MB 09.03.2006)