These terms and conditions apply to all offers and invoices of International Genealogy Services BELGIUM BV, located in Zottegem (9620), Elenestraat 88, Belgium, company number BE 0720564597, RPR Ghent, division Ghent (hereinafter referred to as "IGS BELGIUM BV"), and to all assignments related to probate research in the context of inheritance law, as well as to all agreements concluded between the parties, regardless of their designation, and all work arising therefrom. Deviations from these terms and conditions, including those contained in general (purchase) conditions used by the client, do not bind IGS BELGIUM BV, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing. In case of interpretation issues, the Dutch-language terms and conditions of IGS BELGIUM BV take precedence over terms and conditions in other languages.
In these terms and conditions, the following definitions apply: a. Researcher: the natural or legal person conducting probate research in the context of inheritance law, aiming to determine heirs and other individuals entitled to inherit; b. Client: the natural or legal person who commissions the researcher to conduct probate research in the context of inheritance law; c. Agreement: the agreement concluded between the researcher and the client regarding the performance of probate research in the context of inheritance law; d. Report: the written document presenting the results of the probate research, outlining the findings regarding heirs and other relevant individuals, and provided to the client.
These general terms and conditions apply to every offer made by the researcher and to every agreement concluded between the researcher and the client. Deviations from these conditions are only valid if they have been expressly agreed in writing with the researcher.
The researcher will perform the probate research to the best of their knowledge and ability, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations related to inheritance law. This may include identifying heirs, distributing the inheritance, and identifying other legal entities with a relationship to the deceased. The researcher cannot guarantee the completeness or outcome of the research, as it depends on the availability of archives, documents, and other sources. The researcher reserves the right not to process certain documents or data that are deemed irrelevant or insufficiently reliable to determine the heirs.
The compensation for the research is agreed upon in advance and may be based on a fixed fee or an hourly rate. Payment must be made within the agreed period as stated on the invoice. In the event of late payment, the client is in default without further notice of default, and the researcher is entitled to charge statutory interest and collection costs.
The research report, which presents the results of the probate research concerning the heirs, will be delivered to the client within the agreed timeframe. The report may be provided in written or digital format. The client acknowledges that the results of the research may only be used to determine the heirs, and the researcher is not responsible for any further use or interpretation of the results by the client, such as in legal proceedings.
The researcher is not responsible for any errors or omissions in public or private archives and sources that may affect the determination of heirs or other relevant individuals. The researcher’s liability is limited to the amount charged for the research. The researcher is not responsible for any damages arising from the use of the research results in legal or other contexts.
The researcher will handle the client’s and related individuals' personal data with care and in compliance with applicable privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The data provided by the client will only be used for the performance of probate research in the context of inheritance law. Without written consent from the client, research results will not be shared with third parties unless necessary for the performance of the contract, for example, in providing evidence for legal purposes.
Complaints regarding the execution of the agreement must be submitted in writing and with justification to the researcher within a reasonable period of time. The researcher will respond to the complaint within a reasonable time and will make efforts to find a solution.
Agreements between the researcher and the client are governed exclusively by Dutch law. Disputes shall be submitted to the competent court in the district where the researcher is established.
The researcher reserves the right to amend these general terms and conditions at any time. Amendments shall only take effect after they have been published in an appropriate manner.