In application of a European directive adopted at the end of 2001, the Belgian statute on the prevention of use of the financial system for laundering money and financing terrorism, the duty to identify and to report unusual transactions has been extended to the legal profession since February 2004.

Since that time lawyers are, in certain circumstances, legally required to identify their clients and to retain proof of their clients’ identity. This obligation applies equally to clients who are private persons, legal entities and their representatives.