Voorbeschikking

Voorbeschikking is a Dutch legal term that roughly translates to a prior or pre-disposition, referring to a decision or arrangement made before a final resolution in a matter. The term combines voor- (before) and beschikking (disposition or decision). In practice, een voorbeschikking denotes a directive, order, or interim arrangement intended to secure certain rights, obligations, or procedural outcomes while the main decision is still being developed or formalized.

The exact meaning and use of voorbeschikking vary by context and legal domain. It can appear in administrative law, civil procedure, or other branches of law where an authority or court issues a measure to guide ongoing proceedings or to protect interests ahead of a subsequent, more complete ruling. Because it is not a single codified procedure, its scope and effects are determined by the applicable statute, regulation, or case law relevant to the specific case.

Voorbeschikking is distinct from more clearly defined interim measures (such as voorlopige voorzieningen) and from the final beschikking issued at the end of a procedure. Importantly, a voorbeschikking does not, by itself, replace the formal decision; it may be subject to revision or withdrawal once the full decision is made.

In scholarly and practical terms, voorbeschikking is viewed as a pragmatic tool to manage procedural stages and to protect interests during the evolution of a case, rather than as a separate, standalone procedural doctrine. See also interim measures and preliminary rulings.