vonnis

Vonnis is a formal judicial decision issued by a court after a trial in Dutch-speaking jurisdictions, notably the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders). The term denotes a definitive judgment, as distinct from provisional orders or interlocutory rulings.

The vonnis is used in both criminal and civil proceedings. In criminal cases, it typically contains the verdict on guilt or innocence and, if applicable, the sentence. In civil matters, it resolves the claims between the parties and may impose damages, obligations, and instructions about costs and enforcement.

A vonnis usually includes several standard elements: the name of the court and case number, the names of the parties, a brief factual summary, the legal grounds and reasoning (motivering), the explicit decision (verdict and any orders), and the signatures of the judge or judges. The document is typically written and published after the court has deliberated.

Effect and remedies: once served, a vonnis is binding on the parties. It is generally subject to review through a higher court on appeal (beroep or hoger beroep) and, in certain circumstances, to cassation to the supreme court in the respective jurisdiction. In this way the vonnis can be challenged or refined through the ordinary appellate channels.

Terminology: in ordinary language, uitspaak is a broad term for any court decision, while vonnis refers specifically to a final judgment rendered after a full trial. Provisional or interim decisions are usually called beschikking. The exact procedures and terms can vary slightly between the Netherlands and Belgium, reflecting differences in national civil and criminal procedure.