Have the settlement agreement checked: pro deo, employer's contribution, or insurance?

Have the settlement agreement checked: pro deo, employer's contribution, or insurance?

An employer can offer an amount for legal assistance. That offer does not yet tell you how much assistance it covers or what you pay if you do not sign an agreement. Compare the budget with the specific assignment and investigate existing coverage and any decision granting subsidised legal aid (toevoeging) before incurring costs yourself.

An offered advisory budget is not a general guarantee of cost-free settlement agreement handling.

Have it recorded whether the budget also applies without a signed agreement.

A payment by the employer and a decision granting subsidised legal aid (toevoeging) must be correctly aligned with each other.

1. Ask what the settlement agreement legally means for you

In a settlement agreement, the employer and employee agree to terminate the employment relationship. Among other things, initiative, reason, end date, notice period, and financial settlement can have consequences. In case of illness, extra attention is needed for the benefit position. An offer with a short response date does not make independent assessment unnecessary.

UWV points to advice by a lawyer, trade union, or legal expenses insurer. Read the [official explanation about dismissal by mutual consent](https://www.uwv.nl/nl/ontslag/werknemer-ontslaan) and our [substantive settlement agreement guide](guide:vaststellingsovereenkomst). This page helps to agree on the payment of that assessment.

2. Make the employer's budget verifiable

Request a written description: maximum amount, including or excluding VAT, which activities, payment method, and conditions. If it only states that the employer reimburses an invoice after signing, ask what happens if you do not sign after advice. Also, have it explained who the advisor's client is.

A budget for a single review may be insufficient for negotiations, additional calculations, or a procedure. Therefore, agree on a defined assignment and a limit for extra work. An advisor you engage must know what payment agreements exist; the employer's offer does not replace that assignment.

3. Investigate existing assistance before a new assignment

A trade union, legal expenses insurance, or other arrangement may already offer assistance. Report the dispute in a timely manner and request written confirmation of coverage or admission. Free choice of an external lawyer and reimbursement of their bill are not automatically the same at every stage.

Ask if the organisation assesses the VSO itself, what documents are needed, and how the employer's contribution is processed. Reclaiming a self-paid lawyer afterwards can turn out differently than pre-agreed assistance. Read [trade union, insurance, and pro deo for work issues](guide:rechtsbijstand-werk-vakbond-verzekering) for route comparison.

4. When might a toevoeging be relevant?

A lawyer who handles toevoegingen can investigate the financial and substantive conditions. Not every brief advice query or review automatically leads to a regular toevoeging. The type of legal issue, necessary work, and any other compensation are relevant.

Report the offered employer's budget and send the precise conditions. Do not assume double full reimbursement. Ask the lawyer how a third-party payment affects the financing and final settlement. The [application route of the Raad](https://www.rechtsbijstand.nl/mediation-rechtsbijstand/gesubsidieerde-mediation-rechtsbijstand/aanvragen/) and the [explanation of other costs](https://www.rechtsbijstand.nl/mediation-rechtsbijstand/hoeveel-betalen/kosten/) are the basis for a transparent agreement.

5. Illustrative example: budget only after agreement

An employee receives a draft with an advisory budget and the condition that payment follows only after signing. He wants to know if the termination is wise. He asks the advisor first for a price for the assessment and has the employer clarify whether the budget also applies if advice leads to rejection of the offer.

This makes it clear who bears the first bill and what happens during negotiations. The example does not say that the employer is obliged to pay any amount or that the employee must sign. The substantive outcome of the advice and the payment agreement must remain separately understandable.

6. Record changes and the end of the assignment

Have the advisor return to the budget before extra work. Ask what a new version, counterproposal, or procedure might cost and whether the budget remains usable for that. Anyone who later receives a toevoeging must also know how already paid costs are handled.

Keep the offer, the assignment, the budget confirmation, and the invoice. Do not sign a VSO just to get an advisory bill reimbursed. The possible severance pay can also have consequences for the final financing; see [result assessment in case of dismissal](guide:ontslagvergoeding-toevoeging-resultaat).

The full draft of the VSO and all versions.

Budget including VAT status and conditions if no agreement.

Coverage or admission by insurance or trade union.

Assignment, extra work limit, and processing of third-party payments.

Does my employer have to pay the lawyer?

There is no general guarantee that every offered or requested advice will be fully paid. Check the specific agreement and any legal basis.

Can I keep a toevoeging and the entire employer's budget?

Do not assume so. Report all compensations so the lawyer can assess the correct processing.

Is a free VSO check a full treatment?

That depends on the offer. Ask what assessment and follow-up work are included.

Sources and editorial notes
Sources current as of: October 28, 2026
1. UWV — when an employee can be dismissed
Publisher: UWV
https://www.uwv.nl/nl/ontslag/werknemer-ontslaan
2. Entrepreneurs' Plaza — drafting a settlement agreement
Publisher: Ondernemersplein · Overheid.nl
https://ondernemersplein.overheid.nl/personeel/ontslaan/vaststellingsovereenkomst-opstellen/
3. Raad voor Rechtsbijstand — application by lawyer or mediator
Publisher: Raad voor Rechtsbijstand
https://www.rechtsbijstand.nl/mediation-rechtsbijstand/gesubsidieerde-mediation-rechtsbijstand/aanvragen/
4. Raad voor Rechtsbijstand — other costs
Publisher: Raad voor Rechtsbijstand
https://www.rechtsbijstand.nl/mediation-rechtsbijstand/hoeveel-betalen/kosten/
5. NOvA — agreements and relationship with the client
Publisher: Nederlandse orde van advocaten (NOvA)
https://www.advocatenorde.nl/voor-advocaten/wet-en-regelgeving/gedragsregels/gedragsregels-advocatuur/de-advocaat-de-verhouding
The source publications are in Dutch. All language editions cover Dutch law.