Unincorporated associations

If you regularly meet friends to collect stamps and occasionally organise an exhibition, you may already be an unincorporated association.

An unincorporated association is a group of people pursuing a shared purpose through a common activity. It may be the first stage before establishing an ASBL.

Although it requires few formalities, its implications for liability deserve attention. If a display panel falls on a visitor at your exhibition, the person responsible may be personally liable for the damage.

The association has no separate legal personality. It cannot hold property or enter into commitments in its own name as a legal entity. Members act in their own names and may commit their personal assets through the debts and commitments they undertake.

This flexibility therefore comes with risks. Freedom of association remains a fundamental democratic right, but it is important to understand the consequences of the structure you choose.

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