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A Release of Mortgage is a legal document that officially cancels your mortgage loan once you've paid it off in full. In Belgium, this release (called "mainlevée d'hypothèque" in French or "hypothecaire handlichting" in Dutch) must be prepared by a notary and registered with the local mortgage office.

This crucial document proves you're no longer bound by the mortgage and restores your full property rights. Belgian law requires lenders to provide this release within three months of final payment. Without it, you might face difficulties selling your property or taking out new loans, as the old mortgage would still appear in public records.

You need a Release of Mortgage when you've fully paid off your Belgian home loan and plan to sell your property or take out a new mortgage. This document becomes essential during property transactions, refinancing, or when you simply want to clear your property's title of any old mortgage claims.

Getting this release promptly after loan payoff protects you from future complications. Belgian notaries require it for property sales, and banks need it for new loans. If you're selling your property, start the release process early—it can take several weeks to complete all the necessary registrations with the mortgage office and meet Belgian documentation requirements.

• Full Release: The standard form that completely discharges the mortgage after full payment, commonly used in residential property sales
• Partial Release: Removes the mortgage from only a portion of the property, useful when selling just part of a mortgaged land parcel
• Satisfaction of Mortgage: Similar to a full release but specifically used for older mortgages registered before 2020
• Electronic Release: Digital version filed through Belgium's e-notariat system, becoming increasingly common for straightforward residential releases

• Notaries: Must prepare and authenticate the Release of Mortgage document, ensuring it meets Belgian legal requirements
• Lending Banks: Issue the release after receiving full loan payment and coordinate with notaries for document preparation
• Property Owners: Request and receive the release, using it to prove their property is free from mortgage claims
• Mortgage Office Officials: Register and maintain official records of the release in public property registers
• Real Estate Agents: Often coordinate the release process during property sales to ensure clean title transfer

• Loan Details: Gather the original mortgage registration number, loan amount, and date of final payment
• Property Information: Collect the property's exact legal description and cadastral references as registered
• Identity Verification: Prepare identification documents for all involved parties, including the lending bank's representatives
• Payment Confirmation: Obtain official bank documentation proving full loan repayment
• Notary Appointment: Schedule with a Belgian notary who will draft and authenticate the release document
• Registration Details: Get the mortgage office's current filing requirements and processing timeline

• Party Details: Full legal names and addresses of lender, borrower, and property owner
• Property Description: Complete legal description and cadastral references of the mortgaged property
• Mortgage Information: Original mortgage date, registration number, and amount
• Release Declaration: Clear statement confirming full discharge of the mortgage obligation
• Notarial Authentication: Official notary certification and seal as required by Belgian law
• Registration Details: Specific information for mortgage office recording
• Signature Block: Designated spaces for all required parties' signatures and dates

A Release of Mortgage is often confused with a Mortgage Agreement, but they serve opposite purposes in Belgian property transactions. While a Mortgage Agreement creates a loan security interest over your property, a Release of Mortgage terminates it. Understanding these differences is crucial for proper property management.

• Timing of Use: Mortgage Agreements come at the start of a loan, while Release documents mark its end
• Legal Effect: Mortgage Agreements create obligations and liens, while Releases eliminate them
• Registration Requirements: Both need notarial authentication, but Releases require specific mortgage office processing to clear public records
• Document Structure: Mortgage Agreements contain detailed loan terms and conditions, while Releases focus on confirming debt satisfaction and property liberation
• Party Obligations: Mortgage Agreements establish ongoing responsibilities, while Releases confirm all obligations have been met