Legal Help for Prisoners in Spain

This page is for foreigners held in prison in Spain and for relatives or friends abroad who want to help. It explains pre-trial detention, sentences and what an English-speaking registered lawyer can do for a person in prison.
lawyers in Spain
18
cases in this service
9
clients' rating in Spain
4.95 ★

About Legal Help for Prisoners in Spain

Legal help for a prisoner in Spain, whether a foreigner in prison, a relative in prison abroad or a person held in pre-trial detention (prisión provisional), is usually requested first by family or friends. This page explains the situation and how English-speaking registered lawyers can act for the person held. It is general information, not legal advice. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Represent Incarcerated Person”.

Pre-trial detention and serving a sentence

A person may be held in prison before trial when a judge orders it while the case is investigated; this is reviewed during the case and is not a conviction. A person who has been sentenced serves the sentence in a prison (centro penitenciario), where rules on visits, calls and the prison regime are set by the prison authorities and the supervising judge.

What a lawyer can do

  • Learn where the person is held, what the charges are and what problems there are.
  • Act at bail hearings, trials and appeals, and prepare petitions and papers.
  • Explain options affecting the sentence, such as transfer of a sentenced person to the home country or, in some cases, replacing a sentence with expulsion.
  • Keep the family informed and explain visit and communication rules.

Related pages: extradition proceedings, power of attorney for relatives who must act in the person's name, and criminal law in Spain.

Questions and answers

Who can ask a lawyer to act for a prisoner?

Relatives often make the first contact, but a lawyer normally needs the prisoner's authorisation to act.

How can the family find out where the person is held?

A lawyer and the person's consulate can help to confirm the place of detention and the court handling the case.

Can relatives visit?

Visits and calls follow prison rules and are arranged with the prison. A lawyer can explain how the procedure works.

Can a foreign prisoner serve a sentence at home?

Transfer is possible in some cases under international agreements. It depends on nationality, the sentence and the agreement in question.

Does the consulate help?

Consulates generally assist their nationals held abroad, for example by contacting the family. They do not act as the person's lawyer.

18 lawyers who provide Legal Help for Prisoners in Spain

Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.

  • Federico, lawyer in Madrid

    Federico

    Lawyer · Madrid, Spain

    • 440 cases handled · 2 in this service
    • 25+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, German, French, Spanish
    • Law, Complutense University Madrid (San Pablo)
    • 4.82(14 reviews)
    Contact Federico
  • Albert, lawyer in Barcelona

    Albert

    Lawyer · Barcelona, Spain

    • 294 cases handled · 2 in this service
    • 28+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, University of Barcelona, Glasgow University School of Law
    • 4.95(4 reviews)
    Contact Albert
  • Alvaro, lawyer in Fuengirola

    Alvaro

    Lawyer · Fuengirola, Spain

    • 1,584 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 14+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English
    • Law, Jaén
    • 4.97(146 reviews)
    Contact Alvaro
  • Raffaele, lawyer in Barcelona

    Raffaele

    Lawyer · Barcelona, Spain

    • 1,553 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 15+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish
    • Spanish Law; Italian Law, Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Università degli Studi di Milano
    • 4.90(38 reviews)
    Contact Raffaele
  • María-José, lawyer in Murcia City

    María-José

    Lawyer · Murcia City, Spain

    • 691 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 22+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English
    • Law, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera - Campus Elche
    • 4.98(53 reviews)
    Contact María-José
  • Domingo, lawyer in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

    Domingo

    Lawyer · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    • 372 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 19+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, Salamanca
    • 4.94(28 reviews)
    Contact Domingo
  • Rafael, lawyer in Seville

    Rafael

    Lawyer · Seville, Spain

    • 204 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 31+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, University of Seville
    • 4.81(27 reviews)
    Contact Rafael
  • Inma, lawyer in Murcia City

    Inma

    Lawyer · Murcia City, Spain

    • 910 cases handled
    • 11+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law
    • 4.95(59 reviews)
    Contact Inma
  • José, lawyer in Alicante City

    José

    Lawyer · Alicante City, Spain

    • 786 cases handled
    • 22+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, Alicante University
    • 4.99(97 reviews)
    Contact José
  • Inma, lawyer in Valencia

    Inma

    Lawyer · Valencia, Spain

    • 716 cases handled
    • 18+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, University of Valencia
    • 4.99(56 reviews)
    Contact Inma
  • Francisca, lawyer in Gandia

    Francisca

    Lawyer · Gandia, Spain

    • 469 cases handled
    • 21+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • University of Valencia
    • 4.83(35 reviews)
    Contact Francisca
  • Miguel, lawyer in Oviedo

    Miguel

    Lawyer · Oviedo, Spain

    • 254 cases handled
    • 26+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, University of Oviedo
    • 4.98(22 reviews)
    Contact Miguel
  • Juan, lawyer in Madrid

    Juan

    Lawyer · Madrid, Spain

    • 164 cases handled
    • 10+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Degree in Law, Deusto University (Bilbao, Basque Country)
    • 4.86(7 reviews)
    Contact Juan
  • Daniel, lawyer in Mallorca

    Daniel

    Lawyer · Mallorca, Spain

    • 137 cases handled
    • 11+ years in practice
    • Speaks: Spanish, Italian, English, Portuguese, French
    • Law, UIB
    • 5.00(5 reviews)
    Contact Daniel
  • Francisco, lawyer in Cadiz

    Francisco

    Lawyer · Cadiz, Spain

    • 136 cases handled
    • Speaks: English
    • 4.63(5 reviews)
    Contact Francisco
  • Juan Ignacio, lawyer in Vera

    Juan Ignacio

    Lawyer · Vera, Spain

    • 117 cases handled
    • 15+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, University of Almeria
    • 4.93(21 reviews)
    Contact Juan Ignacio
  • Maria, lawyer in Girona

    Maria

    Lawyer · Girona, Spain

    • 60 cases handled
    • 23+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
    • 4.38(8 reviews)
    Contact Maria
  • Ramon, lawyer in Almeria

    Ramon

    Lawyer · Almeria, Spain

    • 13+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Spanish
    • Law, Almeria University
    Contact Ramon
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer

Talk to a lawyer about Legal Help for Prisoners

18 registered lawyers provide this service in Spain. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.

We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.

See the lawyers ↓

Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.

Other criminal law services in Spain

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What our clients say about our service in Spain

  • The lawyer answered my questions and gave me legal advice like a true professional. I had an exceptional, very informative call with him, and the advice was extremely valuable. He explained every answer to my questions perfectly, and I was completely satisfied with the result.
    — D.C.
    30 May 2024
  • I found the professional extremely helpful and informative. The advice set my mind at ease, and I am completely satisfied with the help. I plan to get in touch again next year.
    — William
    14 Apr 2024
  • Brilliant: he advised me and took action immediately, and his communication in perfect English was always helpful, clear and timely.
    — Graham
    05 May 2023
  • The lawyer did an excellent job for me. Legal matters are a mystery to me, yet she saw me safely through a really hard period, which is finally over. I am more thankful than I can say, and I would certainly recommend her. All the best!
    — Andrew
    16 Nov 2022
  • The lawyer was very easy to reach by email and phone, and he updated me whenever something changed or moved forward. I was obviously very worried about the situation, and he reassured me many times and showed great understanding, which made a real difference. I found him approachable, kind and knowledgeable, and he explained everything whenever I had a question, even the ones that were probably very silly. I also think his fee was good value for the level of service he gave. I would not hesitate to recommend him or to use him again, although I sincerely hope I will not need to. He is definitely great at his job.
    — Emily
    19 May 2021
  • I recommend this lawyer, who helped me through a tough situation after I was wrongly accused of fraud. The advice, support and professionalism he offered were outstanding.
    — Elin
    28 Feb 2020
  • The lawyer gave us a good service. Getting information from other professionals on time was tricky for him, and Covid-19 slowed things down, but he kept trying. He also fixed a price and kept to it, although the work proved more involved than first expected, and I thought the fee we paid was fair and good value. We were happy with how he communicated with us as well.
    — Anthony
    10 Jun 2021
  • This was a highly professional and efficient service. Our urgent email got a reply almost immediately. The lawyer was very approachable and helpful in handling the case and translated everything into English for us. The service was excellent value for money, and we are completely satisfied with the outcome.
    — Rhona
    16 Nov 2022
  • Thank you for everything. You came to my aid within two hours and have gone on supporting me through a very complicated case, always available whenever I have a question or need something.
    — A client
    25 Jul 2022
  • The lawyer was professional in every respect, polite and understanding, and made sure you knew all the facts about Spanish law. Thanks to his guidance and advice my case reached a good conclusion, and I was very satisfied with the result. I was surprised how reasonable and economical his fees were given his experience and knowledge. I would have no hesitation recommending him to future clients.
    — Patrick
    17 Jun 2022
  • We recently had to employ a lawyer to deal with a very serious and distressing problem. We called him, and within seconds of speaking to him it was clear he was the lawyer to represent us. His knowledge of our particular problem was in-depth and precise, he listened carefully and gave us really sound and honest advice. His professionalism in handling our case has been impressive to say the least, yet he has also remained sympathetic and has constantly kept us up to date with everything he has been doing at every stage. This has helped to minimise the stress at an extremely stressful time. I would have no hesitation in recommending him; his professionalism and whole attitude towards his clients is second to none.
    — Andy
    24 May 2019
  • As an expatriate who does not speak the language, this was just the kind of support I needed, and it made me feel less like a stranger and more at home. The lawyer explained the process and procedure clearly and kept me well informed until I finally got through it. The help was excellent, and I am very satisfied with how it all ended. I thank her for the great work and wish her every success in her career.
    — Ali
    25 Jul 2022