English-speaking criminal lawyers · Balearic Islands
Criminal lawyer in Mallorca & Ibiza
Arrested, charged or the victim of a crime in Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca or Formentera? In a Spanish criminal case, what happens in the first hours shapes everything else. Our English-speaking criminal lawyers in Palma act from the police station to the final judgment, and keep the case moving once you are back home.
- 24/7 for arrests
- Advice in English
- All four islands
- Defence and victims
Why you need your own criminal lawyer from the first hour
Spanish criminal procedure has its own rules and very short deadlines. A rushed statement, a plea accepted without advice or evidence not requested in time can have consequences for years, at home as well as in Spain.
The first hours
Custody, the police interview and the duty court hearing happen fast. That is where your defence begins.
A different system
Investigating judges, fast-track trials and plea deals work differently from home. We explain each step in English.
Evidence decides
CCTV, witnesses and medical reports must be secured early and challenged when they are unreliable.
Your record and travel
Avoiding a conviction or a prison term protects your job, your travel and your residence status.
Criminal cases we handle in the Balearic Islands
We defend foreign residents and visitors and represent victims across the Spanish Criminal Code. Each area has guides in English with the law and penalties in force.
Criminal defence in Spain
How a criminal case works in Spain for foreigners, from the first summons to the trial, and European arrest warrants.
Arrest & police custody
What happens when you or a relative are arrested in the islands: your rights, the lawyer, the interpreter and the consulate.
Court hearings & trials
Fast-track trials, plea deals, bail and pre-trial detention, and whether you can go home before the case ends.
Sentences, records & deportation
Suspended sentences, criminal records, expulsion of foreign nationals and the impact on travel and work.
Assault & sexual offences
Fights, assault and bodily harm, threats and allegations of sexual offences, including holiday resort cases.
Drink driving & traffic
Drink and drug driving, refusing the breath test, speeding, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.
Drug offences
Possession, supply and trafficking, airport and port arrests, cannabis and the line between a fine and a crime.
Domestic violence
Domestic and gender violence charges, restraining orders, the specialised courts and the consequences for foreigners.
Theft, robbery & fraud
Shoplifting, theft, robbery, burglary, fraud and scams, for those accused and for those who have lost money.
Victims of crime
Reporting a crime as a visitor, joining the prosecution with your own lawyer and claiming compensation from home.
When to call a criminal lawyer right now
Some moments in a criminal case cannot wait until Monday. If you are in one of these situations, call us before you decide anything.
Call now: +34 684 450 450A friend or relative has been arrested
They are entitled to a lawyer of their choice at the police station.
You have a duty court hearing
A plea deal may be offered within hours. Get advice before you accept it.
Your flight home is soon
Find out whether you can travel and what happens to the case.
Arrested at the airport or port
Searches and seizures can be challenged. Do not make a statement without advice.
How we handle your case
- 1
Immediate call
You tell us what happened. We explain your rights and the next steps in English, in confidence.
- 2
At the police station
We attend the interview, advise you privately beforehand and check the legality of the arrest.
- 3
Strategy
We decide together: give a statement or not, request evidence, negotiate with the prosecutor or go to trial.
- 4
Trial and beyond
We defend you at trial, appeal if needed and follow the case once you are back home.
Criminal lawyers on all four Balearic Islands
Our office is in Palma, and we attend police stations and courts on every island. Holiday resorts, airports and ports are where many cases involving foreigners begin.
Criminal lawyer in Mallorca
Palma, Magaluf, Playa de Palma, Alcúdia and the courts of Palma, Inca and Manacor.
Learn moreCriminal lawyer in Ibiza
Sant Antoni, Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza town and the courts of Ibiza.
Learn moreCriminal lawyer in Menorca
Maó, Ciutadella and the resorts, with the courts of Maó and Ciutadella.
Learn moreCriminal lawyer in Formentera
Cases from Formentera, handled by the courts of Ibiza.
Learn moreDefence of the accused or representation of the victim
We act on both sides of a criminal case, always one client per case and without conflicts of interest.
Defence
- Assistance in police custody
- Advice before any statement
- Challenging evidence
- Negotiation with the prosecutor
- Trial and appeal
Victims
- Reporting the crime
- Protection measures
- Joining the prosecution
- Claiming compensation
- Appealing a dismissal
Why choose our criminal lawyers in Palma
We are a Palma law firm with a team dedicated to criminal law and to clients who do not speak Spanish. We know the courts, prosecutors and police of the islands, and what is at stake for someone facing a case far from home.
About the firm · Frequently asked questions · castellabogados.com
Direct contact
You always speak with the lawyer handling your defence.
24/7
Arrests and urgent hearings, also at night and at weekends.
Clear fees
A written quote and staged payments if you need them.
From home
We keep the case moving after you leave Spain.
Questions foreigners ask a criminal lawyer in Spain
First steps
Should I make a statement to the police?
You have the right not to. The safest course is to speak privately with your own lawyer first and decide together. Your rights when arrested ›
How much does a criminal lawyer cost in Mallorca?
It depends on the offence and the procedure. After a first assessment we give you a written quote. Contact ›
The case
Can I avoid prison?
Sentences of up to two years can be suspended for first-time offenders. A good defence can also lead to an acquittal or a lower sentence. Suspended sentences ›
Do I have to come back to Spain for the trial?
Not always. When the prosecution seeks up to two years in prison, the trial can sometimes go ahead in your absence if you were properly summoned and your lawyer is present. Leaving Spain during a case ›
Most read guides
Arrested in Mallorca or Ibiza: what happens next
View service Court hearings & trialsFast-track criminal trials in Spain (juicio rápido)
View service Drink driving & trafficDrink driving in Mallorca and Ibiza: limits, penalties and defence
View service Assault & sexual offencesAssault charges in Mallorca and Ibiza: penalties and defence
View service Drug offencesDrug offences in Spain: possession, supply and trafficking
View service Domestic violenceDomestic violence charges in Spain: what you need to know
View service Court hearings & trialsCan I leave Spain during a criminal case?
View service Sentences, records & deportationCriminal records in Spain: certificates, cancellation and other countries
View service Victims of crimeVictim of a crime in Mallorca or Ibiza: your rights and options
View serviceYour defence starts with the right strategy
Tell us about your case today. In a confidential first conversation, an English-speaking criminal lawyer will explain what you are facing, what evidence there is and how we would defend you.