Criminal Defence · Andorra
Find a theft lawyer in Andorra for your criminal case
A theft allegation in Andorra is dealt with inside a criminal system that operates entirely in Catalan, before courts with their own rules on representation and timing. Tell us what happened and we will match you with a theft lawyer in Andorra whose practice covers criminal defence. Being matched costs you nothing and carries no obligation to instruct.
- Free, no-obligation matching
- Advocates admitted to the Andorran bar (CADA)
- A clear view of how the Andorran process works
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Matching clients with Andorran advocates
What to do when a theft allegation is made in Andorra
If you are facing an allegation of theft in the Principality, the first practical question is usually who will represent you and how the matter will move through the Andorran courts. Theft sits within the criminal jurisdiction, where the Batllia d’Andorra hears first instance and investigation, the Tribunal de Corts deals with serious criminal offences and the Tribunal Superior de Justícia is the highest instance and hears appeals. Only advocates admitted to the Col·legi Oficial d’Advocats d’Andorra may practise, and the same lawyer both represents and defends you, because Andorra has no separate procurador. This page explains how the system works in practice and lets you describe your situation so that we can match you with a theft lawyer in Andorra whose practice covers criminal defence.
Andorra in detail
How criminal defence works in Andorra
Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality whose 1993 Constitution created a fully separated judicial power, exercised in the name of the Andorran people by independent and irremovable batlles and magistrates. Criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction is exercised by the bodies listed in the Llei qualificada de la Justícia of 3 September 1993. The sections below set out the points that most often matter to a client facing a theft allegation.
Criminal jurisdiction in Andorra
The Llei qualificada de la Justícia of 3 September 1993 allocates judicial power to the Batlles, the Tribunal de Batlles, the Tribunal de Corts and the Tribunal Superior de Justícia, and structures it into civil, criminal and administrative jurisdictions. The Batllia d’Andorra hears first instance and investigation; the Tribunal de Corts deals with serious criminal offences; the Tribunal Superior de Justícia is the highest instance and hears appeals.
Who is allowed to act for you
The practice of law in Andorra is reserved to advocates admitted to the Col·legi Oficial d’Advocats d’Andorra under Law 48/2014, as amended by Law 10/2023. Admission as a practising member requires the relevant law degree, the Andorran aptitude certificate obtained after examinations, and the regulated practical traineeship. Andorra has no separate procurador profession: the advocate both represents and defends you.
Catalan is the language of the courts
Catalan is the sole official language of the State and of judicial activity, so proceedings, filings and judgments before the Andorran courts are in Catalan. For foreign clients this is a practical point: statements, pleadings and documentary evidence generally need to be drafted or translated precisely into Catalan, and the advocate who handles the file works in that language.
Judicial fees and what the court charges
Judicial fees (taxes judicials) exist in Andorra under the Llei de taxes judicials of 22 June 2000. Article 2.1 taxes proceedings in the civil and administrative jurisdictions, and civil liability claims brought within criminal proceedings; criminal proceedings as such are not subject to the fee under article 2.2. The taxpayer is the claimant or applicant for the court service, and the fee counts as procedural costs.
Free legal aid in criminal matters
Free legal aid (benefici de justícia gratuïta) is granted by the judge by reasoned order to persons who prove insufficient economic resources, taking into account income, basic expenses, dependent family members and overall patrimonial situation. It covers assistance to a detained person by the duty advocate, and defence and representation at every stage of the same criminal proceeding. A decision is issued within a maximum of one month from a complete application.
Timing, business days and the Christmas period
Procedural periods in Andorra are computed in dies hàbils, meaning business days only. Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, August and the Christmas period are not counted, which can materially extend what looks like a short deadline. Notification of judicial resolutions must take place within a maximum of five business days from the date the resolution is issued.
Key time limit — Criminal Law
Labour — prescription of disciplinary offences — 20 calendar days (minor), 30 (serious), 60 (very serious); in any case 12 months from commission. The employer’s power to sanction is time-limited by the seriousness of the conduct.
The country information on this page is drawn from official Andorran sources — the Consell General, the Portal Jurídic d’Andorra, the Col·legi Oficial d’Advocats d’Andorra and justicia.ad — as published by those bodies.
- Consell General — Constitution of Andorra
- Portal Jurídic d’Andorra — Llei qualificada de la Justícia (3 September 1993)
- Portal Jurídic d’Andorra — Law 48/2014 on the practice of the legal profession
- Col·legi Oficial d’Advocats d’Andorra (CADA)
- Portal Jurídic d’Andorra — Codi de procediment civil (periods and representation)
- Portal Jurídic d’Andorra — Free legal aid
- Portal Jurídic d’Andorra — Llei de taxes judicials (22 June 2000)
- Justícia d’Andorra — judicial organisation
Common concerns
What worries clients facing a theft allegation in Andorra
These are the practical questions we hear most often from people dealing with a criminal file in the Principality.
You do not know which court handles the case
In Andorra the Batllia d’Andorra hears first instance and investigation, the Tribunal de Corts deals with serious criminal offences and the Tribunal Superior de Justícia is the highest instance and hears appeals. Where your case sits affects how it should be prepared.
Everything is conducted in Catalan
Catalan is the sole official language of the State and of judicial activity, so proceedings, filings and judgments are in Catalan. For foreign residents and visitors this makes precise drafting and accurate handling of documents a practical necessity from the outset.
You are unsure what representation is required
Practice in Andorra is reserved to advocates admitted to the Col·legi Oficial d’Advocats d’Andorra. There is no separate procurador: the same lletrat represents and defends you, which means that choosing the right advocate matters from the very first procedural step.
How matching helps
Why clients use our free matching service in Andorra
We do not decide your case and we do not promise results. We identify the profile of lawyer your situation calls for and connect you with a practice that handles it.
Match with the right specialisation
Criminal defence is a distinct area of practice. We match you with an advocate whose work covers criminal files, rather than leaving you to approach firms at random in Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany or elsewhere.
One advocate for representation and defence
Because Andorra has no separate procurador profession, the advocate who represents you is also the one who pleads your case. Knowing this from the start removes a common misunderstanding among clients used to two-profession systems.
Guidance on timing counted in business days
Procedural periods in Andorra are computed in business days, and Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, August and the Christmas period are excluded. A lawyer who works with these rules daily can keep you informed about where your file stands.
Clarity on costs and free legal aid
Advocates’ fees are freely agreed between client and lawyer, and judicial fees are governed by the Llei de taxes judicials, which does not tax criminal proceedings as such. Free legal aid may be granted by the judge where resources are insufficient.
Where we work
Matching across Andorra and the rest of Europe
Our network covers the Principality and its European neighbours, so you can be matched with a lawyer for a case in Andorra or in the country where you live.
Frequently asked questions
Theft cases in Andorra: questions clients ask
What does a theft lawyer in Andorra handle?
An advocate admitted to the Andorran bar follows the file from the investigation stage through first instance and, where relevant, appeal. In Andorra the same lawyer represents and defends you, since there is no separate procurador. The work includes drafting filings in Catalan, attending procedural steps and preparing the defence before the Batllia, the Tribunal de Corts or the Tribunal Superior de Justícia.
Do I have to instruct a lawyer who is a member of the Andorran bar?
Yes. The practice of law in Andorra is reserved to advocates admitted to the Col·legi Oficial d’Advocats d’Andorra, regulated by Law 48/2014 as amended by Law 10/2023. Admission as a practising member requires a law degree, the Andorran aptitude certificate obtained after examinations, and the regulated practical traineeship. Lawyers qualified only abroad cannot act before the Andorran courts on their own.
Which Andorran court hears a theft case?
The Llei qualificada de la Justícia of 3 September 1993 allocates judicial power across the criminal jurisdiction. The Batllia d’Andorra hears first instance and investigation, the Tribunal de Corts deals with serious criminal offences, and the Tribunal Superior de Justícia is the highest instance and hears appeals. The route your case takes depends on how the alleged conduct is characterised.
Are there court fees in criminal proceedings in Andorra?
Judicial fees exist under the Llei de taxes judicials of 22 June 2000, but article 2.2 excludes criminal proceedings as such from the fee. Fees do apply to proceedings in the civil and administrative jurisdictions, and to civil liability claims brought within criminal proceedings, where the taxpayer is the claimant or applicant for the court service.
Can legal aid cover a defence in Andorra?
Free legal aid is granted by the judge by reasoned order where the applicant proves insufficient economic resources. It covers assistance to a detained person by the duty advocate, and defence and representation at every stage of the same criminal proceeding. A decision is issued within a maximum of one month from a complete application, and beneficiaries must report any improvement in their economic situation.
In what language is an Andorran criminal case conducted?
Catalan is the sole official language of the State and of judicial activity, so proceedings, filings and judgments are in Catalan. That is a practical consideration for foreign clients: statements, pleadings and documentary evidence generally need to be prepared in Catalan, and the advocate handling the file works in that language.
Next step
Tell us about your case and get matched
Describe your situation in a few lines — what is alleged, where in Andorra and at what stage the matter stands. We will use that to match you with a theft lawyer in Andorra whose practice covers criminal defence. The matching is free of charge and you decide afterwards whether to instruct.