Criminal defence · Luxembourg
Find a theft lawyer in Luxembourg who knows the criminal courts
A theft allegation in Luxembourg runs through a specific court structure, in a legal system that operates in French, German and Luxembourgish. We take the details of your situation and match you with a lawyer who handles these cases — free of charge, with no obligation to instruct anyone.
- Lawyers entered on the roll of the Barreau de Luxembourg or the Barreau de Diekirch
- Criminal cases heard by the two District Courts sitting as correctional chambers
- Average first response within 24–48 hours
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Theft in Luxembourg
What a theft case involves in the Grand Duchy
If you are facing a theft allegation in Luxembourg, the first questions are practical: who do I call, and what happens next? The country’s ordinary judiciary comprises three Justices of the Peace, two District Courts — in Luxembourg City and Diekirch — which sit as correctional and criminal chambers in criminal cases, and the Supreme Court of Justice, which contains the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation. Only lawyers entered on the roll of one of Luxembourg’s two Bars may give legal consultations as a habitual paid activity. We are not a law firm: we listen to your account and match you, free of charge, with a theft lawyer in Luxembourg who works on matters like yours.
Local context · Luxembourg
How Luxembourg’s system shapes a theft case
Luxembourg is a continental civil-law country whose Civil Code descends directly from the French Napoleonic Code of 1804, and its criminal courts have their own geography, language rules and cost structure. These are the features that most affect how a theft matter is handled in practice.
Where a theft case is heard
The two District Courts, in Luxembourg City and Diekirch, act as correctional and criminal chambers in criminal cases, so a theft prosecution is normally heard in one of them. The Grand Duchy is divided into two judicial districts. Appeals are heard by the Court of Appeal and cassation by the Court of Cassation, both sitting in Luxembourg City within the Supreme Court of Justice.
Who is allowed to act for you
Only lawyers registered on the roll of the Barreau de Luxembourg or the Barreau de Diekirch may practise in the Grand Duchy, and they alone may give legal consultations as a habitual paid activity; they are bound by professional secrecy protected by criminal law. Lawyers on List II and European lawyers on List IV must be assisted by an avocat à la Cour where representation by one is mandatory.
French procedure, three languages
Luxembourg has three administrative languages — French, German and Luxembourgish. Procedural documents must be drafted in French, while hearings may be conducted in any of the three languages, with court-provided translation paid for by the State. A working command of French remains essential for litigation, so it is worth asking your lawyer how they will handle both the written file and the hearing.
What proceedings actually cost
Luxembourg charges no court fees payable to the State for bringing proceedings, unlike several neighbouring jurisdictions; the substantial costs are lawyers’ fees and those of notaries, bailiffs and experts. There is no binding official tariff — the lawyer sets fees in agreement with the client under Article 38 of the Law of 10 August 1991, and disputes over fees go before the Bâtonnier.
Legal aid for criminal matters
Legal aid (assistance judiciaire) is open to natural persons of insufficient means and covers lawyers’, notaries’, bailiffs’ and translators’ fees in criminal matters as well as civil, commercial and administrative cases. It may be total or partial (50% or 25%), and the decision rests with the Bâtonnier of the Bar of your place of residence — or, for non-residents, of the Barreau de Luxembourg.
Two Bars, one Grand Duchy
Unusually for a small country, Luxembourg has two separate and independent Bars: the Barreau de Luxembourg, by far the largest, and the Barreau de Diekirch, which groups the lawyers practising in the northern judicial district. Each is headed by its own Bâtonnier, and each administers legal aid and disciplines its members. There is no single national bar.
All country information on this page is drawn from official Luxembourg bodies (Ministry of Justice, Guichet.lu, Legilux, ITM), the European e-Justice Portal and the Civil Code, checked in 2025; these are general civil, employment, lease, succession and administrative periods, and a lawyer will confirm which rules apply to your own situation.
- European e-Justice Portal — National justice systems: Luxembourg
- European e-Justice Portal — Access to justice: Luxembourg
- Ministry of Justice — The legal profession (avocat)
- Guichet.lu — Court costs and lawyers’ fees
- Legilux — Civil Code (limitation periods)
- Guichet.lu — Termination of a residential lease
- Guichet.lu — Filing a succession declaration
- Guichet.lu — Administrative judicial remedies
- Justice.public.lu — Succession
- ITM — Dismissal and resignation
Why people hesitate
The worries that keep people from calling a lawyer
Most people facing a theft allegation in Luxembourg are dealing with it for the first time. These are the three concerns we hear most often.
You don’t know the steps
An allegation can move quickly from an initial interview to a court date, and each step carries consequences. Knowing what to say, what to sign and who to contact first is exactly where early specialist advice changes your position.
The language barrier
Procedure in Luxembourg is drafted in French, while hearings may be held in French, German or Luxembourgish. If French is not your working language, you need a lawyer who can carry the written file and the hearing without a gap in your defence.
You fear the cost
Luxembourg levies no court fees to the State for bringing proceedings, and lawyers’ fees are freely agreed rather than fixed by a tariff. Legal aid exists for those of insufficient means. Asking about fees up front is entirely normal.
How matching works
What you get from our free matching service
We are a matching platform, not a law firm. Our role is to put your situation in front of lawyers who actually work on theft and criminal defence matters in Luxembourg.
Defence-focused lawyers
We look for lawyers whose day-to-day practice covers criminal defence, so you are not explaining the basics to someone reading the file for the first time.
Matched within 24–48 hours
Tell us briefly what happened and where the matter stands. We review your description and connect you with suitable counsel, usually within one or two working days.
Both Luxembourg Bars covered
The Grand Duchy has two independent Bars — Luxembourg and Diekirch. We work across both, so geography and the judicial district handling your case do not limit your choice.
Free and without obligation
Matching costs you nothing and commits you to nothing. You speak to the lawyer, hear how they would approach the matter, and then decide whether to instruct them.
European network
Cross-border matters and other European systems
Theft allegations frequently have a cross-border dimension, particularly in a country with as large a commuting and expatriate population as Luxembourg. If your matter touches another jurisdiction, we can look for lawyers there as well.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about theft cases in Luxembourg
Do I need a theft lawyer in Luxembourg if the amount involved is small?
Only lawyers entered on the roll of the Barreau de Luxembourg or the Barreau de Diekirch may give legal consultations as a habitual paid activity, and they are the only professionals admitted to assist and represent parties before the courts. Even a modest allegation can have lasting effects, so an early consultation is worth taking.
Which court will hear a theft case in Luxembourg?
The two District Courts, sitting in Luxembourg City and Diekirch, act as correctional and criminal chambers in criminal cases, and the Grand Duchy is divided into two judicial districts. Appeals go to the Court of Appeal and cassation to the Court of Cassation, both of which sit in Luxembourg City within the Supreme Court of Justice.
Will the proceedings be conducted in a language I understand?
All procedural documents must be drafted in French, but hearings may be conducted in French, German or Luxembourgish, and court-provided translation is paid for by the State. Because French governs the written file, it is sensible to choose a lawyer who can handle both the documents and the hearing fluently.
What does it cost to bring or defend proceedings in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg charges no court fees payable to the State for bringing proceedings, so the most substantial cost is lawyers’ fees and the costs of bailiffs and experts. There is no binding official tariff: fees are set by the lawyer in agreement with the client under Article 38 of the Law of 10 August 1991, and fee disputes go before the Bâtonnier.
Can I obtain legal aid for a criminal case in Luxembourg?
Yes. Legal aid (assistance judiciaire) is available to natural persons of insufficient means and covers lawyers’, notaries’, bailiffs’ and translators’ fees in criminal matters as well as in civil, commercial and administrative cases. It may be total or partial, at 50% or 25%, and the Bâtonnier of the relevant Bar decides.
How long do I have to act in Luxembourg?
It depends entirely on the matter. The general limitation period for civil and commercial claims is 30 years, wage claims lapse after 3 years, rent arrears after 5 years, and an administrative appeal must be brought within 3 months. The table above lists the verified periods; a lawyer will confirm which one governs your case.
Next step
Describe your situation and we will find the right counsel
Write a few lines about what happened, where the matter stands and what you need. We compare that with lawyers who handle theft and criminal defence work in Luxembourg, and you decide whether to instruct one. Matching is free, confidential and carries no obligation.