Criminal defence · Malta
Find a theft lawyer in Malta who understands your case
Malta has a single legal profession: the advocate, warranted by the President of the Republic and entitled to appear before every court on the islands. Tell us what happened and we introduce you, free of charge, to an advocate who handles theft and property-crime matters in Malta.
- Free, no-obligation matching
- Advocates warranted in Malta
- First reply usually within 24–48 hours
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Why this page exists
What to do when a theft allegation reaches you in Malta
A theft allegation rarely arrives at a convenient moment. It may begin with a police interview, a summons, a dispute with an employer, or a business discovering stock that has gone missing. Whether you are suspected, charged, or the victim of a theft, the practical question is the same: who represents you, and what happens next? Malta has a single legal profession — the advocate, warranted by the President of the Republic and entitled to audience before every court on the islands. A theft lawyer in Malta can review the file, explain the procedure and prepare your defence or your claim. We are not a law firm. We are a free matching service: describe your situation and we introduce you to an advocate who handles criminal matters in Malta.
Malta in detail
How theft matters move through the Maltese system
Malta is a mixed jurisdiction: private law follows the continental tradition of the Civil Code, while procedure and criminal justice carry strong English influence. That combination shapes how a theft file is built, who may act for you, and where the case will be heard.
One profession, one warrant
Malta has a single unified legal profession. The advocate — the same person clients elsewhere might call a lawyer — holds a warrant issued by the President of the Republic and has sworn the oaths of allegiance and office before the Court of Appeal. There is no barrister/solicitor split, and an advocate has rights of audience before all courts, which matters when a case moves between benches.
Which court hears the case
Criminal matters in Malta are heard by the Court of Magistrates (Malta) and the Court of Magistrates (Gozo), both inferior courts, or by the Criminal Court, a superior court. Serious criminal cases are tried by a jury of nine jurors. Appeals go to the Court of Criminal Appeal, which has a superior bench of three judges and an inferior bench of one.
Language and the written record
Maltese is the language of the courts and of notarial deeds, while English is also an official language and legislation is enacted in both, with the Maltese text prevailing in case of conflict (Constitution, article 74). If your case involves documents, witnesses or companies operating abroad, your advocate will guide you through a bilingual record.
Fees, tariffs and legal aid
Advocates’ and legal procurators’ fees follow statutory tariffs in the schedules to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, and those tariffs also guide the costs awarded against a losing party. Contingency-fee arrangements are prohibited. Malta levies court registry fees rather than a general court tax, and legal aid is available in criminal cases without a means test.
Civil claims alongside the criminal file
The Civil Code sets short periods for some civil claims — two years for tort and damages claims that do not arise from a criminal offence, for example — while the general limitation period is 30 years. The distinction matters because one incident can produce criminal proceedings and a separate civil claim. Raise both sides with your advocate at the outset.
Cross-border elements
Malta is a recognised mixed jurisdiction: private law follows the continental tradition of the Civil Code of 1868, rooted in the French Code Napoléon, while public, procedural, commercial and company law bear English common-law influence, with no doctrine of binding precedent. EU law has exerted strong influence since accession in 2004, which shapes cross-border evidence and procedure.
Key time limit — Criminal Law
Tort / damages claims (not arising from a criminal offence) — 2 years. A short window, so advice on any related civil claim should be sought early.
All country data on this page is drawn from official Maltese and European sources (the Laws of Malta, the European e-Justice Portal, Legal Aid Malta and the Judiciary of Malta), consulted in 2025.
Common concerns
What makes a Maltese theft case difficult to navigate alone
These are the practical points clients raise before they instruct anyone in Malta.
Nobody explains the next step
You have been told there is a case against you, but no one has clarified which court will hear it, what the next hearing involves, or what you are expected to prepare in the meantime.
The record is in Maltese
Court proceedings in Malta are conducted in Maltese even though English is widely used in practice. Filings and notifications are also handled by a legal procurator alongside your advocate, a split of roles that is easy to overlook.
Costs feel unpredictable
Advocates’ fees follow statutory tariffs rather than open-ended hourly billing, and contingency fees are prohibited — unfamiliar ground if you have dealt with lawyers in a common-law country such as the United Kingdom or Ireland.
How we help
A calmer route to the right advocate in Malta
We do not practise law and we do not promise results. We match you with an advocate who handles this kind of work in Malta.
Free, no-obligation matching
You describe the situation once. We compare it with the advocates in our Maltese network and introduce the ones who handle theft and property-crime matters. Being matched costs you nothing.
Advocates warranted in Malta
Everyone we introduce holds a warrant to practise in Malta and has rights of audience before all courts, from the Court of Magistrates to the Court of Criminal Appeal. They work within the Maltese system every day.
Guidance before you commit
You learn how the procedure works, how fees are set under the statutory tariffs and whether legal aid may apply, before deciding to instruct anyone. There is no pressure and no obligation to proceed.
A bilingual legal environment
Because Maltese is the language of the courts while English is used throughout legal practice and legal education, your advocate can keep you informed and explain filings, decisions and notarial documents drafted in Maltese.
Cross-border
Reaching a Maltese advocate from abroad
Malta’s courts work in Maltese and English, and the islands are a short flight from much of the Mediterranean. Distance is not a barrier: matching works the same way whether you are already in Valletta, staying in Sliema or St. Paul’s Bay, or explaining the situation from another country.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about theft cases in Malta
What does a theft lawyer in Malta actually do?
A Maltese advocate can review the investigation file, attend hearings with you, advise on your position and prepare your defence or your representation as the victim. Advocates in Malta are warranted by the President of the Republic and have rights of audience before every court, so the same lawyer can follow the matter as it moves between benches.
Which courts deal with theft cases in Malta?
Criminal matters in Malta are heard by the Court of Magistrates (Malta) and the Court of Magistrates (Gozo), which are inferior courts, or by the Criminal Court, a superior court. Serious criminal cases are tried by a jury of nine jurors. Appeals go to the Court of Criminal Appeal, which has a superior bench of three judges and an inferior bench of one.
Is legal aid available for a criminal case in Malta?
Yes. Legal aid is administered by Legal Aid Malta, and in criminal cases all persons are eligible and no means test is required by law. Civil matters are stricter: the applicant must pass a means test — net property, including disposable money, must not exceed EUR 13,000 over the preceding twelve months — and a merits test as well.
How are advocates’ fees set in Malta?
Fees of advocates and legal procurators are governed by statutory tariffs in the schedules to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, and those tariffs also guide the costs awarded against a losing party. Contingency and other conditional-fee arrangements are prohibited, so ask your advocate to explain the tariff position for your case in advance.
Do I need to speak Maltese to be represented?
Maltese has been the language of the courts and of notarial deeds since 1934, and it prevails where the two official language texts conflict (Constitution, article 74). English remains an official language, is widely used in legal practice and is the language of legal education, so your advocate can explain Maltese filings and decisions to you.
How long do I have to bring a civil claim connected to a theft?
It depends on the type of claim, not on the theft alone. Under the Civil Code, tort and damages claims that do not arise from a criminal offence must generally be brought within two years, while the general limitation period for other actions is 30 years. Raise the civil side with your advocate early so nothing is lost.
Free matching
Describe your case and get matched
One short form is enough. Tell us whether you are suspected, charged, or the victim of a theft, and we will introduce you to a theft lawyer in Malta who handles that kind of work. Matching is free, confidential and carries no obligation to instruct anyone.