Internet & Digital Law · Malta
Find an internet lawyer in Malta for the online dispute you are facing
Defamatory posts, fake reviews, copied listings, platform suspensions, unpaid online contracts and data misuse all end up somewhere — and in Malta that usually means choosing the right court first. Tell us what happened and we match you with a warranted Maltese advocate who handles digital matters.
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How we help
Matched with a Maltese advocate who works on internet matters
Online disputes rarely stay tidy. A defamatory post, a fake review, a copied product listing, an unpaid invoice from an online contract or a platform that suspends your account can all end up in front of a Maltese court — and the first question is which one. If you are searching for an internet lawyer in Malta, we help you find a warranted advocate who handles digital and online matters and knows how the Maltese system works: a codified civil-law core, an adversarial procedure and strong EU influence since 2004. Tell us what happened in a few lines. We review your request, match you with a specialist and you decide whether to instruct them. There is no charge for the match and no obligation to proceed.
Malta in practice
How online and internet disputes work in Malta
Malta’s framework rewards preparation. Its courts apply a codified civil-law core through an adversarial procedure, the value thresholds that determine where a claim is heard are fixed, and the limitation periods attached to online harm are often shorter than clients expect.
One system, two legal traditions
Maltese private law follows the continental civil-law tradition — the Civil Code of 1868 derives from the French Code Napoléon — while public, procedural, administrative, commercial and company law carry strong English common-law influence. The system is codified yet adversarial, and the doctrine of binding precedent is absent. That dual foundation matters when an online dispute crosses borders and both traditions are argued.
Which Maltese court hears your claim
The forum depends on value. Monetary claims up to €5,000 go to the Small Claims Tribunal, where a party may appear in person or be assisted by any person. Claims above €5,000 up to €15,000 go to the Court of Magistrates, and claims above €15,000, or of unquantifiable value, to the Civil Court.
Time limits that catch people out
Tort and damages claims not arising from a criminal offence are subject to a two-year limitation period, and commercial claims — including many B2B contract disputes — to five years. The general limitation of actions runs to 30 years. Because the shorter periods cover much online harm, an early assessment of the facts is worth having.
Advocates, legal procurators and the warrant
Malta has a single unified legal profession: the terms lawyer and advocate are used interchangeably, with no barrister/solicitor split. Practising requires a warrant issued by the President of the Republic, granted after the required degree, at least a year at a practising advocate’s office and examination and approval by two judges. A separate legal procurator handles procedural acts such as service and filings.
Fees, tariffs and the ban on contingency fees
Advocates’ and legal procurators’ fees are governed by statutory tariffs in the schedules to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, which also guide the costs awarded against a losing party. Contingency-fee and other conditional-fee arrangements are ethically prohibited. Malta levies court registry fees rather than a general court tax; at the Small Claims Tribunal a Notice of Claim costs €40 plus €7.20 for each notification served.
Language, deeds and enforcement
Maltese and English are both official languages, legislation is enacted in both, and the Maltese text prevails in case of conflict under article 74 of the Constitution. Court rulings and notarial deeds are drafted in Maltese, while commercial practice and legal education use English. Where a settlement requires a public deed, a Notary Public authenticates it.
Country data on this page comes from official sources — the Laws of Malta, the Judiciary of Malta, Legal Aid Malta and the European e-Justice Portal — consulted in 2025.
Common problems
What people bring to us
The same few questions come up again and again in online matters.
Your case crosses borders
An online seller, platform or forum may sit outside Malta while the harm lands here. Identifying the correct defendant and the right forum is the first practical hurdle, and it shapes everything that follows.
Content spreads faster than corrections
Defamatory statements, fake reviews and leaked material travel quickly. You need to know what can be preserved as evidence and how a Maltese advocate approaches removal, takedown and damages.
Deadlines run quietly
Damages claims of this kind are subject to a two-year limitation period in Malta. Time spent deciding can erode the claim itself, which is why an early view of the facts is worth having.
Why this route
What the match gives you
A short, focused introduction rather than a directory of names.
Advocates warranted in Malta
We match you with advocates who hold a warrant issued by the President of the Republic and appear before the Maltese courts, including the Small Claims Tribunal, the Court of Magistrates and the Civil Court.
One profession, no split
Malta has no barrister/solicitor division: the advocate you instruct can both advise and plead, while a legal procurator handles procedural acts such as service and filings where the matter requires it.
Bilingual by default
Maltese and English are both official languages and legal education is delivered in English, while court rulings and notarial deeds are drafted in Maltese — your advocate works across both.
Costs you can anticipate
Advocates’ and legal procurators’ fees follow statutory tariffs, and contingency-fee or other conditional-fee arrangements are prohibited in Malta, so the basis of the work can be discussed before you commit.
Cross-border matters
We also cover cases connected to
Online disputes often involve parties, platforms or servers in more than one country. Alongside Malta, we work with clients whose matters touch these jurisdictions.
Questions
Internet and online law in Malta: common questions
Do I need an internet lawyer in Malta if the website is hosted abroad?
Not necessarily in Malta — but Maltese law can still be relevant where the harm, the business or the defendant is connected to the country. A Maltese advocate will look at where the parties sit, where the damage occurred and which court is competent, then advise whether to proceed in Malta or elsewhere.
Which Maltese court will hear my online dispute?
It depends on the value of the claim. Monetary claims up to €5,000 go to the Small Claims Tribunal, where you may appear in person or be assisted by any person. Claims above €5,000 and up to €15,000 go to the Court of Magistrates; claims above €15,000, or of unquantifiable value, go to the Civil Court.
How long do I have to bring a claim in Malta?
Tort and damages claims not arising from a criminal offence are subject to a two-year limitation period, and commercial claims — including many B2B contract disputes — to five years. The general limitation period runs to 30 years. Because the shorter periods cover much online harm, early advice is worthwhile.
What does an advocate’s warrant mean in Malta?
Malta has a single unified legal profession: the terms lawyer and advocate are interchangeable, with no barrister/solicitor split. An advocate holds a warrant issued by the President of the Republic, granted after the required degree, at least a year at a practising advocate’s office and examination and approval by two judges.
Can a Maltese advocate work on a contingency fee?
No. Contingency-fee and other conditional-fee arrangements are ethically prohibited in Malta. Fees are governed by statutory tariffs in the schedules to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, which also guide the quantum of costs a court may award against the losing party.
Is legal aid available for civil online disputes in Malta?
Legal aid is administered by Legal Aid Malta. In civil cases an applicant must pass a means test — net property, including disposable money, not exceeding €13,000 for the preceding twelve months — and a merits test. Eligible persons are assigned a legal aid lawyer and a legal aid procurator by court decree.
Next step
Tell us what happened online
Describe your situation in a few lines — the post, the platform, the contract or the takedown that went wrong. We review it, match you with a Maltese advocate who handles internet and digital matters, and you decide whether to instruct them.