Being informed of your rights
From the very start of the measure, the nature of the offence, the duration of the police custody and your rights must be notified to you in a language you understand.
Criminal defence on call Immediate danger: 17 or 112
Criminal emergency · 24/7
Is someone you know in police custody? Every hour counts.
Police custody, questioning, immediate appearance: a criminal defence lawyer can step in from the very first hour. First phone consultation.
⚖️ General legal information — not a substitute for personalised advice from a lawyer.
17Police / GendarmerieImmediate danger, offence in progress
112European emergency lineSingle number, valid everywhere in the EU
115Emergency homeless helplineHomeless person in distress
3919Violence against women helplineConfidential and free, 24/7
Free tool · CPP
Police custody deadline calculator
Enter the start time and type of offence to calculate the legal deadlines with a live countdown.
Enter the start time above to display the deadlines.
Sources: Arts 63, 706-88 and 706-88-3 CPP. General legal information — not a substitute for personalised advice from a lawyer.
Your rights — Code of Criminal Procedure
In police custody, the law protects you. You still need to know your rights.
These rights must be notified to you from the start of the measure. A lawyer ensures they are respected and that questioning is conducted properly.
Being assisted by a lawyer
You may request the assistance of a lawyer from the very start of police custody. They can speak with you confidentially for 30 minutes and attend questioning.
Remaining silent
You have the right to make statements, to answer questions or to remain silent. Silence cannot be held against you.
Notifying a relative
You may have a relative, your employer and, if you are a foreign national, your consular authorities notified by telephone.
Being examined by a doctor
You may ask at any time to be examined by a doctor, who will assess whether your condition is compatible with the measure.
A strictly limited duration
Police custody lasts 24 hours, extendable once to 48 hours with authorisation. Longer durations exist for certain offences (terrorism, narcotics).
Sources: articles 63 et seq. of the French Code of Criminal Procedure · service-public.fr · Défenseur des droits (09 69 39 00 00).
When to act fast
When is an emergency lawyer essential?
Some court proceedings tolerate no delay. Here are the cases where every hour of waiting makes the situation worse.
Police custody
Urgent 24/7You or a relative are being held in police custody. The lawyer must step in before questioning. They check the conditions of detention, attend the interrogations and prepare the defence. Without a lawyer, your rights are fragile.
Immediate appearance
Fast-track procedureTrial within hours of police custody. The lawyer builds a defence strategy in record time: requesting more time to prepare the defence, pleading mitigating circumstances.
Domestic / family violence
ProtectionEmergency removal, protection order, filing a complaint. The lawyer secures the procedure, protects the victim and anticipates reprisals.
Serious accident / involuntary manslaughter
Criminal investigationInvestigation into unintentional injury, road manslaughter or a workplace accident. The lawyer handles the questioning, the expert assessment and the compensation.
Home intrusion / assault
VictimFlagrant offence or preliminary investigation. The lawyer files the complaint, requests investigative measures and ensures the victim's protection.
Free hearing / summons
Preventive adviceYou are summoned without being held in custody. The lawyer prepares you for the hearing, advises you on your statements and can accompany you.
Understanding the procedure
From arrest to judgment: the stages where a lawyer makes the difference.
Police custody (garde à vue)
Art. 62-2 et seq. CPPA measure depriving liberty ordered by a judicial police officer. The lawyer may intervene from the first hour, review certain records and attend questioning and confrontations.
Free hearing (audition libre)
Art. 61-1 CPPYou are questioned without being held. You may leave at any time and be assisted by a lawyer if the offence is punishable by imprisonment.
Immediate appearance (comparution immédiate)
Art. 395 et seq. CPPTrial held very shortly after police custody. Your lawyer may request additional time to prepare the defence; you must consent to this.
Referral to the prosecutor (déferrement)
Art. 393 CPPPresentation to the prosecutor or judge at the end of police custody. The lawyer prepares submissions and argues on the measures being considered.
In practice
How the intervention is set up
1
Call us or leave your number
Our switchboard is open 24/7. A legal adviser assesses your situation and identifies the type of emergency.
2
A lawyer calls you back within 30 minutes
We contact the criminal defence lawyer closest to your location. They call you back immediately to advise you.
3
The lawyer steps in on site or assists you
Presence at the police station, the court or the hospital. They handle the procedure and defend you.
Fees & access to justice
How much it costs, and what to do if you cannot afford it.
A written fee agreement
Since the law of 6 August 2015, a lawyer must enter into a written fee agreement with their client. You know in advance how their fees are set (flat rate, hourly rate, work done).
Legal aid
Subject to means testing, the State covers all or part of the lawyer's fees. It is available for many criminal proceedings. Enquire with the court's legal aid office.
The bar's criminal duty service
Each bar organises a duty roster of court-appointed lawyers, reachable for police custody and referrals, including at night and on weekends, via the police station or the court.
General information — amounts and conditions vary depending on your situation and your bar.
Free tool · Legal Aid
Are you eligible for legal aid?
Enter your annual tax reference income and number of dependants to find out in 30 seconds whether the State will cover all or part of your lawyer's fees.
Enter your income above to see your eligibility.
Estimate based on 2024 thresholds for mainland France, updated annually by decree. Specific rates apply in overseas territories (DOM/TOM). Verify your eligibility at your court's Legal Aid Office (BAJ). Sources: Law of 10 July 1991, Decree n° 2020-1717.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about criminal emergencies
My relative is in police custody — what should I do immediately?
Do not go to the police station without a lawyer. Call us: we will contact a criminal defence lawyer who will go there in person. The lawyer must be present before questioning begins. They can ask to see your relative and check the conditions of detention. Do not answer any question without them.
How much does an emergency lawyer cost?
Fees vary with the complexity of the case: from 300 to 1,500 € for police custody, from 800 to 3,000 € for an immediate appearance. Some lawyers offer flat-rate emergency packages. You may qualify for legal aid subject to means testing. Ask for a quote from the very first call.
Can I refuse to be tried under the immediate appearance procedure?
Yes, your lawyer can request an adjournment to prepare your defence. The judge may grant it if the request is justified. Without a lawyer, you risk being tried without preparation. That is why it is crucial to have one before the hearing.
Can a lawyer step in at night or on weekends?
Yes, criminal defence lawyers are reachable 24/7. Police custody and immediate appearances can happen at any time. Our emergency service connects you with a lawyer available immediately, even at 3 a.m.
Contact
A criminal emergency? Request a call back.
Describe the situation: a lawyer will get back to you for a first discussion.
- 17 / 112 — in case of immediate danger, contact the emergency services first.
- Bar duty service — reachable via the police station for police custody.
- 3919 — violence against women, confidential helpline 24/7.
⚖️ This form does not trigger an immediate intervention. In a life-threatening emergency, call 17 or 112.