Criminal Lawyer Valencia: Expat & English-Speaking Defence

Valencia, Spain's third-largest city, has experienced explosive growth in its international community. Thousands of British, Dutch, German, and American expats live in Valencia and the surrounding Costa Blanca, creating a significant need for English-speaking criminal defense.

The Audiencia Provincial de Valencia and the city's 22 investigating courts handle a diverse caseload: from property fraud affecting foreign buyers to drug trafficking through the Port of Valencia — Europe's busiest Mediterranean container port — to domestic violence and assault charges in the nightlife district.

Our firm provides defense across the entire Comunitat Valenciana, including Alicante, Castellón, Benidorm, and the Costa Blanca resort towns where British and Northern European nationals frequently require legal assistance.

Based on our experience with international clients in Valencia, the most common criminal charges include:

• Property fraud: Purchasing properties with undisclosed debts, illegal construction, or fraudulent contracts. The Valencia region saw a construction boom that left many international buyers exposed.
• DUI / Drink driving: Spain has lower administrative BAC limits (0.25 mg/L in breath) than the UK (0.35 mg/L). Many British expats are caught unaware.
• Drug possession & trafficking: The Port of Valencia is a major smuggling entry point. Possession for personal use is an administrative fine, but any amount suggesting distribution triggers criminal charges.
• Assault & public order: Nightlife-related incidents, particularly in areas like El Carmen and the Fallas festival period.
• Tax fraud: Expats who maintain tax residency in Spain but fail to declare worldwide income (including UK pensions, crypto gains, and rental income).

Each of these sits in a practice area you can browse in full on our services index: Fraud & Scams, Road Safety, Drug Trafficking, Tax Crimes and Theft, Robbery & Property.