International cases · Families
When your relative is in prison in Spain and you are far away
Most of the first messages I receive in these cases come from a mother, a partner or a brother in another country who does not know where their relative is or what to do. You do not need to travel to start. Much of what matters can be done from where you are.
Saúl Rosell Manglano · Criminal defence lawyer · Madrid · ICAM 83.198
The essentials
You can write to me in your language. I read it translated and reply the same way.
Abroad
You can pay my fees from abroad by bank transfer or card, with a written quote first.
Papers
Proof of work, home and family can change decisions on custody, leave or expulsion. You can send it from where you are.
What to do first
Tell me what you know
Full name, date of birth, nationality, where and when the arrest happened. With that I can find out which court has the case and, if applicable, which prison.
Contact the consulate
Your country's consulate can visit, check on the person's well-being and contact the family. It does not act as the lawyer, but it helps.
Gather documents
Proof of residence and work in Spain or in your country, children's birth certificates, medical reports. Photos or scans are enough to start.
Decide about the lawyer
If your relative has a court-appointed lawyer, they can keep that lawyer or appoint one of their choice at any time. I talk to your relative before taking the case.
Visits, calls and letters
Visits in Spanish prisons need an appointment and a valid passport or identity card. Relatives can have ordinary visits and, once the relationship has been proved, longer family visits. Many prisons also allow video calls, which helps a lot when the family lives abroad.
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The prisoner can call a limited list of numbers that they have authorised, including numbers abroad. The family cannot call the prisoner. Letters can be sent to the prison address with the prisoner's full name.
Money
Prisoners have an internal account to buy things inside and to pay for calls. Money can be deposited into it, also from abroad. Each prison has its own instructions, and I can tell you how to do it in your relative's prison.
How we communicate
I do not speak your language, so I am clear about how we do it. Our conversations take place in Spanish with AI translation, by WhatsApp or by video call, and I check that everything important is understood. In court, the judge appoints an official interpreter for your relative, free of charge.
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If the case needs something done in your country, such as obtaining a document or coordinating with a criminal case there, I work with a local lawyer case by case.
Where the family lives matters
If the family lives in Spain, that supports release, temporary leave and opposing expulsion. If the family lives in another country, that supports serving the sentence or the parole period there. Either way, it has to be proved with documents, and the earlier they arrive, the better.
How we will understand each other
I work in Spanish. With my clients from abroad I use translation tools to read and answer messages, and we manage well that way. At the police station and in court the law gives you a free interpreter, and I make sure that right is respected. If you write to me in English, I will answer you.
Common questions
Do I have to travel to Spain?
Not to start. I can do most of the work with you from a distance. Some moments, such as a trial or a visit, may justify a trip, and I tell you in advance.
Can I be the one who hires you, even if my relative is in prison?
Yes, the family can contact me and pay the fees. The client is your relative, so I speak with them and they must agree.
Will you tell me everything about the case?
I tell you what your relative authorises me to share. That protects them, and in most cases they want the family informed.
Is it urgent?
Call me on 688 884 488. I answer the phone myself, at any hour.
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