French Legislation In English

Search, Read and Apply French Law. In English.

20+ full codes, 2,400+ articles translated and updated. Case law linked to every article. Read the actual text before you ask a lawyer about it — free, no login required.

Try: L.227-1 SAS governance, L.145-9 bail commercial renewal, L.223-18 gérant removal SARL

20+

french codes

Fully translated

2,400+

articles in English

Updated regularly

480+

court rulings linked

Per article

Free

full access

No login required

Showing 96819690 of 52212 articles for Art. 1844-1

French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Subtitle I: Public and civil proceedings

Article 10

When the civil action is brought before a criminal court, it is time-barred according to the rules of the public action. When it is brought before a civil court, it is time-barred according to the rul…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Subtitle I: Public and civil proceedings

Article 1

Public prosecution for the enforcement of sentences is initiated and exercised by the magistrates or civil servants to whom it is entrusted by law.This action may also be initiated by the injured part…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Title I: Authorities responsible for the conduct of criminal policy, public prosecutions and investigations

Article 11

Unless otherwise provided by law and without prejudice to the rights of the defence, proceedings during the investigation and enquiry shall be secret.Any person who takes part in these proceedings is…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 2: Judicial police officers

Article 17

The judicial police officers exercise the powers defined in article 14; they receive complaints and denunciations; they carry out preliminary investigations under the conditions provided for by articl…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 2: Judicial police officers

Article 19

Officers of the judicial police are required to inform the public prosecutor without delay of crimes, offences and contraventions of which they have knowledge. As soon as they have completed their ope…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 2: Judicial police officers

Article 18

Judicial police officers have jurisdiction within the territorial limits where they carry out their usual duties. Officers of the judicial police, temporarily placed at the disposal of a service other…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Subsection 2: Interception of correspondence sent by electronic communications

Article 100

In criminal and correctional matters, if the penalty incurred is equal to or greater than three years' imprisonment, the investigating judge may, where the needs of the information so require, order t…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 6: Mandates and their execution

Article 131

If the person is a fugitive or resides outside the territory of the Republic, the investigating judge, after consultation with the public prosecutor, may issue an arrest warrant for the person if the…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 6: Mandates and their execution

Article 122

The examining magistrate may, depending on the case, issue a warrant for search, appearance, bringing in or arrest. The liberty and custody judge may issue a committal order. A search warrant may be i…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 6: Mandates and their execution

Article 124

The warrants shall be enforceable throughout the territory of the Republic.

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
Common Questions

French legislation in English — Q&A

Our translations are produced and reviewed for accuracy, but the only legally binding version of French law is the French original. For court, registry or contractual use we offer lawyer-reviewed or sworn certified translations on request.
Articles are synced with Légifrance and updated as soon as a reform is published in the Journal Officiel, so you always read the version in force — and can see when each article was last amended.
Each article is linked to the key court decisions (Cour de cassation, Conseil d'État, courts of appeal) that interpret it, so you can read the text and its case-law application side by side.
Yes — every article has an AI plain-English summary, and you can order a lawyer-reviewed explanation of how it applies to your specific situation, with next steps.
No. Reading and searching the codes is free with no login. Paid services — certified translation and the legal application report — are entirely optional.
Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In French Corporate Practice

English · French · Russian

Ready When You Are

Talk To A Lawyer
In France.

A 20–30 minute call, in English, to scope the engagement. No obligation, no preliminary fee. You will leave the call with a clear view of what the work will cover and what it will cost.

First EngagementFixed Fee

Talk to a French lawyer.

Reply within 24 hours.

Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

Continue

Related legal services

01 / Read

Browse the French codes

20+ full codes and 2,400+ articles in English, with the key court rulings linked to every article — free to read.

Read More
02 / Apply

Legal application report

A lawyer-reviewed report explaining how the relevant articles apply to your situation, with case-law analysis and next steps.

Read More
03 / Act

Talk to a French lawyer

Scope your matter with a Paris-Bar avocate — incorporation, contracts, disputes — handled bilingually, end to end.

Read More