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 14711480 of 47428 articles for Art. 3 mai 2007

French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 1: General provisions

Article 313

The Public Prosecutor shall, in the name of the law, make any submissions that he or she considers useful: the court is required to take note of them and to deliberate on them. The public prosecutor's…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 4: Closure of debates and reading of questions

Article 353

Before the Assize Court retires, the President reads out the following instruction, which is also posted in large print in the most conspicuous place in the deliberation chamber: "Subject to the requi…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 4: Closure of debates and reading of questions

Article 348

The president reads out the questions to be answered by the court and jury. This reading is not obligatory when the questions are asked in the terms of the committal order or if the accused or his def…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 2: Decisions on public action

Article 366

The Assize Court then returns to the courtroom. The president calls the accused to appear, reads out the answers made to the questions, and pronounces the judgment of conviction, absolution or acquitt…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 2: Appearance of the accused

Article 321

When at the hearing one of the assistants disturbs order in any way whatsoever, the President shall order his expulsion from the courtroom.If, during the execution of this measure, he resists this ord…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 2: Appearance of the accused

Article 317

At the hearing, the presence of a defence counsel with the accused is mandatory. If the defence counsel chosen or appointed in accordance with Article 274 fails to appear, the president shall appoint…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Paragraph 1: General provisions

Article 383

Jurisdiction over an accused extends to all co-perpetrators and accomplices.

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Paragraph 1: General provisions

Article 386

The preliminary objection is presented before any defence on the merits.It is admissible only if it is of such a nature as to remove the character of an offence from the fact that serves as a basis fo…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Paragraph 1: General provisions

Article 388

The criminal court is seised of offences within its jurisdiction either by the voluntary appearance of the parties, or by summons, or by summons by procès-verbal, or by immediate appearance, or finall…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Paragraph 1: General provisions

Article 384

The court hearing the public action has jurisdiction to rule on any objections put forward by the accused in his defence, unless the law provides otherwise, or the accused relies on a right in rem in…

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