Criminal Lawyers in Estonia

Our criminal lawyers in Estonia offer complete legal solutions including, but not limited to defending clients in court. Our expertise allows us to offer international and local assistance throughout the legal process for those accused of a crime, as well as for victims of a crime.

Our lawyers in Estonia favour a comprehensive approach that can also focus on alternative dispute resolution, for criminal cases that may suit this option.

The Penal Code

According to the Estonian Penal Code, a criminal offence is one that violates the legal rights of another person, for which the punishment is imprisonment or a pecuniary punishment.

The Penal Code also includes degrees for the types of criminal offences: these can be in the first degree or in the second degree. The penalties are prescribed according to these degrees in the following manner:

• For criminal offences in the first degree, the maximum punishment for a natural person is imprisonment for more than 5 years or life imprisonment;
• A second-degree criminal offence in Estonia is punishable with a maximum imprisonment period of 5 years for a natural person or a pecuniary punishment.

A limitation period for the offence applies as follows:

• 10 years for first-degree criminal offences;
• 5 years for second-degree criminal offences;
• 2 years for a misdemeanour;
• No expiration for crimes of aggression and other serious crimes. Our attorneys in Estonia can give you more details about these.

Legal assistance, such as that offered by our criminal lawyers in Estonia is advisable for both degrees of criminal offences.

Types of criminal offences in Estonia

Our criminal lawyers in Estonia list the most common types of criminal offences below:

• Offences against the person: manslaughter, murder, infanticide, negligent homicide, causing serious health damage, threat, physical abuse, etc.;
• Offences against humanity: the restriction of human rights, killing, torture, forceable prostitution, deprivation of liberty, etc;
• Offences against peace: crimes of aggression, propaganda for war, handling or developing prohibited weapons, etc.;
• War crimes: acts of war against the civilian population, the illegal use of warfare against civilians, attacks against civilians, and others;
• Offences against international security: piracy, aircraft hijacking;
• Offences against liberty: trafficking in human beings or supporting human trafficking.

Examples of offences that would fall under the first-degree category include crimes against humanity and genocide, murder, terrorism, and others.

According to Estonian law, the illegal termination of pregnancy and the illegal treatment of an embryo or fetus are also criminal acts punishable by law. Offences against political and civil rights are also included in the Penal Code.

Please note that this is a brief summary of the types of offences included in the Estonian Penal Code. Our criminal lawyers in Estonia can answer specific questions about the type or subtype.

Services offered by our team

Ongoing assistance during criminal proceedings represents the core of the services offered by our criminal lawyers in Estonia. However, our attorneys can start offering guidance and counsel as soon as you are interrogated by the police or are brought into police custody.

Alternatively, our Estonian criminal lawyers offer adequate assistance for victims of crimes, as soon as they are able to seek legal guidance themselves or through a representative.

In addition to legal representation and advice in criminal cases, our immigration lawyers in Estonia can provide personalized services for those looking to apply for residency in Estonia or citizenship in Estonia.

Additionally, we also offer solutions for companies through our partner accountant in Estonia. Please contact us for more information about the services offered by our criminal attorneys in Estonia or our other solutions.