A Relative Is in Police Custody in France: What Should You Do?

Updated 3 November 2026

A call from a police station, a relative who does not come home, a message from a friend: police custody (garde à vue) happens without warning. The first hours matter. Here is what the family can do in France, and how a criminal defence lawyer steps in, in Paris, the Île-de-France region and across France.

How will I know that my relative is in police custody?

The person in custody may ask for a relative, a person they live with or any person they designate, and their employer, to be informed. Notice must in principle be given within three hours of the request, unless the prosecutor decides otherwise for the needs of the investigation (Article 63-2 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure). If you have not been called, contact the police station where your relative was arrested: officers may confirm that the person is held and take the name of the lawyer chosen by the family.

Can the family choose the lawyer?

Yes. A relative who has been informed may appoint a lawyer, and the person in custody must then confirm the choice. If the chosen lawyer cannot attend within two hours, a duty lawyer is appointed (Article 63-3-1). Call the lawyer with your relative's full name, date of birth and the police station, then give the lawyer's name to the officers.

What does the lawyer do during custody?

• a confidential consultation of up to thirty minutes, renewable if custody is extended (Article 63-4);
• access to the custody record, the medical certificate and the interview records (Article 63-4-1);
• assistance during interviews if the person so requests (Article 63-4-2), and advice on the right to remain silent.

How long does it last, and what should the family prepare?

Custody lasts up to twenty-four hours and may be extended once by twenty-four hours for offences punishable by at least one year's imprisonment (Article 63). If your relative is brought before a judge, their detention will be decided within hours: gather proof of identity and address, employment contract or payslips, family situation and medical documents, and signed statements from relatives or employers, and give them to the lawyer.

What happens after custody?

The person may be released, summoned to a later hearing, offered a guilty-plea procedure (CRPC), or brought before the prosecutor, which may lead to an immediate trial or to an investigating judge. Avoid contacting the victim or witnesses, and do not post about the case on social media.