Criminal Defense

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Chile

Private defense for foreigners facing charges in Chile, and private prosecution for victims — with a family abroad kept informed in English at every stage.

Book your consultation → What we handle

Chilean-licensed attorneys Updates in English Handled remotely

Overview

The first 48 hours matter more than the rest

Chile runs an adversarial criminal procedure with tight procedural windows. What is said in the first interview, whether a search was lawful, and whether the defense appears at the initial hearing frequently determine the outcome long before trial. A foreigner without Spanish and without local counsel is at a structural disadvantage in exactly that window.

We act as private defense counsel — an alternative to the public defender, with the time and resources to build a case — and we also represent victims as private prosecutors (querellante), which gives you standing the prosecutor's office alone will not.

What we handle

Criminal Defense services in Chile

Each matter below is handled by Chilean-licensed attorneys and reported to you in English. If your situation is not listed, ask — it usually still fits one of these.

Private Criminal Defense

Defense from the first hearing through trial and, where necessary, appeal. Includes precautionary measures, challenges to unlawful evidence, negotiated outcomes and alternative resolutions where they serve you better than a verdict.

Private Prosecution for Victims

As a victim you can appear as querellante, present your own evidence and drive the investigation rather than waiting on the public prosecutor. This is often the difference between a case that advances and one that is shelved.

Economic & White-Collar Crime

Fraud, misappropriation, tax and corporate offenses, often overlapping with a forensic accounting analysis. We combine the criminal defense with the audit work these cases require.

Cybercrime

Offenses under Chile's cybercrime framework: unauthorized access, data interference, online fraud and identity misuse — as defendant or as victim seeking an effective investigation.

Property & Violent Crime

Theft, robbery, receiving stolen goods and property damage, plus offenses against persons. Defense strategy here usually turns on identification evidence and the legality of the arrest.

Appeals & Procedural Remedies

Nullity appeals, amparo and other remedies against irregular detention or defective proceedings. Deadlines are measured in days, which is why timing dominates strategy.

From anywhere

How this works if you are not in Chile

Case assessment

You send us the documents you have. We tell you what applies, what it costs and what the realistic timeline is — before you commit to anything.

Power of attorney

Granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled where you live. That single document lets us act for you in Chile without you traveling.

We act, you get updates

Filings and hearings are handled by our attorneys in Chile. You receive plain-English updates at every stage, not legal Spanish you have to decode.

FAQ

Criminal Defense in Chile — common questions

The questions English-speaking clients ask us most about this area.

I am a foreigner charged with a crime in Chile. What happens first?

You will be brought before a guarantee judge at an initial hearing where the charge is formalized and precautionary measures — which may include travel restrictions or pretrial detention — are decided. You have the right to counsel and to an interpreter. Anything you say before counsel is present can be used, so the practical advice is short: do not give a statement until a lawyer is with you.

Can I leave Chile while a case is pending?

Not necessarily. Courts frequently impose a prohibition on leaving the country as a precautionary measure in cases involving foreigners. Whether that measure is imposed, and whether it can be lifted or replaced with a lesser one, is argued at the hearing — which is why having defense counsel present at that hearing matters so much.

What is the difference between a public defender and private defense?

Chile's public defenders are qualified and free, but they carry heavy caseloads. Private defense means a lawyer with the time to review the full file, commission expert evidence, interview witnesses and prepare a strategy — and, for a client whose family is abroad, someone who reports in English rather than leaving them to guess.

I was the victim of a crime in Chile. Do I need my own lawyer?

You do not have to have one, but filing as a private prosecutor changes your position substantially: you gain access to the file, the right to request specific investigative steps, and the ability to present evidence and pursue civil compensation within the criminal case. Victims who rely solely on the public prosecutor often find the investigation closed without explanation.

Can my family in the United States be kept informed?

Yes, with your authorization. We provide updates in English to the family members you designate, explain what each hearing means in practice, and coordinate with consular officials where that helps. Confidentiality remains yours — we share only what you authorize us to share.

Need a criminal defense lawyer in Chile you can actually talk to?

Get an initial assessment in English — confidential, with no obligation.

Book your consultation now →

WhatsApp+56 9 5217 5304

Emailhola@oklegal.cl

HoursMon–Sat 09:00–20:00