How to read legal citations in Spain
Spanish citations start with the court abbreviation (STC for the Constitutional Court, STS for the Supreme Court), then the number and year, then the date.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Style guide: Spanish academic and court conventions. Spanish citations use short abbreviations for the court, a number and the date.
Real citations, decoded
Click or hover over any underlined piece to see what it means.
A decision of the Constitutional Court Case
, de
- Court STC
Sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional, a judgment of the Constitutional Court. STS is the Supreme Court. - Number and year 53/1985
Judgment number 53 of 1985. - Date 11 de abril
The date of the judgment, written out in Spanish.
A code article Statute
- Article art. 1902
Article 1902, the general rule on liability for harm caused by fault or negligence. - Code CC
Código Civil, the Civil Code. Other common codes: CP (Criminal Code) and LEC (Civil Procedure Act).
Things to remember
- BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado) is the official gazette in which laws and many judgments are published.
- Statutes are cited by type, number, year and date, for example Ley Orgánica.
Where to find the text, free
To understand how courts and law fit together in Spain, read the Spain profile in the Legal Families Atlas.
Other legal systems
United StatesEngland and WalesIrelandCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandIndiaSouth AfricaGermanyFranceItalyNetherlandsJapanBrazilEuropean UnionEuropean Court of Human RightsInternational law
TheLawToKnow Tools’s citation guide is an educational overview of standard conventions. Courts and journals sometimes vary, so check the style guide before submitting or publishing. It is not legal advice. Report a mistake.
