How Long Does Mutual Legal Assistance Take? Realistic Timelines in 2025

“How long will it take?” This is the single most common question lawyers, law enforcement agencies, and clients ask when dealing with the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) process. Unfortunately, the answer is rarely straightforward. Unlike domestic evidence collection, MLA requests pass through layers of bureaucracy, diplomatic review, and judicial oversight across borders.

Understanding Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) timelines is essential for setting client expectations, planning case strategies, and avoiding unnecessary frustration. This 2025 guide goes beyond vague estimates. It provides a realistic breakdown of how long MLA requests take, the key causes of delay, and practical methods for managing — and sometimes reducing — these lengthy timelines.

Whether you are seeking bank records, witness statements, asset freezes, or certified translations, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to navigate international cooperation with confidence.

📅 The Short Answer: How Long Do MLA Requests Take?

While every MLA request is unique, practitioners can generally expect the following average timelines:

• Simple Requests: 9–12 months
  Examples: specific bank records, one-off certified documents, or a single witness statement.
• Standard / Complex Requests: 12–24 months
  Examples: multiple documents, cases requiring judicial review, or requests involving dual criminality.
• Highly Complex Requests: 2–5+ years
  Examples: asset freezes, confiscations, or politically sensitive cases with multiple appeals.

👉 These timeframes cover the entire process, starting from drafting the request to finally receiving certified evidence.

🔍 Stage-by-Stage Breakdown of MLA Timelines

To understand why Mutual Legal Assistance timelines are so lengthy, let’s examine each stage of the process.

Stage 1: Domestic Preparation & Drafting (1–3 Months)

What Happens:

• Identifying the correct treaty or reciprocity basis
• Drafting the Letter of Request (LOR)
• Compiling supporting documentation and certified translations

Delay Risks:

• Incomplete or vague information
• Difficulty establishing dual criminality
• Time-consuming certified translations

Stage 2: Central Authority Review (Transmitting State) (1–4 Months)

What Happens:

• Your country’s Central Authority (e.g., U.S. DOJ’s OIA, UK Home Office) reviews the package
• Ensures treaty compliance and domestic legal validity
• Forwards it to the foreign Central Authority

Delay Risks:

• Backlogs at the Central Authority
• Requests returned for missing details or errors

Stage 3: Central Authority Review (Requested State) (2–6 Months)

What Happens:

• The foreign Central Authority reviews for compliance under their laws
• Assigns the request to a competent local authority (e.g., court, prosecutor, or police agency)

Delay Risks:

• Judicial approval requirements
• Translation reviews
• Differing legal standards

Stage 4: Execution of the Request (3–12+ Months)

What Happens:

• Local courts and agencies execute the request
• Examples: issuing orders to banks, conducting witness interviews, or executing searches

Delay Risks:

• Appeals by affected parties
• Bureaucratic inefficiencies
• Complex evidence types (e.g., financial tracing or digital data)

Stage 5: Return of Evidence (1–3 Months)

What Happens:

• Evidence is certified, translated (if needed), and transmitted back through Central Authorities

Delay Risks:

• Administrative backlog
• Translation delays
• Certification issues

📊 Key Factors That Influence MLA Timelines

Some MLA requests move faster than expected, while others stall for years. These factors often determine the pace:

1. Country of Request:
   • Faster: Switzerland, UK, and EU members using the European Investigation Order (EIO)
   • Slower: States with weaker judicial systems or strained diplomatic relations
2. Quality of the Request:
   • A precise, well-drafted LOR speeds up approval
   • Overly broad requests risk rejection
3. Type of Evidence Required:
   • Faster: Pre-existing records (bank documents, registry extracts)
   • Slower: Witness interviews needing scheduling and legal oversight
   • Slowest: Asset seizures and confiscations involving third-party rights
4. Diplomatic Relations Between States:
   • Friendly states = smoother cooperation
   • Political tensions = delays or refusals
5. Adoption of Technology:
   • E-MLA systems in Europe streamline requests
   • Paper-based states slow everything down

🚧 Common Reasons for Refusal or Delay

Even a carefully drafted MLA request can face rejection. The top grounds for refusal include:

• Failure of dual criminality
• National security concerns in the requested state
• Requests seen as overly broad or “fishing expeditions”
• Offenses categorized as political in nature
• Death penalty exposure (where prohibited in the requested state)

⚡ Practical Strategies to Reduce MLA Delays

You cannot fully control a foreign bureaucracy, but you can reduce risks by being proactive:

• ✅ Draft with Precision: A flawless, detailed LOR prevents unnecessary returns for clarification.
• ✅ Consult Early: Engage your Central Authority before formal submission.
• ✅ Maintain Professional Follow-Ups: Request updates every 6–8 weeks to keep your file active.
• ✅ Leverage Professional Networks: Informal contacts via Interpol or Europol can smooth formal channels.
• ✅ Document Genuine Urgency: Prove life-threatening or terrorism-related urgency for expedited treatment.
• ✅ Explore Alternatives: For digital data, direct provider requests under the U.S. CLOUD Act may be faster.

📋 Case Study: Real-World MLA Timeline

Scenario: U.S. prosecutors request bank records from Germany in a fraud case.

• Months 1–2: LOR drafted and supporting docs compiled
• Month 3: U.S. DOJ OIA reviews and transmits to Germany
• Months 4–7: German Central Authority reviews and forwards to Frankfurt court
• Months 8–10: Court issues bank order; bank complies
• Months 11–12: Records certified, translated, and transmitted back

Total Time: ~12 months

👉 Lesson: Between two efficient systems, a well-drafted request can still take a year.

❓ MLA Timelines FAQs

Q1: What is the biggest cause of delay?
Backlog at the foreign Central Authority. Small offices handle hundreds of international requests yearly.

Q2: Can courts force a faster process?
Almost never. MLA is discretionary under state sovereignty, and courts avoid interfering.

Q3: Should lawyers contact the foreign Central Authority directly?
No. All communications must pass through official Central Authorities. Direct contact can backfire.

Q4: Has the pandemic affected MLA timelines?
Yes. Backlogs remain, though digital tools like video evidence collection have helped.

Q5: Are any MLA requests typically faster?
Yes. Requests under the European Investigation Order (EIO) have fixed deadlines (30–90 days).

🧭 Conclusion: Patience and Precision Are Your Best Tools

Navigating Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) timelines is a true test of patience and precision. While no lawyer can completely eliminate international delays, careful drafting, proactive communication, and realistic client expectations go a long way.

In 2025, the path to cross-border evidence remains slow, but by mastering these strategies, you can ensure your request is handled efficiently and increase the likelihood of success.

For deeper insights, read our guide: How to Request Mutual Legal Assistance – Step by Step. To explore governing treaties, see our MLAT Countries Directory.