Legal Services
Changing marital status in Portugal
Changing marital status in Portugal
this service is aimed exclusively at portuguese citizens living abroad, as well as all their children and family members.
We provide legal advice and represent you in all the legal relationships you establish with Portugal, namely matters related to partitions, inheritances, divorces, property actions, changes in marital status, foreign judgment reviews, finances (especially double taxation), deeds of sale, donations and wills.
WEDDING
When a Portuguese citizen gets married abroad, whether in a civil or Catholic ceremony, it is important to register the marriage in Portugal so that it has legal effect in Portugal.
With our services, you can handle the entire process of transcribing your marriage abroad, simply, quickly and remotely.
Who needs a marriage transcript?
All Portuguese emigrants who have married abroad and wish to do so:
- Update your marital status in Portuguese records;
- Take advantage of legal and tax benefits (IRS, inheritance, citizenship, social security);
- To ensure the validity of the marriage under Portuguese law.
Required documents:
Marriage certificate issued by the civil or religious authority of the country where the marriage took place.
DIVORCE
When a Portuguese citizen gets divorced abroad, the decision of the court or competent body that issued that decision must be registered in the Portuguese Civil Registry.
The transcription of this divorce decision/sentence, in order for it to take effect in Portugal, depends on the special procedure for reviewing and confirming the foreign decision/sentence that decreed the divorce being initiated in the competent Court of Appeal. The purpose of this procedure is to analyze the validity and authenticity of the foreign decision and documents, thus giving them validity and effectiveness in Portugal.
Applications for Review of Foreign Judgments
Foreign Judgment Review proceedings can be brought by you against your ex-spouse, by both of you, or by your descendants:
The advantage of the application being made by both parties is precisely that it avoids having to summon the opposing party, bringing forward the recognition of the divorce by around 60 days. If both spouses apply for a review of the judgment jointly and the court agrees, there is no legal obligation to summon the opposing party to give its opinion.
Avoid time-consuming postage and procedural deadlines, shorten the divorce review process by applying for it jointly with your ex-spouse. If you want to speed up the process and don't want to contact your ex-husband/ex-wife, your case manager will do it for you. All that is required is that you consent and agree to take part in the proceedings jointly by signing a legal power of attorney.
If, for any reason, your former spouse does not consent to participating in the proceedings, they will proceed without any hindrance.
In the event that your ex-spouse has passed away, and if your descendants agree to the process, the update of marital status can be completed jointly, making the process exponentially faster.
Required documents:
The following documents are required to start your foreign judgment review procedure:
A certificate of the judgment issued by the court or body that rendered it, stating that it has become final, or a copy certified by the Embassy or Consulate;
Power of attorney(s) from both parties if a joint application is feasible (to be provided by our office);
Simple copies of identification documents or passports;
Updated addresses for both parties.
ViUvez
Widowhood is a civil condition that must be reported to the Portuguese authorities anywhere in the world. It is updated through a transcription to the Civil Registry, if it occurs abroad.
Required documents:
Death certificate issued by the competent foreign authority;
Power of attorney (provided by the company).
