Comprehensive legal support for the recognition of foreign court decisions in the territory of Portugal.
In life, situations may arise when a court decision rendered outside Portugal must be enforced on Portuguese territory. This may concern both civil and family matters. For example, a child custody decision issued in another country must be legally recognized in Portugal in order to be enforced—for instance, to determine the place of residence of the child. Without this procedure, the foreign court decision will have no legal force in Portugal and will not be enforceable.
The main goal is to “legalize” the foreign court decision so that it becomes valid as if it had been issued by a Portuguese court. This procedure allows you to:
Recognition ensures legal protection and helps avoid conflicts between jurisdictions.
The service of recognizing foreign court decisions in Portugal will be especially relevant for:
We assist both individuals and legal entities—in situations of any complexity.
The recognition procedure (in Portuguese law — reconhecimento de sentença estrangeira) is carried out through the Court of Appeal. It is a separate judicial process that requires strict observance of formalities.
Typically, the procedure includes:
In some cases, legalization may also be required, especially if there is no international treaty for mutual recognition.
The outcome depends on:
The cost is determined individually: the simpler and clearer the decision, the faster and more affordable the procedure will be. We always analyze the situation in advance to anticipate potential difficulties and offer the optimal solution.
We assist the client at every stage, including:
Upon request, we can also help with apostille or legalization, as well as coordination with foreign attorneys.
Clients work with us because we:
We help you avoid mistakes and ensure that your rights are protected in a foreign legal system — professionally and reliably.
Some services can be challenging to handle on your own. Trust our team of professionals to guide you through every step.
Court decisions of foreign states on civil, family, labor, and commercial law matters are subject to recognition. The main requirement is that the decision must be final, issued by a competent court, and must not violate the public order of Portugal.
On average, the procedure takes from several months to a year, depending on the complexity of the case, court workload, and completeness of the documentation. With proper preparation, the time can be significantly reduced.
In most cases, the personal presence of the client is not required. Our lawyers can represent your interests in court by power of attorney, which is especially convenient if you are abroad.
Yes, a refusal can be appealed, but it is essential to clearly understand the reasons for the rejection and provide the necessary evidence. We analyze each case and offer a strategic plan for further actions.
We analyze your situation and verify whether recognition of the court decision in Portugal is possible.
We prepare, translate, and certify all necessary documents, including apostilles and powers of attorney.
We handle the case on behalf of the client, communicate with the court, and protect your interests at every stage.
We accompany the entire process until a favorable result is obtained and provide clear recommendations for further actions.
We’ll help make the process clear and the result — achievable.
Fill out the form — we’ll get in touch with you to discuss the details and suggest the best solution for your case.
If you have an in-person visit to the immigration service (AIMA) — for a visa, residence permit, or renewal — we will provide a lawyer to accompany you, ensuring that your interests are protected and taken into account.
We handle court cases of various categories: from immigration and civil to administrative. We protect our clients at every stage, carefully prepare documents, and represent your position in court.
If it is impossible to book an AIMA appointment through standard means, we submit an official court request to set a date. This is a legal way to speed up the process.
Received a refusal from the immigration service? We will prepare and file a legal complaint to challenge an unfair decision and defend your rights.