Portugal - Central Authority & practical information

Central Authority:

Direcção-Geral da Administração da Justiça - Ministério da Justiça
(Directorate-General of Justice Administration - Ministry of Justice)

Contact details:

Address: Directorate-General for the Administration of Justice
Ministry of Justice
(Direcção-Geral da Administração da Justiça, Ministério da Justiça)
Av. D. João II, nº 1.08.01 - Edifício H Piso 14
1990-097 Lisboa
Portugal
Telephone: +351 21 790 65 00
Fax: +351 21 154 51 16
E-mail: correio.dsjcji@dgaj.mj.pt
General website:

https://dgaj.justica.gov.pt/Tribunais/Cooperacao-Judiciaria-Internacional (Portuguese)

https://dgaj.justica.gov.pt/English/International-Judicial-Cooperation (English)

Contact person: Mr. Miguel VARA
E-mail: miguel.a.vara@dgaj.mj.pt
Mrs. Cláudia KONG
E-mail: claudia.a.kong@dgaj.mj.pt
Languages spoken by staff: Portuguese, French, English, Spanish

 

Practical Information:

Forwarding authorities
(Art. 3(1)):
The Central Authority, Courts, Lawyers/Solicitors, Implementing Agents, Private Notaries, Registrars
Methods of service
(Art. 5(1)(2)):

The Central Authority forwards the documents to the competent court/entity (of the area in which the addressee usually resides) to perform the service. The methods prescribed by our domestic law for the service of documents in domestic actions are the following:- service by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt;
- service by regular mail in case of failure of the service by registered mail;
- personal service by a court clerk/implementing agents;
- if the first attempt is not successful, personal service by a court clerk/implementing service by prior arrangement of the exact time of the service on the person to be served or on another person present at the specified location who is shown to be in the best position for passing on the communication.

Once documents are served, they are returned to the Central Authority to be forwarded to the competent entities of the requesting State.

For more information on methods of service, see:
a) European Judicial Network in Civil and Commercial Matters - Service of documents - Portugal
b) e-Justice Portal

Translation requirements
(Art. 5(3)):
Translation into Portuguese of the document to be served, as well as the document’s summary and annexes thereto is mandatory.
Costs relating to execution of the request for service
(Art. 12):

In case of personal service by a court clerk no costs are incurred. Should the court opt for postal service then it is responsible for any costs incurred without possibility of reimbursement.Costs could be incurred when service is performed by implementing agents, lawyers and solicitors. 

Portugal will invoke Article 12(2)(b) of the Convention only if the applicant requests a particular method of service in which an expert is needed. 

Time for execution of request: Between 30 and 60 days.
Judicial officers, officials or other competent persons
(Art. 10(b))
Court clerks, implementing agents, lawyers, solicitors.
Oppositions and declarations
(Art. 21(2)):
Click here to read all the declarations made by name of country under the Service Convention.
Art. 8(2): Opposition
Art. 10(a): No opposition
Art. 10(b): No opposition
Art. 10(c): No opposition
Art. 15(2): No opposition
Art. 16(3): No opposition
Derogatory channels (bilateral or multilateral agreements or internal law permitting other transmission channels)
(Arts. 11, 19, 24 and 25)
Disclaimer:
Information may not be complete or fully updated – please contact the relevant authorities to verify this information.
Bilateral conventions on judicial co-operation: Angola (30 August 1995); Cape Verde (2 February 2003); China (People’s Republic of, including Macao) (1 July 2001); Guinea-Bissau (5 July 1988), Mozambique (12 April 1990); Sao Tome and Principe (23 March 1976); Spain (19 November 1997); United Kingdom (London, 9 July 1931 – Articles 2 to 5).

Council Regulation (EC) No 1393/2007 on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters (Strasbourh, 13 November 2007) (European Judicial Atlas – Service of Documents).
Useful links: Gabinete de Documentação e Direito ComparadoInternational Affairs Department - Portuguese Directorate-General for Justice Policy - Ministry of Justice
Competent authorities
(Arts 6, 9)
See here.
Other authorities
(Art. 18)
 

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