Solicitors, Lawyers & Administrative division of Portugal

Solicitors in Portugal

A Solicitor is a qualified legal practitioner responsible for preparing legal documentation, representing and/or defending a client's legal interests.

A Solicitor provides specialist legal advice on a variety of areas of law, acting directly for a variety of clients, individuals and businesses, and dealing with:

- Portuguese public administration:
eg.
AT Portuguese Tax Authority / "Finanças"
SEF (Foreigners and Border Service / "Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras");
Social Security
Town Halls / "Câmaras Municipais"
Property and Civil Registry Offices / "Conservatórias do Registo Civil e do Registo Predial"
IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes).
...

- Courts (only in matters where the presence of a lawyer is not mandatory)

- Public or Private Entities or Institutions
eg. Banks, Insurance Companies, Notaries,...

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Where can I find a Solicitor in Portugal ?

http://www.osae.pt/pt/pesquisas/1/1/1

Search by Solicitor's name, District/"Distrito", Municipality/"Concelho", City/"Localidade", written in portuguese.
Then click "Pesquisar" button.

By selecting each solicitor, you will get: registration number at OSAE (Cédula Profissional), phone number, email, working office's address. You can get in touch with one you've choosen and clarify your questions.


TIP:
Before starting your search, please see post #5 (Administrative division of Portugal), then:

- Copy & paste one of these locations into search boxes in the previous link.
You can choose only District name into "Distrito" search box, only Municipality name (into "Concelho" search box), or both.

- Regarding Madeira and Azores:
Copy & paste one of these locations into "Concelho" search box, and leave "Distrito" in blank.

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What does a Solicitor do ?

- Attending meetings with clients;

- Interviewing and advising clients;

- Providing specialist legal and commercial advice on a variety of areas of law;

- Preparing and obtaining all documentation from/to all public & private entities previously mentioned;

- Dealing with all documentation related to SEF: residence permits and renewals permits, visa requests (D7 Visa, Golden Visa ...), passports, expatriation, applications for portuguese citizenship, immigrants' legalization processes;

- Assisting expats with NIF requests & fiscal representative needs, social security number, bank account opening, ...;

- Drafting and negotiating legal documents and contracts (for the purchase & sale of real estate, mortgages, leases & rents, franchises, labour contracts, etc.

- Consulting and legal representation in any real estate proceedings. If a client wishes to sell/buy a property, solicitors are responsible for dealing, on their behalf, with the documentation required to closing the transaction: making requested checks at AT tax offices, land registry offices and town halls, paying taxes due, drawing up corresponding deeds and promissory contracts, registering them at notaries, applying for property tax exemptions, ...

- All acts related with transmission of vehicles at IMT offices: Vehicle registration / "Documento único automóvel". The IMT is the authority to apply for national registration for a used vehicle registered in another country and issuing/replacing driving licences.

- Certifying documents (namely real estate deeds, which since 2008 are no longer mandatory to be executed by notaries);

- Certifying photocopies and translated documents, recognising signatures;

- Researching and interpreting complex points of portuguese laws with the requisite rights of audience, appear and speak on behalf of clients at courts;

- Dealing with permission for minors to go abroad;

- Legal advice on inheritance proceedings.

(...)


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Who regulates Solicitor's professional activity in Portugal ?

OSAE - "Ordem dos Solicitadores e dos Agentes de Execução"
https://www.osae.pt/pt/pag/OSAE/profiss … r/1/1/1/98

Lawyers in Portugal

The Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) is a public institution which regulates the professional practice of lawyers in Portugal. It is divided into 7 Regional Councils, each one aggregates lawyers carrying out their activity in a specific district.

Regional Councils (and districts):

   1. Lisboa
       (Lisboa)

   2. Porto 
       (Braga, Bragança, Porto, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real)

   3. Coimbra 
       (Aveiro, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Guarda, Leiria, Viseu)

   4. Évora 
       (Beja, Évora, Santarém, Portalegre, Setúbal)

   5. Faro 
       (Faro)

   6. Açores (Azores)

   7. Madeira

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Where can I find a Lawyer in Portugal ?

https://portal.oa.pt/advogados/pesquisa … ados/?l=EN

TIP:
Before starting your search, please see post #5 (Administrative division of Portugal), then:

Depending on which part of the country you are interested in, you can select:
- only the Regional Council;
- only the City ( = Municipality/"Concelho") where you wish to find a Lawyer;
- or both, Regional Council and City.

Then click on Search button.

In addition, you can also apply other filtering criteria:
- Professional Card Number
- Lawyer's name, or parts of the name
- Professional address, or parts of the address
- Postcode

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Who regulates Lawyer's professional activity in Portugal ?

OA - "Ordem dos Advogados"
https://portal.oa.pt/ordem/regras-profi … advogados/

Notaries in Portugal

Where can I find a Notary in Portugal ?

https://www.notarios.pt/OrdemNotarios/P … aNotarios/


TIP:
Before starting your search, please see post #5 (Administrative division of Portugal).

Depending on the country area you are interested in, you should first select "Distrito" (District) and then "Localidade" (Municipality/Council/"Concelho"). Then click OK.

In the search outcome, you may select a notary and get contact details (office's address, phone, email,...).

______

Who regulates Notary's professional activity in Portugal ?

ON - Ordem dos Notários
https://www.notarios.pt/OrdemNotarios/P … upervisor/

Administrative division of Portugal

Portugal is divided into 18 mainland districts and 2 autonomous regions (Azores and Madeira). Each one is also divided into municipalities ("concelhos").

To ease your search, districts have been grouped into regions. For some districts, a division was also made into municipalities closer to the sea and others inland. This is a subjective division but it is supported by links with district maps and you can check out all of this:

- North coastline
- North inland
- Central coastline
- Central inland
- Greater Lisbon
- South inland /Alentejo
- South West coastline
- South /Algarve
- Madeira Islands
- Azores Islands 

On each district map, you will also find hiperlinks to each of its municipalities ("concelhos").

For each one, by selecting "Mapa dos locais a visitar no concelho"/Map of places to visit in the county, you will find:
- "Câmara Municipal"/ Town Hall (with GPS coordinates)
- Some monuments/churches/places to visit (with GPS coordinates)
- List of towns/villages ("Localidades") in each municipality.

I hope this information helps you to find your way around Portugal


_________________________________________


** North coastline **


Distrito: Braga (coastline) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/braga

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Barcelos
Braga
Esposende
Guimarães
Vila Nova de Famalicão

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Distrito: Porto (coastline) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/porto

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Maia
Matosinhos
Porto
Póvoa de Varzim
Vila do Conde
Vila Nova de Gaia

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Distrito: Viana do Castelo (coastline) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/viana-castelo

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Caminha
Viana do Castelo


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** North inland **


Distrito: Braga (inland) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/braga

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Amares
Cabeceiras de Basto
Celorico de Basto
Fafe
Póvoa de Lanhoso
Terras de Bouro
Vieira do Minho
Vila Verde
Vizela

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Distrito: Bragança
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/braganca

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alfândega da Fé
Bragança
Carrazeda de Ansiães
Freixo de Espada à Cinta
Macedo de Cavaleiros
Miranda do Douro
Mirandela
Mogadouro
Torre de Moncorvo
Vila Flor
Vimioso
Vinhais

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Distrito: Porto (inland) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/porto

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Amarante
Baião
Felgueiras
Gondomar
Lousada
Marco de Canaveses
Paços de Ferreira
Paredes
Penafiel
Santo Tirso
Trofa
Valongo

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Distrito: Viana do Castelo (inland) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/viana-castelo

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Arcos de Valdevez
Melgaço
Monção
Paredes de Coura
Ponte da Barca
Ponte de Lima
Valença
Vila Nova de Cerveira

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Distrito: Vila Real
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/vila-real

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alijó
Boticas
Chaves
Mesão Frio
Mondim de Basto
Montalegre
Murça
Peso da Régua
Ribeira de Pena
Sabrosa
Santa Marta de Penaguião
Valpaços
Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Vila Real


_________________________________________


** Central coastline **


Distrito: Aveiro (coastline) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/aveiro

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Aveiro
Espinho
Estarreja
Ílhavo
Murtosa
Ovar
Vagos

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Distrito: Coimbra (coastline) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/coimbra

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Cantanhede
Condeixa-a-Nova
Coimbra
Figueira da Foz
Montemor-o-Velho
Soure

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Distrito: Leiria (coastline) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/leiria

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alcobaça
Batalha
Bombarral
Caldas da Rainha
Leiria
Marinha Grande
Nazaré
Óbidos
Peniche
Pombal
Porto de Mós


_________________________________________


** Central inland **


Distrito: Aveiro (inland) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/aveiro

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Águeda
Albergaria-a-Velha
Anadia
Arouca
Castelo de Paiva
Mealhada
Oliveira de Azeméis
Oliveira do Bairro
Santa Maria da Feira
São João da Madeira
Sever do Vouga
Vale de Cambra

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Distrito: Castelo Branco
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/castelo-branco

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Belmonte
Castelo Branco
Covilhã
Fundão
Idanha-a-Nova
Oleiros
Penamacor
Proença-a-Nova
Sertã
Vila de Rei
Vila Velha de Ródão

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Distrito: Coimbra (Inland) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/coimbra

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Arganil
Góis
Lousã
Mira
Miranda do Corvo
Oliveira do Hospital
Pampilhosa da Serra
Penacova
Penela
Tábua
Vila Nova de Poiares

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Distrito: Guarda
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/guarda

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Aguiar da Beira
Almeida
Celorico da Beira
Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Fornos de Algodres
Gouveia
Guarda
Manteigas
Mêda
Pinhel
Sabugal
Seia
Trancoso
Vila Nova de Foz Côa

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Distrito: Leiria (inland) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/leiria

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alvaiázere
Ansião
Castanheira de Pera
Figueiró dos Vinhos
Pedrógão Grande

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Distrito: Portalegre
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/portalegre

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alter do Chão
Arronches
Avis
Campo Maior
Castelo de Vide
Crato
Elvas
Fronteira
Gavião
Marvão
Monforte
Nisa
Ponte de Sor
Portalegre
Sousel

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Distrito: Santarém
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/santarem

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Abrantes
Alcanena
Almeirim
Alpiarça
Benavente
Cartaxo
Chamusca
Constância
Coruche
Entroncamento
Ferreira do Zêzere
Golegã
Mação
Ourém
Rio Maior
Salvaterra de Magos
Santarém
Sardoal
Tomar
Torres Novas
Vila Nova da Barquinha

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Distrito: Viseu
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/viseu

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Armamar
Carregal do Sal
Castro Daire
Cinfães
Lamego
Mangualde
Moimenta da Beira
Mortágua
Nelas
Oliveira de Frades
Penalva do Castelo
Penedono
Resende
Santa Comba Dão
São João da Pesqueira
São Pedro do Sul
Sátão
Sernancelhe
Tabuaço
Tarouca
Tondela
Vila Nova de Paiva
Viseu
Vouzela


_________________________________________


** Greater Lisbon **


Distrito: Lisboa (urban areas) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/lisboa

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Amadora
Cascais
Lisboa
Loures
Odivelas
Oeiras
Sintra

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Distrito: Lisboa (mix of countryside + city) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/lisboa

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alenquer
Arruda dos Vinhos
Azambuja
Cadaval
Lourinhã
Mafra
Sobral de Monte Agraço
Torres Vedras
Vila Franca de Xira

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Distrito: Setúbal (urban areas) (part 1 of 3)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/setubal

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Almada
Barreiro
Moita
Seixal

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Distrito: Setúbal (mix of countryside + city) (part 2 of 3)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/setubal

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alcochete
Montijo
Palmela
Sesimbra
Setúbal


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** South inland /Alentejo **


Distrito: Beja (Inland) (part 1 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/beja

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Aljustrel
Almodôvar
Alvito
Barrancos
Beja
Castro Verde
Cuba
Ferreira do Alentejo
Mértola
Moura
Ourique
Serpa
Vidigueira

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Distrito: Évora
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/evora

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alandroal
Arraiolos
Borba
Estremoz
Évora
Montemor-o-Novo
Mora
Mourão
Portel
Redondo
Reguengos de Monsaraz
Vendas Novas
Viana do Alentejo
Vila Viçosa


_________________________________________


** South West coastline **


Distrito: Beja (coastline) (part 2 of 2)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/beja

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Odemira

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Distrito: Setúbal (south) (part 3 of 3)
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/setubal

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Alcácer do Sal
Grândola
Santiago do Cacém
Sines


_________________________________________


** South /Algarve **


Distrito: Faro
https://www.visitarportugal.pt/faro

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Albufeira
Alcoutim
Aljezur
Castro Marim
Faro
Lagoa
Lagos
Loulé
Monchique
Olhão
Portimão
São Brás de Alportel
Silves
Tavira
Vila do Bispo
Vila Real de Santo António


_________________________________________


** Madeira Islands **


https://www.visitarportugal.pt/madeira

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Calheta
Câmara de Lobos
Funchal
Machico
Ponta do Sol
Porto Moniz
Porto Santo
Ribeira Brava
Santa Cruz
Santana
São Vicente


_________________________________________


** Azores Islands  **


https://www.visitarportugal.pt/acores

Concelhos / Municipalities:

Angra do Heroísmo
Calheta
Corvo
Horta
Lagoa
Lajes das Flores
Lajes do Pico
Madalena
Nordeste
Ponta Delgada
Povoação
Praia da Vitória
Ribeira Grande
Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Santa Cruz das Flores
São Roque do Pico
Velas
Vila do Porto
Vila Franca do Campo

Thank you John really well explained and very informative post.

I always look for reviews of other members experience as it does help in making a decision which professional to go with sitting 10000 miles away.

Not to mention language is another barrier which makes things more challenging.

Like in my case I am looking for help with the process of getting a residency through Golden visa be it real estate or investing in cultural heritage restorations.


But posts from you and other members are very helpful. Thank you once again for what you do.

Hello JohnnyPT,

We have been on the Forum for a while but I couldn’t find a thread for my question. My Husband is an EU National & I’m American. We arrived in Portugal on October 15th. We would like to apply for a NIF and bank account so that we can get a Residency Certificate to allow us to stay longer than 90 days in Portugal to see if we want to retire here. We have contacted a few legal offices and have been quoted pretty steep numbers for just the NIF and bank account. Also the firms want us to wire the entire amount of money into their bank accounts before they will do any work for us! Is this normal protocol for Portugal?

Thank You so very much!
Cheryl & Andreas

Hi.
As you have been in Portugal a few weeks you may realise that applying for NIF and bank accounts as EU citizen is pretty straight forward .
I would advise just turning up at a Financas and a Bank and asking what they need from you both .
Without using any "service", I think you may be pleasantly surprised.
I've completed all of this, plus driving licences, Visa, health Saude registry, NHR etc without assistance or any paid professional help (or a word of Portuguese language).
Ps.  I found Agricole Bank much easier that Caixa for a joint account as my partner is non EU also. Caixa (where I already had opened a personal bank account with ID and pension statement plus NIF document) claimed they could not offer a joint account.
So, I'd shop around and don't accept first refusal.
Good luck and best wishes

team@bordr.io

These wonderful people sorted out band account & NIF smoothly & efficiently..
Cost was surprisingly reasonable

Great service highly recommend

Best of luck
Vanessa (new immigrant)

Thank You for your response! We’ll do just that!

Zuper to learn how you were successful with the banks.  I plan on stopping by a https://www.acm.gov.pt/68
office to see how they hand hold my inquiry of their immigration support services. Plus all the other requirements for the D7.

Bonjour moi j'ai été au loja do citadin et j ai eu un rdv pour mon NIF et c était gratuit n écouter pas les gens pour certaines choses il vaut mieux aller voir sur place voilà mon conseil cordialement

Cheryl15 wrote:

We have been on the Forum for a while but I couldn’t find a thread for my question. My Husband is an EU National & I’m American. We arrived in Portugal on October 15th. We would like to apply for a NIF and bank account so that we can get a Residency Certificate to allow us to stay longer than 90 days in Portugal to see if we want to retire here. We have contacted a few legal offices and have been quoted pretty steep numbers for just the NIF and bank account. Also the firms want us to wire the entire amount of money into their bank accounts before they will do any work for us! Is this normal protocol for Portugal?

Hi Cheryl,
I have created this thread just as information that can be useful, MAINLY for those expats who are not in Portugal and want to get these services outside the country.

If you are already in Portugal, you can get these services (NIF and deal with matters related to Banks, etc) for FREE since in these places (Tax offices, Banks, Insurance companies, ...) the employees understand english. If the employee does not understand what you want, there is always someone there who understands/speaks English with you. No problem at all.

As it was already said here, you can take care of these issues, without speaking any Portuguese


Regarding the working procedures of lawyers & solicitors, it is usual to request in advance a part of the money that is requested (exaggeratedly !) for these services. They do not work for free, neither here nor anywhere else in the world. There are always serious clients and others who are not....

For NIF & Open a bank account, you should not apply to these kind of online services, such as the one mentioned here (post #9). These services are only useful if you cannot go to Portugal and have to get everything from abroad.

As I said before, these services (NIF & deal with bank issues) can be made by yourself EASILY and FOR FREE.

Kind Regards

Thank You JohnnyPT. I am just confused as we have been told different things by different law firms over the last week. I have been told that this is an arduous process and will take 2-3 months, even for a EU National and his wife. Others have told me that it is simple and can happen almost immediately. I appreciate you and the others on this Forum giving us clarity! Thank You!

No, I certainly didn’t expect a professional to do the work for free, just wondering if it was normal to ask for $1,500 up front wired to a bank account before beginning any services. I understand asking for monies upfront, just not 100% of it. Trying to keep us safe is all!

Again, we Thank You all,
Andreas & Cheryl

Obtaining the NIF and opening a bank account is easy, it is free, and it is fast. Anything they tell you to the contrary is just to direct you to those kinds of service proposals...

Interesting information.

***

@JohnnyPT Hi - just flaggin up that this link seems broken: http://www.osae.pt/pt/pesquisas/1/1/1

Many thanks

NL

@northernlites,

This link is reliable. Try another browser or change browser parameters.

@JohnnyPT Many thanks. However, I have tried Firefox, Chrome and Safari - no luck. And I got a friend to try on Firefox, Edge and Safari and she cannot get it to work either.

Your link to 'Lawyers' works fine.

nl

@JohnnyPT

I checked my end and it's not working for me either, (Chrome, Opera, Edge)

In fact, it says the connection is not secure. But OSAE.pt is the website of the ORDER OF SOLICITORS AND EXECUTION AGENTS ...

I can open it in Opera and Chrome. You can open it too but you have to give permission to your browser to open this link which (without understanding why) it says is not secure ...

@JohnnyPT All I get is: This site can’t be reached - osae.pt took too long to respond. No need to reply. Many thanks.