Law in Brazil

Brazil is a federal republic with rules made at federal, state, Federal District, and municipal levels. The Federal Constitution is the highest national legal foundation, and lower rules must respect it. Brazil belongs mainly to the civil law tradition. Written constitutions, codes, statutes, and regulations are central, while court decisions guide interpretation and can sometimes bind other courts. Authority is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each level of government may act only within the powers assigned to it. The judiciary includes ordinary state and federal courts as well as specialized labor, electoral, and military branches. Higher courts review important legal questions, while the Supremo Tribunal Federal protects the Constitution. A case usually begins with a claim presented to the competent court. The other side may respond, evidence can be examined, a judge decides, and an appeal may be available. Portuguese is the official language of legal proceedings. Documents from abroad commonly need an accepted translation and suitable authentication before Brazilian authorities will use them. Access to justice may come through a private advogado, the Defensoria Pública for eligible people, or the Ministério Público when public or protected interests are involved. Notary and registry offices, called cartórios, also play an important role in records and formal acts. Legal rights may depend on the subject, the place, the parties, and the facts. Informal promises can have consequences, but clear written records usually make rights easier to prove and enforce.