Topic Hub
Family Law
By Zachariah Zagol, OAB/SP 351.356 · Updated: April 5, 2026
Marriage, divorce, child custody, estate planning, and binational family legal matters in Brazil.
17 resourcesService Guides
In-depth guides to our family law legal services.
Binational Divorce in Brazil: US-Brazil Jurisdiction, Asset Division & Child Issues
Comprehensive guide to binational divorce in Brazil: US-Brazil jurisdiction analysis under CPC Arts. 21-23, homologação de sentença estrangeira at STJ, cross-border asset division, property regime implications, pension/401k division, spousal support enforcement, child custody, and Hague Convention intersection.
Read guide →
Child Custody & International Abduction: The Hague Convention in Brazil
Comprehensive guide to cross-border child custody disputes in Brazil: Hague Convention proceedings, ACAF, STJ jurisprudence, habitual residence, grave risk defenses, and wrongful retention.
Read guide →
Estate Planning for Foreigners with Brazilian Assets: Wills, Trusts & Cross-Border Issues
Comprehensive guide to estate planning for foreigners in Brazil: forced heirship (legítima 50%), testamento validity, why US trusts fail in Brazil, holding company strategies, life insurance as estate tool, ITCMD state tax, dual-jurisdiction frameworks, and LC 227/2026 reform impact.
Read guide →
Legal Guide for Binational Families in Brazil
Navigate legal requirements for international families in Brazil: marriage, civil unions, citizenship, healthcare, and CPF documentation.
Read guide →Getting Married in Brazil as a Foreigner: Legal Requirements & Documentation
Complete legal guide to marrying in Brazil as a foreigner: apostilled documents, cartorio ceremony, name changes, prenuptial timing, same-sex marriage, and consular requirements.
Read guide →Prenuptial Agreements in Brazil: How Foreign Couples Protect Assets
Detailed guide to prenuptial agreements in Brazil: four marriage property regimes, cartorio pacto antenupcial requirements, foreign prenup enforceability, and asset protection strategies.
Read guide →Same-Sex Marriage & LGBTQ+ Legal Rights in Brazil: A Guide for Expats
Comprehensive guide to LGBTQ+ legal rights in Brazil for expats: same-sex marriage, spousal visa equality, adoption, name and gender marker changes, anti-discrimination protections.
Read guide →Adoption in Brazil by Foreigners: Domestic & International Pathways
Complete legal guide to adoption in Brazil by foreigners: CNA registration, Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention, psychosocial evaluation, domestic vs international pathways, and realistic timelines.
Read guide →Blog Posts
Articles and analysis on family law topics.
Parental Alienation in Brazil: Identify and Combat
Complete guide to parental alienation in Brazil. Understand Law 12.318/2010, identification signs, legal remedies, sanctions, and psychological evaluation.
Adoption in Brazil: Complete Process Guide 2026
Complete guide to adoption in Brazil. Legal requirements, ECA process, international adoption, step-parent adoption, timelines, and competent courts explained.
Estate and Inheritance in Brazil: Complete Guide
Complete guide to estate proceedings and inheritance in Brazil. Learn about judicial vs extrajudicial probate, ITCMD tax, heirs rights, and wills explained.
Common-Law Marriage in Brazil: Rights and Duties
Complete guide to common-law marriage (união estável) in Brazil. Learn about recognition, property rights, inheritance, conversion to marriage, and dissolution.
Marriage to a Foreigner in Brazil: Complete Guide
Complete guide to marrying a foreigner in Brazil. Documents, CNJ requirements, consular marriage, prenuptial agreements, and property regimes fully explained.
Child Support in Brazil: Calculation and Enforcement
Complete guide to child support in Brazil. Learn about the trinomial calculation, enforcement through civil imprisonment, modification, and pregnancy support.
Joint Custody in Brazil: Complete Guide for 2026
Understand joint custody in Brazil under Law 13.058/2014. Types of custody, visitation schedules, modification, relocation, and best interest of the child.
Divorce in Brazil: Complete Guide for 2026
Complete guide to divorce in Brazil. Learn the differences between consensual and litigious, judicial and extrajudicial, costs, timelines, and asset division.
Child Custody in Brazil for Foreigners: Rights & Legal Guide
International child custody laws in Brazil. Hague Convention, visitation rights, relocation cases & mediation for foreign parents in São Paulo.