PROTEÇÃO JURÍDICA
HOW TO ACCESS LEGAL HELP
| 🔗 KEY LINKS | |
| ☎️ KEY CONTACT |
Centro Distrital de Lisboa |
WHAT IS IT?
Legal help is given to people and for and non-profit entities who do not have the means to pay for the expenses that come with legal proceedings. For-profit and Non-profit entities include associations, foundations, cooperatives, unions, and religious institutions.
They are entitled only to legal aid in the form of:
- Exemption from court fees and other expenses related to the process;
- appointment and payment of attorney fees;
- payment of public defender fees;
- assignment of an enforcement agent.
It is applicable to:
- All courts, regardless of the type of case;
- Justice of Peace;
- Cases run by registry offices;
- Administrative offense proceedings;
- Systems of alternative dispute (family or labour mediation)
FAMILY & LABOUR MEDIATION:
These two types of mediation have their own specifications. Click in the buttons below to find out more information!
WHAT DO I RECEIVE?
Legal Consultation
Meeting with a lawyer to discuss the specific case, the individuals rights and interests. This would not be applicable for example, for non-profit entities.
Judicial Support / Legal Help
- Exemption of court fees or any other related expenses of the process.
- Exemption from payment of court costs or possibility of paying them in installments.
- Assignment of attorney fees & payment of it in installments, which the individual will pay to the Court.
- Payment of public defender fees, the lawyer who defends you.
- Installment payment of public defender fees for defending the individual in criminal proceedings.
- Assignment of enforcement agent, which is always an official of the court.
**Non and for-profit organizations are only eligible for legal aid which includes:
- Exemption from court fees & other associated costs
- Appointment and payment of compensation to a lawyer
- Payment of compensation to a court-appointed defense attorney
- Assignment of enforcement agent
WHO CAN APPLY?
These are the following individuals who have the right to legal protection:
** It is important to note that the individual must demonstrate they do not have the economic means to pay and support costs associated with judicial actions.
- Portuguese citizens & Citizens of the EU
- Foreigners and stateless individuals with a valid residence permit in an EU member state
- Foreigners without a valid residence permit in an EU member state – only if the laws of their home countries given them the same right to Portuguese citizens.
- Individuals who have primary or usual residence in another EU member state from the member state where the legal proceedings will take place.
- Non-profit legal organizations – they are only eligible for legal aid.
STEP BY STEP GUIDE
1. To request legal protection, you must access the menu (Ação Social + Proteção Jurífica) in the Segurança Social Direta platform.
2. The submission of the application and the required documents is via the Segurança Social Direta plaftorm. Paper submission is only for legal entities and individuals that do not have a NISS.
3. If you do it in person, you may go to any public service office of the Segurança Social the forms indicated in the required documents section.
IN-PERSON FORMS
If you request legal aid in person these are the forms you are required to fill in. This is in addition to the required documents defined below.
1. MOD PJ 1 – DGSS – Application for legal protection for individuals.
🔗 Information & Instructions
🔗 Request Form
🔗 Continuation
2. MOD PJ 2 – DGSS – Application for legal protection for legal entities or equivalent.
3. Application for legal aid in another European Union member state
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | |
|---|---|
| How can I know if I have the right to legal protection? | An individual is in economic insufficiency when: based on their income, assets, and expenses of their household, they cannot afford costs of a legal process at the time |
| What happens if there is a document that is missing? | The District Center of the area of residence will notify you within 10 working days inform them that if they do not submit them, their request will be denied. If you did your request online, you will receive the same message on the platform. |
| Can I check the status of my request online? | Yes, if you made your request through the online platform, you can check communications and notifications there. |
| Do I have the right to be heard before the request is definitively refused? | If the Social Security services decide to refuse the request, in whole or in part, they must notify you in writing of their intention and give you 10 days to respond. Along with your response, you can submit documents that were missing or that prove your arguments. |
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WORKSHOP RECORDINGS
This topic was recently discussed at an Family Friday Plus Information Session and you can listen to the recording of that session here!