Criminal law · Portugal
Find a specialised theft lawyer in Portugal
Facing a theft allegation in Portugal is stressful, and the procedure is unfamiliar to most people. We match you with a lawyer registered with the Ordem dos Advogados who handles criminal defence work, free of charge.
- Lawyers registered with the Ordem dos Advogados
- Criminal cases before the Portuguese judicial courts
- Free matching, no obligation
Free matching · No obligation · First response usually within 24–48 hours
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Overview
Criminal defence in Portugal, explained simply
If you are looking for a theft lawyer in Portugal, the first step is to understand how a criminal case is handled here. Portugal follows a continental, civil-law model: written codes, judicial courts organised into 23 comarcas with specialised sections for criminal matters, and appeals heard by one of five Courts of Appeal. In criminal proceedings the defendant must be assisted by a lawyer, and only professionals registered with the Ordem dos Advogados may carry out the acts reserved to lawyers. We do not give legal advice: we listen to your situation and match you with a lawyer who handles theft and criminal defence work in Portugal, free of charge. Because the system is written and procedural, the documents and steps taken early in a file matter a great deal.
Local context
How theft and criminal cases work in Portugal
Portugal’s courts, procedural rules and professional rules follow a continental model, and this shapes how a criminal file is prepared, heard and appealed. The points below summarise the framework that applies in Portugal, drawn from official Portuguese and EU sources.
Where criminal cases are heard
Criminal cases are heard at first instance by the judicial courts (tribunais judiciais), which are organised into 23 comarcas and divided into specialised sections, including criminal sections. Appeals against a first-instance decision go to one of the five Courts of Appeal in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Évora and Guimarães, while cassation and the uniformisation of case law belong to the Supreme Court of Justice in Lisbon.
Who may act for you
Only lawyers registered with the Ordem dos Advogados may perform the acts reserved to the profession. Registration depends on a law degree, a completed traineeship with a positive classification, a final assessment, professional liability insurance and moral suitability. Carrying out reserved acts without registration is ‘procuradoria ilícita’, a criminal offence, and in criminal proceedings the defendant must be assisted by a lawyer.
Appeals and how the law is read
Portugal follows a Romano-Germanic, civil-law model based on written codes rather than binding judicial precedent. An appeal against a judgment (recurso de apelação) must be filed within 30 days, or 15 days in urgent proceedings. Supreme Court judgments and uniformisation rulings guide how the codes are interpreted, so the way an appeal is framed carries weight.
What proceedings cost
Court costs (custas processuais) are governed by the Regulamento das Custas Processuais, which also covers criminal proceedings. The court fee (taxa de justiça) is expressed in a Unidade de Conta, a unit updated annually in line with the social support index, so amounts change each year. As a rule the losing party bears the costs; lawyers’ fees are freely agreed, with no binding official tariffs.
Legal aid if you cannot pay
If you cannot afford a lawyer, legal aid (apoio judiciário) is guaranteed by the regime of access to law and the courts under Law 34/2004. Economic insufficiency is assessed by the Social Security Institute. The available modalities include exemption from the court fee and other charges, the appointment and payment of a lawyer, phased payment of fees and the appointment of an enforcement agent.
Language and lawyers from other EU states
Portuguese is the language of the courts. Lawyers qualified in another EU state may establish in Portugal under their home professional title after registering with the Ordem dos Advogados, or be fully admitted after an aptitude exam. Court documents and hearings therefore run in Portuguese, and a lawyer able to explain the file in your own language makes the process easier to follow.
All country information on this page comes from official Portuguese and EU sources (the European e-Justice Portal, the Diário da República, the Portal das Finanças and the Ordem dos Advogados) as published at the date of review.
- European e-Justice Portal – National justice systems: Portugal
- Ordem dos Advogados – Estatuto da Ordem dos Advogados (consolidated version)
- Diário da República – Prescrição (limitation periods)
- Diário da República – Código de Processo Civil (appeal periods)
- Diário da República – Regulamento das Custas Processuais
- Diário da República – Legal aid regime (Law 34/2004)
- Diário da República – Challenge to dismissal
- Diário da República – Divorce by mutual consent
- Diário da República – Deadline for challenging an administrative act
- Portal das Finanças – Reporting after a death
Common concerns
What makes a theft allegation in Portugal hard to handle alone
These are the practical difficulties clients describe most often before they are matched with a lawyer.
You are not sure which court is dealing with the case
The judicial courts sit in 23 comarcas and are divided into specialised sections, so a file can move between a criminal section and a Court of Appeal without the route being obvious to you.
Costs feel impossible to predict
Portuguese court fees are calculated in Unidades de Conta that change every year, and lawyers’ fees are freely agreed rather than fixed by a tariff. Without a written fee agreement, planning is difficult.
Procedure and language are unfamiliar
Portugal follows a continental model built on written codes, and proceedings are conducted in Portuguese. If you are not used to that system, the steps, documents and terminology can be hard to follow alone.
Why use our matching
How we help you find the right lawyer in Portugal
We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. We connect you with lawyers who practise in Portugal.
Criminal defence lawyers in Portugal
We match you with lawyers registered with the Ordem dos Advogados who handle criminal defence work before the Portuguese judicial courts and, where relevant, on appeal.
A single, clear point of contact
You speak with one lawyer about your file rather than a chain of intermediaries, and you can ask how each procedural step works before deciding to instruct anyone.
Fees you can discuss in advance
Portuguese lawyers’ fees are freely agreed with the client and there are no binding official tariffs, so you can ask for a written agreement setting out how the fee will be calculated.
Free matching, no obligation
Describing your situation through our form costs nothing and commits you to nothing. You decide whether to instruct the lawyer we introduce you to, and you can ask about legal aid.
Cross-border
Also looking in other European countries?
If your matter touches more than one jurisdiction, we also match clients with lawyers practising in these countries.
FAQ
Questions about theft lawyers in Portugal
Do I need a theft lawyer in Portugal if the police have spoken to me?
In criminal proceedings in Portugal the defendant must be assisted by a lawyer, so it is not a process to go through alone. Only lawyers registered with the Ordem dos Advogados may perform the acts reserved to the profession, and carrying out those acts without registration is a criminal offence. Free matching helps you find a theft lawyer in Portugal quickly.
Which courts handle theft cases in Portugal?
Cases are heard at first instance by the judicial courts (tribunais judiciais), organised into 23 comarcas and divided into specialised sections, including criminal ones. Appeals go to one of the five Courts of Appeal in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Évora and Guimarães, and the Supreme Court of Justice deals with cassation and the uniformisation of case law.
How much does a lawyer cost in Portugal?
Lawyers’ fees are freely agreed between lawyer and client; there are no binding official tariffs, so fees may be set by written agreement or, in its absence, assessed according to complexity, time and responsibility. Court costs follow the Regulamento das Custas Processuais, and the court fee is expressed in Unidades de Conta, updated annually.
Can I get legal aid for a criminal case in Portugal?
Legal aid (apoio judiciário) under Law 34/2004 is available to natural and legal persons who demonstrate economic insufficiency, assessed by the Social Security Institute. It can include exemption from the court fee and other charges, the appointment and payment of a lawyer, phased payment of fees and the appointment of an enforcement agent. Eligibility is decided case by case.
How long do I have to appeal a decision in Portugal?
An appeal (recurso de apelação) against a first-instance judgment must generally be filed within 30 days, shortened to 15 days in urgent proceedings. Appeals are heard by the Courts of Appeal, and further review by the Supreme Court of Justice is limited to cassation and the uniformisation of case law. Confirm the applicable period with your lawyer.
Can a lawyer from another EU country represent me in Portugal?
Yes, subject to the Portuguese rules. An EU lawyer may establish in Portugal under their home professional title after registering with the Ordem dos Advogados, or be fully admitted after passing an aptitude exam. Representation before the Portuguese courts, and the acts reserved to lawyers, depend on that registration, and proceedings are conducted in Portuguese.
Next step
Tell us about your case and we will match you with a lawyer
Describe what happened in a few lines. We match you with a lawyer registered in Portugal who handles theft and criminal defence work, free of charge and with no obligation. If you prefer, you can also ask about legal aid.