BRAZILIAN LAW · FOR BRAZILIANS IN THE U.S.
What do you need?
Legal matters in Brazil, handled from the U.S.
“My father passed away and left a house in Brazil. Do I need to fly back for the probate?”
“I got divorced here in the U.S. Is my divorce valid in Brazil?”
“I worked in Brazil for years before moving. Can I still retire through the INSS?”
“I need to sell my apartment in Brazil, but I live in Florida.”
“Someone in Brazil owes me money, and I do not know where to start.”
“My parents want to organize their estate while they are alive.”
If any of these sounds familiar, your case deserves a review. Brazilian law has an answer for each of these situations.
HOW WE HELP
Brazilian law has its own rules and deadlines. We take care of the process in Brazil while you stay where you are.
Inheritance
Family
INSS
Property and business
Court or notary probate (inventário) in Brazil
Heirs living abroad, represented by power of attorney
Transfer and sale of inherited property
Estate planning and family holding companies
Consensual or contested divorce in Brazil
Recording a foreign divorce in Brazil
Custody, visitation and child support
Division of assets located in Brazil
Retirement and benefits under Brazilian rules
Combining periods under the U.S.–Brazil agreement
Denied claims: appeals and lawsuits
Survivor benefits for family members
Buying, selling and regularizing property
Powers of attorney and document review
Contracts with Brazilian companies
Debt collection and defense in lawsuits
For most matters, you do not need to travel to Brazil. Here is how it works.
01
02
03
Tell us what happened
We review your documents
You decide with full information
By WhatsApp or video call, at a time that works across time zones.
We explain what Brazilian law provides in your case, the options, risks and timelines.
You receive a written fee proposal. Documents are signed electronically, or at a Brazilian consulate when required.
Many steps in Brazil can be taken by a representative holding a power of attorney. When a notarized document is required, it can be signed at a Brazilian consulate or before a U.S. notary with an apostille, since both Brazil and the United States are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention (in Brazil, Decree 8,660/2016).
A consensual divorce granted abroad produces effects in Brazil without recognition by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), under article 961, paragraph 5, of the Brazilian Code of Civil Procedure. Contested divorces and decisions on custody or support usually require STJ recognition. We tell you in advance which path applies, to avoid unnecessary trips and costs.
Brazil and the United States signed a social security agreement in 2015, in force since October 1, 2018 (Brazilian Decree 9,422/2018). It allows coverage periods completed in both countries to be combined to meet the requirements for certain benefits, and it sets rules for workers temporarily assigned to the other country, avoiding double contributions.
Each country applies its own rules and pays its own share. We review your Brazilian contribution record (CNIS), identify missing periods and file the claim with the INSS, including appeals and lawsuits if it is denied.
Founding attorney · Master’s candidate in Constitutional Economic Law (UNIALFA)
The firm is led directly by attorney Sidnei Pedro Dias, with more than ten years of practice, from the first consultation to oral arguments before Brazil’s high courts.
OAB/GO 48.603 · OAB/DF 68.207 · OAB/SP 501.693
Based in Anápolis, Goiás, with fully remote service for clients in Brazil and abroad.
Sidnei Pedro Dias Sociedade Individual de Advocacia · registrada na OAB/GO sob o nº 3.123
Examples described in general terms. Every case has its own facts.
Heir living in Florida
Divorce granted in the U.S.
A mother passes away in Goiás, leaving an apartment. One of her children lives in Florida and grants a power of attorney so a sibling can represent them in the probate in Brazil.
A couple divorced by mutual consent in the U.S. needs the divorce recorded in Brazil to update their civil status and property records.
Contributions in two countries
Selling property from abroad
A worker contributed to the INSS for years before moving to the U.S. The agreement may help count periods in both countries toward eligibility.
An owner living in New Jersey sells land in Brazil, with the deed signed by a representative holding a power of attorney.
Do I need to travel to Brazil to handle my case?
In most cases, no. Service is by WhatsApp and video call, documents are signed electronically, and a power of attorney allows us to act on your behalf before courts, registries and the INSS.
Is my U.S. divorce valid in Brazil?
A consensual divorce granted abroad produces effects in Brazil without recognition by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), and can be recorded at the civil registry. Other cases, such as contested divorces, usually require STJ recognition. We review your decree and tell you which path applies.
Can the U.S.–Brazil agreement help with my INSS retirement?
It allows coverage periods in both countries to be combined to meet the requirements for certain benefits. Whether it helps depends on your contribution history in each country, so we start by reviewing your records.
Do you practice U.S. law?
No. SPD Advocacia is a Brazilian law firm registered with the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and advises exclusively on Brazilian law. For U.S. legal matters, consult an attorney licensed in your state.
How are fees set?
After the initial review, you receive a written fee proposal before any engagement, in line with the rules of the Brazilian Bar Association.
Tell us your situation on WhatsApp. We reply with an initial review, the possible options and, where appropriate, a written fee proposal.
Or email dias@spd.adv.br
Informational content. SPD Advocacia is a Brazilian law firm registered with the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and advises exclusively on Brazilian law; it does not practice U.S. law. Each case requires individual analysis, and no outcome is promised.