Civil Procedure Terms in Brazilian Law

Introduction

This glossary defines key terms in Brazilian civil procedure, primarily under the Civil Procedure Code of 2015 (CPC/2015). The CPC/2015 modernized Brazilian procedural law, introducing mechanisms for precedent, faster proceedings, and enhanced judicial case management.

Coisa Julgada

Res judicata (coisa julgada, Articles 502-508, CPC/2015) is the final, unappealable judicial decision that cannot be modified by subsequent litigation between the same parties on the same cause of action. Res judicata covers both the operative part (dispositivo) and the reasoning (motivação), though only the operative part is covered by preclusive effects. Res judicata may be challenged through nullity action (ação rescisória) within two years (Article 966, CPC/2015).

Prescrição

Prescription (prescrição, Articles 189-211, Civil Code) is the loss of the right to bring a legal action due to the passage of time. It extinguishes the right of action (pretensão) but not the underlying right. General prescriptive periods include: 10 years for real actions; 5 years for contractual claims; 3 years for tort claims; 1 year for insurance and carrier claims.

Decadência

Lapse (decadência) is the extinction of a right itself (not merely the action) due to the passage of a statutory period. Unlike prescription, which is subject to suspension and interruption, lapse periods are generally non-suspendable and non-interruptible. The court may recognize lapse ex officio.

Tutela Provisória

Provisional relief (tutela provisória, Articles 294-311, CPC/2015) encompasses urgent and evidentiary relief granted before or during proceedings. It includes:

• Urgent relief (tutela de urgência): Requires likelihood of the right (probabilidade do direito) and danger of irreparable harm (perigo de dano irreparável)
• Evidentiary relief (tutela de evidência): No urgency required, granted when the claim is clearly supported by evidence

Provisional relief may be antecedent (antecipada) — before the full hearing — or incidental (incidental) — during proceedings.

Precedentes

Precedents (precedentes, Articles 926-928, CPC/2015) are judicial decisions that establish binding interpretations to be followed by lower courts. The CPC/2015 creates a system of vertical precedent (precedente vertical), requiring lower courts to follow superior court decisions. Types include:

• Binding precedent (súmula vinculante): STF decisions binding on courts and administration
• Repetitive appeals (recursos repetitivos): STJ and STF decisions on multiple identical cases
• General repercussion (repercussão geral): STF decisions on constitutional issues of broad relevance

Litisconsórcio

Joinder of parties (litisconsórcio, Articles 113-118, CPC/2015) occurs when multiple persons act as plaintiffs or defendants in the same proceeding. Types include: (i) active (multiple plaintiffs); (ii) passive (multiple defendants); (iii) mixed (both); (iv) optional (discretionary); (v) necessary (required by law); (vi) simple (independent treatment); and (vii) unitary (uniform treatment).

Intervenção de Terceiros

Third-party intervention (intervenção de terceiros, Articles 119-138, CPC/2015) allows a non-party to join proceedings. Forms include: (i) assistance (assistência); (ii) joinder of claims (oposição); (iii) denunciation of the lawsuit (denunciação da lide); (iv) calling to the proceedings (chamamento ao processo); (v) incidental dispute (incidente de desconsideração da personalidade jurídica); and (vi) amicus curiae.

Ação Rescisória

Nullity action (ação rescisória, Articles 966-975, CPC/2015) is a procedural action to annul a final judgment on limited grounds, including: (i) judicial corruption; (ii) lack of jurisdiction; (iii) false evidence; (iv) violation of res judicata; (v) violation of the law; and (vi) documentary evidence discovered after the decision. The action must be filed within two years.

Recurso

Appeal (recurso) is a procedural remedy to challenge a judicial decision before a higher court. Key types include: (i) apelação (appeal from final judgment); (ii) agravo (appeal from interlocutory decisions); (iii) embargos de declaração (clarification); (iv) recurso especial (to the STJ); and (v) recurso extraordinário (to the STF).