Porto · Lisbon · International practice
Portuguese legal services,
with rigour and care.
DefesaLegal.pt is a Portuguese law firm led by Jorge Ferraz, a lawyer admitted to the Portuguese Bar since 2002. We assist private clients, families, investors and companies with immigration, nationality, family, real estate and business matters in Portugal.
Method · 01
Rigour & care.
Rigour shapes how we approach each case: we examine the documents, facts, risks and legal framework without shortcuts. Care means supporting the client throughout with clarity, prudence and respect for the sensitivity of each matter.
What we do in the first consultation
- Review of your situation and the legal framework15, 30 or 60-min consultation
- List of required documentsSent in writing
- Estimated timelines and legal deadlinesExplained during the consultation
- Fee quote, where applicableIn writing, fixed fee whenever possible
i
Direct work with your lawyer
No intermediaries or consultants: you always speak with the lawyer handling your case.
ii
Porto, Lisbon and video call
In-person or remote consultations, for clients in Portugal and abroad.
iii
Four working languages
Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.
iv
Clear fees
A written quote before we start, with a fixed fee whenever possible.
02 · Featured areas
Six matters we are
most often asked about.
We work across fourteen practice areas. These are the matters most frequently raised by our international and domestic clients.
i
Portugal Golden Visa
Residency by investment: review of requirements, document verification and guidance on the routes currently available.
Learn more →ii
Nationality for Portuguese descendants
Acquisition and attribution of nationality for descendants in the US and Canada — document analysis and case preparation.
Learn more →iii
Portugal D7 Visa
Residency for holders of stable income. Guidance on financial requirements and verification of required documents.
Learn more →iv
Family & minors in Portugal
Divorce, parental responsibilities and family matters, handled with sensitivity and prudence.
Learn more →v
Company incorporation by non-residents
Incorporating a Portuguese company for non-resident foreigners — structure, registration and legal framework.
Learn more →vi
Real estate due diligence
Legal due diligence on Portuguese property for foreign investors: registry checks, encumbrance review and support through completion.
Learn more →
iImmigrationVisas · Residence
iiNationalityAttribution · Acquisition
iiiTaxNHR · NIF
ivReal estateTransfer · Due diligence
vCorporateCompanies · M&A
viLabourContracts · Dismissals
viiFamilyDivorce · Parenting
viiiLitigationJudicial · Administrative
ixCriminalDefence · Rogatory
xAdministrativeLicensing · Appeals
xiContractsCivil · Commercial
xiiSuccessionWills · Estates
xiiiEuropean lawEU · Free movement
xivRegulatory offencesLabour · Tax
PracticePortugal · abroad
03 · International clients
A Portuguese firm with
cross-border experience.
Some of our clients live outside Portugal; others are Portuguese, with matters that cross borders. We assist private clients, families, investors and companies with the same seriousness, in Portuguese and in English.
- iPrivate clients & families — immigration, nationality, family and succession.
- iiInvestors — real estate, due diligence and tax analysis.
- iiiCompanies — incorporation, contracts and business presence.
04 · Family & minors
Family matters,
handled with care.
Family matters involving children call for prudence and sensitivity. We assist clients in Portugal with divorce, the regulation of parental responsibilities and related issues, seeking, wherever possible, agreement and arrangements that support the child's stability.
This information is general and does not replace individual legal advice. Each case depends on its specific circumstances.
Jorge FerrazPartner · Bar since 2002
05 · The firm
Led by
Jorge Ferraz.
DefesaLegal.pt is a law firm led by Jorge Ferraz, a lawyer admitted to the Portuguese Bar since 2002. The firm assists domestic and international clients from its offices in Porto and Lisbon, through a dedicated team of Portuguese lawyers.
- iRead everything — the file is read by the responsible lawyer before the first reply.
- iiWrite concisely — drafts and opinions are limited to what the matter requires.
- iiiManage deadlines — internal and legal deadlines are reviewed regularly.
We are governed by the Statute of the Portuguese Bar (Law 145/2015) and by Law 6/2024 on legal advertising.
Team
Led by Jorge Ferraz,
with a dedicated team.
JF
Jorge Ferraz
Managing partner
SS
Sofia Simões de Sousa
Lawyer
MG
Marta Guedes Couto
Lawyer
RA
Rita Almeida
Trainee lawyer
06 · Legal notes
Recent articles
from the blog.
Custody order non-compliance in Portugal
Read article →
Child support in Portugal: calculation
Read article →
Divorce costs in Portugal: fees and legal aid
Read article →Joint custody and alternating residence
Read article →Common-law union in Portugal: rights
Read article →07 · Book
A first conversation to understand your
options.
In a 15, 30 or 60-minute consultation, in person in Porto, in Lisbon by appointment, or by video call, we review your situation, answer your questions and explain the possible routes, with timelines and costs.
Consultations are paid. In some cases, when we only need to clarify a few details before sending you a fee quote, the initial call may be free of charge. Everything you tell us is protected by attorney–client confidentiality.
Book a consultation →Or call +351 222 084 267 · Mon–Fri, 09:00–19:00 (Lisbon time)
International legal associations
Selected professional affiliations
Ordem dos Advogados
American Bar Association (International Associate)
Association of European Attorneys (Member)
American Immigration Lawyers Association (International Associate)