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Brazil: Squatters Rights (Usucapião) - Be Aware!
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By Jose Santiago
Brazilian Law describes the way by which one can acquire the title to land. One of the methods is the "usucapião", known as adverse possession or squatter rights. The current legislation allows a person to get title to land from the actual owner simply by using the land publicly and in a peaceful way, meaning, without the intervention of the actual owner. If this occurs for a specific and continued period of time, this person, know as the possessor, may be able to claim this property as his/her own trough a lawsuit called "Ação de Usucapião" and acquire the title. The theory is that by not disputing someone else‘s usage of your property, you, as the owner have abandoned your rights to the property which could be then forfeited/transferred to the possessor.
It is important for all foreigners who are purchasing real estate in Brazil to first, make sure that the property hasn‘t already been taken by a possessor. Even if the broker verbalizes in that way, and the seller shows a valid and legal public deed drafted by a public notary at a "Cartorio" nearby, a careful and professional analysis of this document is necessary. In some cases there can be a public deed of conveyance, but the deed will only transfer possession rights, giving the impression to the unaware foreigner that the property is titled, when is not and worse, it belongs to someone else.
Secondly, it is never recommended to purchase these possession rights, although they are quite cheap when compared to regular real estate prices. A buyer has no guarantees that later on a Court Summons won‘t be delivered at his doorsteps demanding them to leave the premises immediately, thus losing the land and everything that was built on top of it.
Finally, after purchasing real estate, those who have second homes in Brazil must be able to keep property from being abandoned. Also, make sure that all utility bills and property tax bills are in your name and are paid by you, if these steps are followed; "usucapião" can never happen to you.
Should you need further information about "usucapiao", feel free to email me at jsantiago@eliteinternational.com.
Jose C. Santiago
Multinvest / Elite International
Licensed Attorney - Brazil
Licensed Real Estate Agent - USA
Phones: (55-11) 9348-5729 - São Paulo, Brazil
(800) 983-7060 - Miami, USA
Website: www.josecsantiago.com
Skype: josecsantiago
MSN: josecordeirosantiago@hotmail.com
Previous articles by Jose:
Brazil: Annual Procedures to Keep Your CPF Number Valid
How to Hire a Lawyer in Brazil Part 3
How to Hire a Lawyer in Brazil Part 2
How to Hire a Lawyer in Brazil Part 1
Tax Information for Foreigners in Brazil Part 4
Tax Information for Foreigners in Brazil Part 3
Tax Information for Foreigners in Brazil Part 2
Tax Information for Foreigners in Brazil Part 1
8 Reasons to Invest in Brazil‘s Real Estate
The Brazilian Resident Investor Program for Foreigners
Brazil: Annual Required Procedures to Keep Your CPF Number
Legal Aspects of Acquiring Real Estate in Brazil
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10/31/2006
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