# Law No. 6355 of September 8, 1976

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650439](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650439)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6355-of-september-8-1976

## Summary
Law No. 6355 of September 8, 1976, is a Brazilian federal statute that amends the Civil Procedure Code by altering the main text of Article 20 of Law No. 5,869 of January 11, 1973. Enacted during the presidency of Ernesto Geisel, this legislation specifically addresses civil procedure rules regarding payment, definitions, changes, and responsibility within the Brazilian legal system. It serves as a formal written document creating statutory law applicable exclusively to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 6355, de 8 de setembro de 1976.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6355/1976.
- **Publication Date:** September 8, 1976.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Class/Type:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Instance Of:** Brazilian law; Statute.
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgating Authority:** Ernesto Geisel (served as President at the time of promulgation).
- **Primary Subject:** Civil procedure in Brazil (specifically the *Código de Processo Civil*).
- **Amended Legislation:** Alters the *caput* (main text) of Article 20 of Law No. 5,869 (enacted January 11, 1973).
- **Specific Legal Topics Covered:** Payment (*Pagamento*), Definition (*Definição*), Change/Alteration (*Alteração*), and Responsibility (*Responsabilidade*).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-08;6355.
- **Official Online Source:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6355.htm.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to the entire territory of Brazil.
- **Legal Digest Description:** "ALTERA O CAPUT DO ARTIGO 20 DA LEI 5.869, DE 11 DE JANEIRO DE 1973, QUE INSTITUI O CODIGO DE PROCESSO CIVIL."

## FAQs
**What specific legal change did Law No. 6355/1976 enact?**
This law modified the opening text (*caput*) of Article 20 within the existing Civil Procedure Code (Law No. 5,869/1973). The amendment specifically targeted regulations concerning payment obligations, legal definitions, procedural changes, and the assignment of responsibility in civil cases.

**Who was responsible for approving and promulgating this statute?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated on September 8, 1976, by President Ernesto Geisel. This action formalized the legislative text into binding statutory law within the Brazilian federal system.

**Which legal code does this statute interact with?**
Law No. 6355/1976 directly interacts with Law No. 5,869, which was originally enacted on January 11, 1973, to establish the Civil Procedure Code (*Código de Processo Civil*). It serves as a subsequent amendment to that foundational procedural document.

**In what language is this law written and where can it be accessed?**
The statute is written in Brazilian Portuguese and is officially published in Brasília. It is accessible to the public via the official Planalto government portal at the provided URL and is cataloged in the LexML Brazil system under its unique URN.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6355/1976 is a critical component of Brazil's procedural legal framework, ensuring that the rules governing civil litigation remain current and functional. By amending Article 20 of the Civil Procedure Code, it directly influences how courts handle matters of payment, define legal terms, process changes in case status, and assign liability. This statute exemplifies the dynamic nature of statutory law, where specific legislative acts refine broader codes to address evolving judicial needs. Its existence ensures that the "Civil Procedure in Brazil" remains a coherent and updated system, providing clarity for judges, lawyers, and litigants regarding procedural responsibilities and definitions. As a formal statute, it carries the full weight of federal law, making its provisions mandatory for all civil proceedings within the jurisdiction.

## Notable For
- **Specific Amendment Target:** It is distinct for its precise focus on altering only the *caput* of Article 20 of the 1973 Civil Procedure Code.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the military government era in Brazil under the administration of President Ernesto Geisel.
- **LexML Standardization:** It is a primary example of a Brazilian law assigned a standardized URN (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-08;6355) for digital legal interoperability.
- **Procedural Focus:** Unlike laws creating new crimes or taxes, this statute is notable for refining the mechanics of civil litigation, specifically around payment and responsibility.
- **Longevity:** As an amendment to a 1973 code, it represents a layer of legal history that has shaped Brazilian civil procedure for decades.
- **Official Documentation:** It is fully documented in the *Diário Oficial da União* and preserved in the official Planalto digital archive.

## Body

### Identification and Classification
Law No. 6355 of September 8, 1976, is classified as a **statute**, defined as a formal written document that creates law. In the context of the Brazilian legal system, it functions as a federal law (*lei federal*) enacted by the National Congress and promulgated by the Executive branch. The entity is an instance of "Brazilian law" and falls under the broader category of statutory law. Its primary identifier in the LexML Brazil system is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-08;6355`, which serves as a persistent link for digital citation. The law is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

### Legislative History and Promulgation
The statute was officially published on **September 8, 1976**, in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil. The legislative process culminated in its approval by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. At the time of promulgation, the head of state was **Ernesto Geisel**, who signed the act into law. This date places the legislation within the historical period of the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964–1985), a time when the executive branch held significant legislative power. The law was subsequently referenced and cataloged in legal databases with a reference date of January 28, 2021, and April 10, 2021, indicating its continued relevance in legal research and citation.

### Subject Matter and Legal Scope
The core function of Law No. 6355/1976 is to amend the **Civil Procedure Code** (*Código de Processo Civil*), which was originally established by Law No. 5,869 on January 11, 1973. Specifically, the law alters the **caput** (the introductory clause or main text) of **Article 20** of that 1973 code. The amendment addresses four distinct legal concepts:
1.  **Payment (*Pagamento*):** Rules governing the fulfillment of financial obligations in civil proceedings.
2.  **Definition (*Definição*):** Clarification of legal terms used within the procedural code.
3.  **Change (*Alteração*):** Procedures for modifying existing legal statuses or claims.
4.  **Responsibility (*Responsabilidade*):** The assignment of liability and accountability within civil litigation.

These subjects are central to the administration of justice, ensuring that the procedural rules for civil cases are precise and enforceable. The law applies to the entire **jurisdiction of Brazil**, binding all federal, state, and municipal courts within the country.

### Digital Preservation and Accessibility
In the modern digital era, Law No. 6355/1976 is preserved and made accessible through official government portals. The full text is available at **https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6355.htm**, hosted by the Presidency of the Republic. This URL serves as the primary source for legal professionals and the public to verify the text of the law. The law is also indexed in the **LexML Brazil** project, a national initiative to standardize legal metadata, ensuring that the statute can be easily retrieved and linked to other legal documents. The use of the URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-08;6355` allows for unambiguous citation in legal documents, academic papers, and judicial decisions.

### Relationship to the Civil Procedure Code
Law No. 6355/1976 is intrinsically linked to the **Civil Procedure Code of 1973** (Law No. 5,869). While the 1973 code established the foundational rules for civil litigation in Brazil, Law No. 6355/1976 acted as a targeted update to refine specific provisions. By modifying Article 20, the 1976 law adjusted how the code handles specific procedural scenarios, likely addressing ambiguities or inefficiencies that had arisen since the code's inception. This relationship highlights the iterative nature of legal systems, where new statutes are frequently enacted to refine, clarify, or update existing codes without replacing the entire framework. The 1976 law remains a valid part of the legislative history of the Civil Procedure Code, even if subsequent laws have further amended Article 20.

### Jurisdictional Application
The statute applies exclusively to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**. As a federal law, it holds supremacy over state and municipal laws in matters of civil procedure, ensuring a unified legal standard across the nation's 26 states and the Federal District. The law's jurisdiction covers all civil proceedings within the Brazilian territory, regardless of the specific court level (first instance, appellate, or supreme). Its provisions are binding on all judges, attorneys, and litigants involved in civil cases, reinforcing the principle of legal certainty and uniformity in the application of procedural rules.

### Metadata and Authority Control
The entity is well-documented in global knowledge bases and authority control systems. It is recognized in **Wikidata** with a description of "Brazilian law" and is linked to the broader concept of "statute." The law is associated with specific properties such as **P17** (country: Brazil), **P1001** (applies to jurisdiction: Brazil), and **P953** (publication URL). These metadata tags facilitate the integration of the law into semantic web technologies and knowledge graphs, allowing for automated reasoning and data linking across different legal databases. The law's inclusion in the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws** further underscores its importance within the community of legal editors and researchers.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-08;6355)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6355&ano=1976&data=08/09/1976&ato=c81cXQq50MnRVT614)
3. LexML Brasil