# Law No. 7357 of September 2, 1985

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650372](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650372)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7357-of-september-2-1985

## Summary
Law No. 7357 of September 2, 1985 (Lei nº 7357, de 2 de setembro de 1985) is a Brazilian federal statute that regulates checks (cheques) and establishes related provisions. Promulgated by President José Sarney, it serves as the comprehensive legal framework governing check transactions throughout Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 7357, de 2 de setembro de 1985
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7357/1985
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Subject:** Regulates checks and related provisions ("DISPÕE SOBRE O CHEQUE E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS")
- **Publication Date:** September 2, 1985
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Promulgated By:** President José Sarney
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-09-02;7357
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l7357.htm
- **WikiProject Status:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs

**What is the purpose of Law No. 7357?**
Law No. 7357 establishes the legal framework for check transactions in Brazil. It defines standards for design requirements, emission, presentation, payment, and execution of checks as credit instruments.

**Who enacted Law No. 7357 and when?**
The law was promulgated on September 2, 1985, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President José Sarney.

**Where can the official text of Law No. 7357 be accessed?**
The official text is available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l7357.htm and can be referenced through the Lexml Brazil system using identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-09-02;7357.

**What topics does Law No. 7357 cover?**
The law addresses time limits (prazo), credits (créditos), legal norms (normas), design requirements (requisitos), payment procedures (pagamento), execution (execução), hypotheses (hipótese), determinations (fixação), presentation (apresentação), absence scenarios (ausência), and emission (emissão) related to checks.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7357 matters as the foundational statutory framework governing check transactions throughout Brazil. As a formal federal statute, it creates binding legal norms that standardize how checks function as financial instruments in Brazilian commerce. The law provides legal certainty for both issuers and recipients of checks by establishing clear rules for their design, emission, presentment for payment, and execution. By codifying these procedures at the federal level, the statute ensures uniform application across all Brazilian states and territories. Its comprehensive coverage—from technical requirements to enforcement mechanisms—provides the legal infrastructure necessary for check-based transactions to operate reliably within Brazil's banking system and broader economy.

## Notable For
- **Comprehensive Check Regulation:** Establishes the complete legal framework for check transactions in Brazil
- **Presidential Promulgation:** Enacted by President José Sarney during Brazil's transition from military rule to democracy
- **Federal Statute Authority:** Functions as a formal written document creating statutory law with nationwide application
- **WikiProject Recognition:** Included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws, signifying its importance in Brazilian legal documentation
- **Multi-Aspect Coverage:** Addresses eleven distinct aspects of check regulation from emission to execution
- **Official Digital Availability:** Accessible through Brazil's official government portals with standardized legal identifiers

## Body

### Legal Classification and Nature

Law No. 7357 of September 2, 1985, is classified as a **statute**—a formal written document that creates law. As a federal Brazilian statute, it represents a manifestation of statutory law, functioning as the official record of legal rules enacted by the Brazilian government. The statute is categorized as a subclass of written work, document, and rule, placing it within the broader taxonomy of legal instruments that establish binding norms within Brazil's civil law tradition.

The statute's status as a formal legal document means it is part of the public domain according to Brazilian legal principles, consistent with the general treatment of official legal documents as non-copyrightable edicts of government.

### Subject Matter and Regulatory Scope

The law's official digest states its purpose: "DISPÕE SOBRE O CHEQUE E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS" (Provides for the check and other measures). The statute comprehensively addresses eleven main subjects related to check regulation:

1. **Time Limit (Prazo):** Establishes timeframes for check-related actions
2. **Credits (Créditos):** Governs credit aspects associated with checks
3. **Legal Norms (Normas):** Sets the normative framework for check operations
4. **Design Requirements (Requisitos):** Specifies mandatory elements and formatting for valid checks
5. **Payment (Pagamento):** Regulates payment procedures and obligations
6. **Execution (Execução):** Outlines enforcement mechanisms for check-related obligations
7. **Hypothesis (Hipótese):** Addresses hypothetical legal scenarios involving checks
8. **Decision/Determination (Fixação):** Provides for determinations related to check matters
9. **Presentation (Apresentação):** Governs the presentment of checks for payment
10. **Absence (Ausência):** Addresses situations involving absence or non-compliance
11. **Emission (Emissão):** Regulates the issuance of checks

### Historical Context and Enactment

The statute was promulgated on September 2, 1985, in Brasília, the federal capital of Brazil. This enactment occurred during the presidency of José Sarney, who served as the approving authority. The promulgation date places this law within Brazil's transitional period from military rule to democratic governance, as Sarney had become president earlier in 1985 following Tancredo Neves' illness and death.

The Presidential Archive reference (legislacao.presidencia.gov.br) documents the promulgation process with the identifier "8c7oXS65keBpWT4ad," confirming the law's official status within Brazil's federal legislative system.

### Jurisdiction and Territorial Application

Law No. 7357 applies to the entire Federative Republic of Brazil, establishing uniform federal standards for check transactions across all 26 states plus the Federal District. The law's application extends throughout Brazilian territory, creating consistent legal requirements for financial institutions, businesses, and individuals engaged in check-based transactions regardless of their geographic location within the country.

The statute was published in Brazilian Portuguese, the official language of Brazil, ensuring accessibility to legal professionals, financial institutions, and the general public throughout the nation.

### Official Identification and Access Mechanisms

The statute carries multiple official identifiers and access points that facilitate legal research and compliance:

- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7357/1985 serves as the standard reference format
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-09-02;7357 provides a standardized Uniform Resource Name within Brazil's legal information system
- **Primary URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l7357.htm hosts the official text on the Brazilian government's portal
- **Presidential Archive:** Available through legislacao.presidencia.gov.br with specific parameters for the law type (LEI), number (7357), year (1985), and date (02/09/1985)

These identifiers ensure that the law can be reliably cited, referenced, and accessed by courts, legal professionals, financial institutions, and citizens.

### Position Within Brazilian Legal System

As a federal statute, Law No. 7357 operates within Brazil's civil law tradition where codified statutes serve as primary sources of binding law. The statute functions alongside other financial regulations and commercial code provisions that govern Brazil's banking and financial systems.

The law's classification as a statute means it possesses the full authority of federal legislation, creating binding legal norms that must be followed by all parties subject to Brazilian jurisdiction. Its status as a formal written document ensures it carries precedent over lower-level regulations and administrative rules that might address check-related matters.

### WikiProject Documentation

Law No. 7357 is included on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating recognition of its significance within Brazilian legal documentation efforts. This inclusion signifies that the statute is considered sufficiently important to warrant systematic documentation, cross-referencing, and maintenance within collaborative knowledge bases dedicated to Brazilian legal materials.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-09-02;7357)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7357&ano=1985&data=02/09/1985&ato=8c7oXS65keBpWT4ad)
3. LexML Brasil