# Law No. 8951 of December 13, 1994 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105647536](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647536) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-8951-of-december-13-1994 ## Summary Law No. 8951 of December 13, 1994 is a Brazilian federal statute that amends the Code of Civil Procedure regarding legal actions for consignment in payment and usucaption (adverse possession). Promulgated by President Itamar Franco, the law serves as a formal written document that modifies specific procedural devices within the Brazilian legal system. ## Key Facts - **Official Title:** Lei nº 8951, de 13 de dezembro de 1994 - **Type of Entity:** Statute (formal written document creating law) - **Date of Promulgation:** December 13, 1994 - **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (Itamar Franco) - **Jurisdiction:** Brazil - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 8951/1994 - **Primary Subject:** Alters provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (*Código de Processo Civil*) - **Specific Topics:** Actions of consignment in payment (*ações de consignação em pagamento*) and usucaption (*usucapião*) - **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-13;8951 - **Place of Publication:** Brasília - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8951.htm ## FAQs **What specific changes did Law No. 8951 make to the Brazilian legal system?** The law alters provisions of the Brazilian Code of Civil Procedure. Its specific focus is on regulating the legal processes for "consignment in payment" (a way for a debtor to pay a creditor) and "usucaption" (acquiring property through adverse possession). **Who signed Law No. 8951 into force?** The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically promulgated by President Itamar Franco on December 13, 1994. **Where can the official text of Law No. 8951 be accessed?** The full text of the law is available in Brazilian Portuguese at the official Planalto Palace website (planalto.gov.br) under the Civil House archive. ## Why It Matters Law No. 8951 matters because it updates the procedural mechanisms for resolving specific civil disputes in Brazil, namely those involving debt payments and property rights. By amending the Code of Civil Procedure, it directly influences how citizens and the judiciary handle actions of *consignação em pagamento* (consignment in payment) and *usucapião* (usucaption). These procedures are fundamental to property law and contract fulfillment, ensuring clearer legal pathways for debtors to fulfill obligations and for individuals to regularize property ownership. As a federal statute, it represents the authoritative will of the Brazilian state, classified as a "statute" or "legal norm" within the country's legislative framework. ## Notable For - **Procedural Reform:** Notable for specifically targeting the Brazilian Code of Civil Procedure regarding debt and property actions. - **Presidential Assent:** Promulgated during the administration of President Itamar Franco. - **Standardization:** Serves as an example of a standard Brazilian federal legislative instrument (Lei), classified structurally as a "statute." - **Subject Scope:** Distinguished by its specific focus on the correlation between payment (*pagamento*) and change (*alteração*) within legal devices (*dispositivos*). ## Body ### Legislative Identity and Classification Law No. 8951, dated December 13, 1994, is formally classified as a **statute** (Portuguese: *Lei*). As a legal concept, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, distinct from abstract legal theories or general rules. In the context of the Brazilian legal system, which operates as a federal republic under the Constitution of 1988, this entity represents a specific legislative act applicable to the entire national jurisdiction. The law is identified by the legal citation **Lei nº 8951/1994** and is registered under the Lexml Brazil identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-13;8951`. It is categorized as a "legal term or legal concept" and a subclass of "written work" and "rule." ### Subject Matter and Content The primary function of this statute is to **alter provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure** (*Código de Processo Civil*). The "law digest" summarizes its purpose as addressing regulations concerning: 1. **Actions of Consignment in Payment (*Ações de Consignação em Pagamento*):** Legal mechanisms allowing a debtor to release themselves from a debt obligation by depositing the payment with a court when the creditor refuses to accept it. 2. **Usucaption (*Usucapião*):** The legal acquisition of property title through continuous, open, and hostile possession over a statutory period (adverse possession). The law's main subjects are explicitly defined as "Device (Law)," "Civil procedure in Brazil," "Change," "Correlation," and "Payment." ### Enactment and Authority The statute was enacted through the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The determination method was **promulgation**, signed by **Itamar Franco**, who served as the head of state and government. The date of this legal act is fixed as **December 13, 1994**. The place of publication was **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil since 1960. This enactment occurred during a pivotal time in Brazilian history, following the re-democratization process (completed in 1988) and the implementation of the Real Plan (July 1994), which stabilized the currency under Franco's administration. ### Jurisdiction and Language The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** (officially the Federative Republic of Brazil), the largest country in South America. As a federal law, it supersedes local by-laws and applies to all 26 states plus the Federal District. The official language of the document is **Brazilian Portuguese**, which is the sole official language of the country. ### Access and References The official text of Law No. 8951 is accessible via the internet at the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8951.htm`. This availability aligns with the principle that statutes are generally in the public domain (edict of government doctrine), ensuring public access to legal mandates. The entity is tracked on the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws" focus list, indicating its relevance in structured knowledge curation. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-13;8951) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=8951&ano=1994&data=13/12/1994&ato=289kXSU50dJpWT8ba) 3. LexML Brasil