Family
Portuguese-derived family law with recognised de facto unions
Family law follows the received Portuguese Civil Code as amended nationally, providing for monogamous civil marriage and recognising the união de facto. The Lei sobre a Violência Doméstica e Familiar (Lei 11/2008) addresses domestic violence, and same-sex conduct has never been criminalised in the post-independence code.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Tribunal de Primeira Instância hears family matters.
Governing law
- Código Civil 1966 (as received and amended) — family book
- Lei sobre a Violência Doméstica e FamiliarLei 11/2008
- Lei de Protecção da Criança
In practice
Because the country retains the Portuguese Civil Code's family book with national amendments rather than a separate family code, São Toméan family law reads closer to Portuguese doctrine than to the standalone family codes adopted in Angola and Mozambique.