State Act

Portuguese Civil Code, 1867

Article 535 – General period for negative prescription – Whoever, is bound to another by an obligation to perform, or to do something, may stand relieved of the obligation, if its performance is not demanded for a period of 20 years, and the obligant stands in good faith, at the end of the prescription period, or when the performance is not demanded for a period of 30 years, regardless of good faith or bad faith, except where special prescriptions are provided in law. § Sole paragraph - Good faith, in the case of negative prescription, consists in the ignorance of the obligation. This ignorance is not presumed in case of persons who originally contracted the obligation.