Real Estate Lawyers in Brazil –
Specializing in Serving Foreign Clients
Have Peace of Mind with Our Real Estate Team in Brazil
Plenty of capable solo attorneys handle property transactions — until a vacation or a full docket turns your closing week into silence. We built Oliveira Lawyers differently: an experienced team supporting you from beginning to end, where a typical transaction runs through our proprietary A-to-Z methodology of 200 to 300 activities. More than one professional knows your file at every stage, and you can follow the milestones yourself on a live tracking board. Our clients notice: they name our team members in public reviews, because they actually got to know a team.
And if a realtor has told you a lawyer is unnecessary, two facts are worth knowing before you sign anything. Brazil has no title insurance — when a title fails here, nobody comes to the rescue unless someone checked it before you signed. And there is no such thing as a “standard contract”: in over twenty years, we have never seen a purchase agreement arrive already meeting our client’s needs. We are fairly sure yours will not be the first.
Foreign-buyer real estate counsel since 2004. Managing partner Luciano Oliveira — LL.M., licensed in Brazil, Texas, and California. A structured team across our Brazil offices drives your purchase end to end, in English and Portuguese.
Reviewed by Luciano Oliveira — Brazil–US attorney, LL.M., licensed in Brazil, Texas, and California · Last reviewed: July 2026.
One note before the details: this page is general information, not legal advice. Your purchase, your documents and your dates shape the actual work — that is what the consultation is for.
The Several Ways in Which We Assist You With Real Estate in Brazil
Some clients call us before they have chosen a city. Others call the day before a signing, asking us to look at what they are about to sign. And a steady number call after something has already gone wrong. This page explains what full legal support looks like at each of those moments — what we do, who does it, and how you can watch it happening.
Below you will see the main categories of services we provide in the real estate sector along with links to the respective pages.
Start here: how buying works, and where a lawyer fits
New to buying in Brazil? Start here. Because Brazil has no title insurance and no standard purchase contract, a foreign buyer needs someone who verifies the property, negotiates the contract, and drives the purchase through to a registered deed. That is exactly what we do, from first offer to final registration.
Buying property
Whether it is an off-plan unit, a home in a particular region, or a purchase made through a company or with a spouse, we handle the legal side of acquiring it — due diligence, contracts, currency compliance, and registration — so the deal is safe before you are committed to it.
- Off-Plan Property (Na Planta)
- Where to Buy in Brazil
- Buying as a Couple
- 6 Reasons to Buy Real Estate in Brazil
- Can Foreigners Own Property in Brazil?
Due diligence & verification
Before any money moves, we confirm the property and the seller are exactly what they claim to be. We pull the registry records and run the checks that surface liens, lawsuits, and encumbrances a listing will never show you — so you find the problems before they find you.
Choosing a lawyer & protecting yourself
Choosing the right lawyer matters as much as choosing the right property. We make sure your counsel is independent of the seller and the broker, works in your language, and answers only to you — and we flag the scams and shortcuts that target foreign buyers.
- Choosing the Right Lawyer
- Clients Good Lawyers Turn Away
- Cheap or No-Upfront Lawyer: the Risks
- How to Avoid Scams in Brazil
Selling property
Selling from abroad carries its own legal and tax steps. We represent you through the sale — from the paperwork and clearances to getting the proceeds out of Brazil correctly — so you are not exposed on the way out.
Owning & holding
How you hold Brazilian property affects your taxes, your succession, and your control of it. We set up and run the right structure, act for you under a power of attorney so you never need to fly in, and handle the conveyancing.
Real estate disputes
When a deal or a property goes wrong, we act. We pursue money lost on failed and off-plan purchases, litigate developer breaches, and remove squatters or holdover occupants from property you own.
Residency through property
A qualifying property investment can open a path to residency in Brazil. We plan the purchase so it meets the program’s rules from day one and carry the residency application alongside it, so the property and the visa work together.
For developers & brokers
We also work the other side of the market: advising developers on their projects and partnering with brokers, with the legal structure and contracts that keep a transaction clean for everyone in it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to buy property in Brazil?
Brazil has no title insurance and no standard purchase contract, so nothing protects a foreign buyer from a bad title or a one-sided agreement except a lawyer who checks before you sign. We verify the property, negotiate the contract, and drive the purchase to a registered deed. See how to buy in 15 steps or full-service support.
How do you check that a property and the seller are legitimate?
We pull the property’s registry records and run due-diligence checks that surface liens, lawsuits, unpaid taxes, and ownership defects a listing will never show you — before any money moves. See real estate investigations and verifying property records.
Can you handle everything if I cannot travel to Brazil?
Yes. Most of our foreign-client matters — purchases, sales, and filings — run remotely under a power of attorney, so you rarely need to set foot in Brazil.
How do I know a Brazil real estate lawyer is trustworthy?
Confirm the lawyer is registered with the OAB (the Brazilian bar), works in your language, and is independent of the seller and the broker. Be wary of anyone who rushes you, asks for money before a written engagement, or requests a personal PIX or WhatsApp transfer. See choosing the right lawyer.
Can you help me sell property in Brazil from abroad?
Yes. We represent sellers through the whole sale — clearances, paperwork, and getting the proceeds out of Brazil correctly. See real estate sale support.
Should I hold Brazilian property in my own name or through a company?
It depends on your tax situation, your succession plans, and how many properties you hold. We advise on the right structure and set it up for you. See holding real estate through an LLC.
What can you do if my property is occupied, or a developer did not deliver?
We litigate real estate disputes: recovering money from failed or off-plan purchases, suing developers for breach, and removing squatters or holdover tenants from property you own. See real estate litigation and recovering occupied property.
Can buying property in Brazil lead to residency?
A qualifying property investment can open a path to residency. We plan the purchase so it meets the program’s rules from day one and carry the residency application alongside it. See the Brazil Golden Visa.
Buying property in Brazil as a foreigner?
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