The Americas · Hague Convention Member
We coordinate service of process, court filings, and related legal document delivery in Brazil through Brazil's Hague Central Authority, as part of our The Americas coverage network.
Brazil joined the Hague Service Convention in November 2018, and it has applied since June 1, 2019. Before that, serving a defendant in Brazil meant Letters Rogatory. Brazil's Central Authority is the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, through its Department of Asset Recovery and International Legal Cooperation (DRCI) in Brasília. Brazil objected to service by mail, by judicial officers and other competent persons, and by foreign consular officers, so the Central Authority is the route.
After the Ministry accepts a request, it is sent on to the Brazilian federal courts, which carry out service and report back through the Central Authority. Every document must be in Portuguese. Because the process has several steps and Brazil receives a high volume of requests, a complete and correctly translated package from the start makes the biggest difference to timing.
We prepare and transmit the formal request to Brazil's designated Central Authority, following the Convention's standardized forms and Brazil's specific documentation requirements.
Discuss this approach →Where Brazil's Central Authority requires documents in the local language, we coordinate certified translation before submission, so the request isn't delayed or rejected on a technicality.
Discuss this approach →Brazil's Article 10 objections mean that service by mail, courier, or a private agent is not valid there, even though these methods may look faster. A defendant can challenge them, and they won't support enforcing a judgment in Brazil.
Requirements and current conditions can change — always confirm Brazil's declarations and Central Authority details on the HCCH status table and check current guidance from the U.S. Department of State's judicial assistance page before committing time and court fees to a particular route.
Some Hague countries object to alternative channels such as service by mail, and U.S. courts generally honor those objections. If you expect to enforce a judgment inside Brazil, ask counsel familiar with local law whether the method of service you choose will be respected there — service that satisfies a U.S. court doesn't automatically satisfy a foreign one.
We'll tell you plainly which route looks realistic for your matter, rather than promising an outcome.
Hard-to-serve assignments
Brazil is a Hague Service Convention country, and its declarations limit the alternatives to the Central Authority route. We tell you plainly which channels are actually open for Brazil, and handle the formal request so it isn't delayed or rejected on a technicality.
Brazil is a party to the Hague Service Convention. We prepare the request, the Convention's standard form with its summary of the document, and any translations Brazil's Central Authority requires. The Central Authority arranges service under local procedure and returns a certificate confirming whether and how it was made. This usually takes a few months.
According to the HCCH's table of declarations, Brazil has expressed opposition to postal channels (Article 10(a)), opposition to service through officials or competent persons (10(b)), and opposition to service by any interested person (10(c)). Because Brazil opposes these channels, informal or direct service by a private agent isn't available under the Convention, and U.S. courts generally honor a country's objections. Service goes through the Central Authority. Declarations can change, so confirm them on the HCCH status table before relying on any direct channel.
Once service is completed, Brazil's Central Authority returns an Article 6 certificate confirming that service was, or was not, made and why. That certificate is what you file with the court. Brazil is a party to the Apostille Convention if you need other documents authenticated for use there.
Before you proceed: Confirm Brazil's current declarations on the HCCH status table before you file, and if you expect to enforce a judgment in Brazil, ask counsel whether the method of service you choose will be respected by courts there.
The process
We review your case, deadline, and defendant details, and check Brazil's declarations, to confirm that the Central Authority route is the right fit.
The documents to be served, the Convention's standard request form with its summary of the document, and translations into Brazil's official language(s) where the Central Authority requires them.
The completed request goes to the Central Authority Brazil has designated to receive Hague requests.
The Central Authority arranges service, or has it carried out through a local court or officer, following Brazil's own rules.
The Central Authority completes a certificate confirming whether and how service was made, and returns it for you to file with the court.
Requirements can differ by court and by country, and can change over time — treat this as a general outline, not a checklist for your filing.
Planning your matter
Service through Brazil's Central Authority commonly takes around six months and can take longer. Allow additional time beforehand for a sworn Portuguese translation of the complete package.
Brazil requires every document to be translated into Portuguese (apart from the standard terms on the Convention's model form). Requests without complete translations are not executed. Use Brazilian Portuguese, prepared by a qualified legal translator.
For a defendant in Brazil, the Hague request to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security is the standard route whenever the address is known. Brazil and the United States are also parties to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory, which can be relevant in some situations. Mail and private delivery aren't valid in Brazil because of its Article 10 objections.
Process Server Global has handled international service of process since 1982, and Brazil is one of the 195 nations we serve. We manage the paperwork, translations, routing, and proof of service, so your documents reach Brazil through the right channel and come back court-ready.
Request service in BrazilGetting papers served in Brazil usually depends on the right people in the right offices. We work with Brazil's Central Authority and, where local law allows, coordinate in-country resources so your request doesn't stall on a technicality. If you're considering hiring a single process server directly in Brazil, be careful — Brazil's declarations and local law determine whether direct service is allowed, and agents may not be authorized under a foreign country's law to serve documents there. Talk to us first, and we'll confirm what's permitted and which route will hold up.
We serve summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court documents in Brazil in line with FRCP Rule 4(f), and return proof of service your court can rely on — typically the Central Authority's certificate under Article 6 of the Convention.
Brazil is a contracting party to the Hague Service Convention, so requests can be sent through its designated Central Authority. Check Brazil's declarations, including any objections to alternative channels, on the HCCH status table before you file.
Whatever the document, our team has the experience to execute your specific request and route it through the right channel the first time.
Decades of experience working through the correct government and judicial channels — Hague Central Authorities where they apply, diplomatic and court channels where they don't — mean your documents move through the right process, wherever they're headed.
Since 1982, we've built a track record litigators rely on — documented, court-ready service performed to FRCP 4(f) standards.
Need documents served in Brazil?
Tell us about your case and deadline, and we'll confirm the right service pathway for Brazil.
Request Service in BrazilYes, since June 1, 2019. Brazil's Central Authority is the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (its DRCI department) in Brasília. Brazil objected to the alternative methods in Article 10 and to service by foreign consular officers.
Commonly around six months through the Central Authority, sometimes longer. Translation into Portuguese should be done before submission and adds its own time.
Yes. Brazil requires Portuguese translations of all documents to be served. Incomplete translations are the most common reason for delay or rejection.
Not as valid service. Brazil objected to service by mail, by judicial officers, and by other competent persons under Article 10, so the Central Authority route is required.
Brazil and the United States are both parties to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and its Additional Protocol. The Hague route is now the usual choice where the defendant's address is known, but we'll advise if the Inter-American route fits your matter better.
Our fees for Brazil are as follows. Formal service of process: $800 (estimated). Per defendant, per address. Estimated; Central Authority or government fees, where charged, are additional. International rush delivery: Call for pricing. Translation: $0.38 per word. Proper nouns aren't translated. Status update: $350 per update. For matters where an update needs an in-person status check. Tell us about your matter and we'll confirm the total before you commit.
Send us PDF copies of the documents to be served, the defendant's name, an up-to-date address for service (or ask about a skip trace if you don't have one), and your preferred speed and method of service.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
This page provides general information based on treaty membership status and is not legal advice. Requirements can vary by case and change over time — contact us to confirm current procedures for Brazil.
