Chapter X · Single-member private limited companies

Article 270-D Plurality of members

Artigo 270.º-D · Pluralidade de sócios

Código das Sociedades Comerciais · Decree-Law No. 262/86 · consolidated text checked 26 October 2026

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1. The sole member of a single-member private limited company may change that company into a private limited company with more than one member by dividing and assigning the quota interest or by increasing the share capital through the entry of a new member, in which case the expression 'sociedade unipessoal', or the word 'unipessoal', contained in the business name must be removed from it.

1 - O sócio único de uma sociedade unipessoal por quotas pode modificar esta sociedade em sociedade por quotas plural através de divisão e cessão da quota ou de aumento de capital social por entrada de um novo sócio, devendo, nesse caso, ser eliminada da firma a expressão 'sociedade unipessoal', ou a palavra 'unipessoal', que nela se contenha.

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2. The document recording the division and assignment of the quota interest or the capital increase is sufficient title for registration of the change.

2 - O documento que consigne a divisão e cessão de quota ou o aumento do capital é título bastante para o registo da modificação.

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3. If the company previously had the form of a private limited company, it shall become governed by the provisions of the articles of association which, under Article 270-A(4), did not apply to it as a consequence of its single-member status.

3 - Se a sociedade tiver adoptado antes o tipo de sociedade por quotas, passará a reger-se pelas disposições do contrato de sociedade que, nos termos do n.º 4 do artigo 270.º-A, lhe eram inaplicáveis em consequência da unipessoalidade.

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4. In the case of concentration provided for in Article 270-A(2), the sole member may avoid single-member status by restoring the plurality of members within the statutory period.

4 - No caso de concentração previsto no n.º 2 do artigo 270.º-A, o sócio único pode evitar a unipessoalidade se, no prazo legal, restabelecer a pluralidade de sócios.

What we checked in this article

The two routes to plurality (division and assignment, or capital increase with a new member), removal of the single-member wording from the name, the revival of provisions disapplied under Article 270-A(4), and restoration of plurality within the statutory period are retained.

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Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

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