Chapter III · Articles of association · Section III · The company before registration. Invalidity of the articles

Article 44 Proceedings for a declaration of nullity and notice to remedy defects

Artigo 44.º · Acção de declaração de nulidade e notificação para regularização

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

#

1. Proceedings for a declaration of nullity may be brought within three years from registration by any member of the company's management, supervisory board or general and supervisory board, or by a member of the company, and by any third party having a relevant and serious interest in the success of the proceedings; where a defect is capable of being cured, proceedings may not be brought until 90 days have elapsed after the company was called upon to cure it.

1 - A acção de declaração de nulidade pode ser intentada, dentro do prazo de três anos a contar do registo, por qualquer membro da administração, do conselho fiscal ou do conselho geral e de supervisão da sociedade ou por sócio, bem como por qualquer terceiro que tenha um interesse relevante e sério na procedência da acção, sendo que, no caso de vício sanável, a acção não pode ser proposta antes de decorridos 90 dias sobre a interpelação à sociedade para sanar o vício.

#

2. Such proceedings may be brought at any time by the Public Prosecutor.

2 - A mesma acção pode ser intentada a todo o tempo pelo Ministério Público.

#

3. Members of management must notify members with unlimited liability and members of private limited companies of the bringing of proceedings for a declaration of nullity as soon as possible; in public limited companies, that notification must be addressed to the supervisory board or to the general and supervisory board, as appropriate.

3 - Os membros da administração devem comunicar, no mais breve prazo, aos sócios de responsabilidade ilimitada, bem como aos sócios das sociedades por quotas, a propositura da acção de declaração de nulidade, devendo, nas sociedades anónimas, essa comunicação ser dirigida ao conselho fiscal ou ao conselho geral e de supervisão, conforme os casos.

What we checked in this article

Three years, the 90-day demand period and the Public Prosecutor's unrestricted timing remain distinct.

Is Article 44 relevant to a company you run or plan to set up?

We advise on Portuguese company law in English every day: formation, capital, members’ resolutions, managers’ liability and restructuring. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

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.

Applying the law

Portuguese company law, explained in English by the people who apply it

Reading the statute is the first step. Applying it to your articles of association, your capital and your board is where mistakes cost money. Tell us what you are deciding and we will set out the rules that apply and what it costs to get it done.

Get a quote