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

Article 52 Effects of invalidity

Artigo 52.º · Efeitos da invalidade

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

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1. A declaration of nullity or annulment of the articles of association causes the company to enter liquidation under Article 165; that effect must be stated in the judgment.

1 - A declaração de nulidade e a anulação do contrato de sociedade determinam a entrada da sociedade em liquidação, nos termos do artigo 165.º, devendo este efeito ser mencionado na sentença.

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2. A declaration of nullity or annulment of the articles does not affect the effectiveness of legal transactions previously concluded in the company's name.

2 - A eficácia dos negócios jurídicos concluídos anteriormente em nome da sociedade não é afectada pela declaração de nulidade ou anulação do contrato social.

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3. However, where nullity arises from simulation, an unlawful object, a breach of public policy or an offence against accepted standards of conduct, the preceding paragraph benefits only third parties acting in good faith.

3 - No entanto, se a nulidade proceder de simulação, de ilicitude do objecto ou de violação da ordem pública ou ofensa dos bons costumes, o disposto no número anterior só aproveita a terceiros de boa fé.

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4. Invalidity of the articles does not exempt members from the duty to make or complete their contributions, nor does it release them from any personal and joint and several liability to third parties which the law may impose on them.

4 - A invalidade do contrato não exime os sócios do dever de realizar ou completar as suas entradas nem tão-pouco os exonera da responsabilidade pessoal e solidária perante terceiros que, segundo a lei, eventualmente lhes incumba.

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5. The preceding paragraph does not apply to a member whose incapacity was the ground for annulment of the articles or who invokes that incapacity as a defence against the company, the other members or third parties.

5 - O disposto no número antecedente não é aplicável ao sócio cuja incapacidade foi a causa da anulação do contrato ou que a venha opor por via de excepção à sociedade, aos outros sócios ou a terceiros.

What we checked in this article

Paragraph 5 says does not apply; incapacity causes annulment, rather than being caused by it.

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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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