Public Will: Requirements, Heirs, and Revocation

Context note: This content describes Brazilian notary law.

Em resumo

• The public will (testamento público) is a notary deed that records a person's last will regarding the distribution of their assets and estate directives for after their death Lei nº 10.406/2002 — Código Civil, art. 215.
• The drafting takes place at a notary public office (tabelionato de notas) before the notary public or legal deputy and requires the presence of two disinterested witnesses.
• The law guarantees half of the estate to necessary heirs (herdeiros necessários, the compulsory share or legítima), allowing the testator to freely dispose of the remaining 50% of their estate.
• A public will can be revoked or amended at any time by means of a new public deed executed at a notary office.

O que é um testamento público e quem pode fazer esse ato em cartório?

A public will (testamento público) is the modality of will dictated by the testator and written by a notary public (tabelião de notas) in their notary book Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 6º. It guarantees publicity, authenticity, and legal certainty to estate planning under Lei nº 8.935/1994 (Notarial and Registration Services Law), art. 1º Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 1º. Despite being called public, the contents of the deed remain confidential while the testator is alive. Public consultation regarding the existence of the act is permitted only via certificate after death.

You may consult the guidelines of national legislation on legal transactions directly on the official portal of the Presidency of the Republic through the Código Civil no Planalto (Civil Code on Planalto).

Any natural person over 16 years of age, in full possession of their mental faculties, has legal capacity to execute a public will. Elderly persons, ill individuals, or those with visual impairments may also opt for a public will. In such cases, the notary reading the deed aloud and observing legal formalities guarantee the correct expression of intent.

To understand the basic concepts of this instrument before starting your draft, also read our guide on public will.

Quais são os requisitos de validade para formalizar um testamento público?

The validity of a public will requires strict compliance with the formalities set forth in civil legislation Lei nº 10.406/2002 — Código Civil, art. 104. The act must be drafted in a notary book by a notary public or their legal deputy at the notary public office (tabelionato de notas) pursuant to Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 6º Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 6º.

The notary act requires the simultaneous presence of two instrumental witnesses. These witnesses cannot be beneficiaries of the will nor relatives of the testator or instituted heirs. After drafting the text, the notary performs a public reading of the deed in the presence of the testator and both witnesses.

Next, all participants sign the notary book. If the testator cannot sign, one of the witnesses will sign on their behalf (a rogo). Failure to observe these steps causes the nullity of the act under Lei nº 10.406/2002 (Código Civil - Brazilian Civil Code), art. 166 Lei nº 10.406/2002 — Código Civil, art. 166. All information regarding the executed act is reported to the Central Notarial de Serviços Eletrônicos Compartilhados (CENSEC - Notarial Center for Shared Electronic Services), managed by the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ - National Council of Justice) pursuant to Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023 Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Livro II.

FAQ

O que é um testamento público e quem pode fazer esse ato em cartório?

A public will (testamento público) is a notary act by which a person declares their intent regarding the disposition of their assets after death. It is drafted by a notary public (tabelião de notas) in an official notary book. Any person over 16 years of age in full possession of their mental faculties can execute this act.

Quais são os requisitos de validade para formalizar um testamento público?

Requirements include the civil capacity of the testator, drafting of the act by a notary public or legal deputy, reading of the text to the testator, and the simultaneous presence of two disinterested instrumental witnesses. All participants sign the notary book at the end of the procedure.

Posso deixar todos os meus bens para apenas uma pessoa no testamento público?

You can only dispose of your entire estate if you have no necessary heirs (herdeiros necessários), who are descendants, ascendants, and surviving spouse or common-law partner. If necessary heirs exist, the law mandatorily reserves 50% of the estate for the compulsory share (legítima). The testator may only freely dispose of the remaining half.

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