Brazilian Notaries Have a New Job: Spotting Financial Abuse

Brazilian notaries already play a significant role in legal transactions. They don’t simply witness signatures. They also confirm legal authority, prepare public deeds, register documents, issue digital certificates, deliver formal notices, and serve as the final gatekeepers of legal compliance.

And now, they’ve been tasked with yet another responsibility: spotting the subtle signs that a woman is signing documents under duress.

The new obligation comes from Provimento 222, a 2026 regulation issued by the National Justice Council (CNJ). The rule requires notaries to adopt procedures to identify possible financial abuse against women in transactions involving property, assets, and other financial rights.

Under Brazilian law, financial abuse is recognized as a form of domestic violence. It occurs when someone controls, withholds, or disposes of a woman’s property or financial resources without her genuine consent. In practice, this may involve a woman being pressured to sign a power of attorney, transfer real estate, waive financial rights, or give up control over her assets during a divorce. 

When a notary believes a woman may be acting against her free will, the notary may take additional steps before completing the transaction. This could include speaking privately with the woman to confirm that she understands the documents she’s signing, is aware of the legal consequences, and actually wants to proceed.

The regulation recognizes that notaries are often the last line of defense before a harmful transaction becomes legally effective. By requiring notaries to look beyond the document itself, the CNJ aims to prevent financial harm proactively.