Contract, invoice, loan, service or another obligation.
Small-business unpaid invoices in Brazil
Invoice recovery starts with the contract, proof of supply, amount due, dispute status and the correct civil recovery forum. Selected jurisdiction: Sergipe.
Ask JEZ AI about this issue QUICK ANSWER · BRAZIL
What should you do first?
Start by checking the agreement, invoice, payment terms and proof that the work or goods were supplied. Preserve the customer’s response and any part-payments. Then verify the demand, mediation, tribunal, court or statutory recovery route that applies in the relevant jurisdiction before relying on a deadline or filing step.
Guide reviewed
Sergipe, Brazil— check the exact jurisdiction before relying on procedure or deadlines.
- 1Check contract and payment terms
- 2Prove delivery or completion
- 3Record the dispute and amount owed
- 4Verify the correct recovery route
COMMON QUESTIONS
What should I do first about small-business unpaid invoices in Brazil?
Start by checking the agreement, invoice, payment terms and proof that the work or goods were supplied. Preserve the customer’s response and any part-payments. Then verify the demand, mediation, tribunal, court or statutory recovery route that applies in the relevant jurisdiction before relying on a deadline or filing step.
Does the correct legal route vary by location in Brazil?
The governing route can vary by location. Brazil combines federal legislation with State and Federal District court organisation and local administrative authorities. Ordinary civil, family and consumer disputes commonly route through the State or Federal District judiciary, while federal-subject disputes may belong in the Federal Justice system and employment disputes use the specialised Justiça do Trabalho. Verify the selected State or Federal District before relying on a local court, authority, filing system, fee, limit or deadline.
Which official sources should I check for small-business unpaid invoices in Brazil?
Start with the current official material from Presidência da República — Planalto, Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) and any court, tribunal, regulator or government authority directly connected to the facts and location.
VISUAL MONEY-CLAIM PATH
Money owed → demand → response → formal recovery.
Use this as a quick map. The detailed rules, deadlines and available remedies still depend on the selected jurisdiction and current official sources.
1Why is money owed?
2State the amount clearly
3Paid, disputed or ignored?
4Use the correct route
Show the balance, due date and records supporting the claim.
The next step changes with the other side’s response.
Small-claim, civil, payment-order or enforcement rules vary by jurisdiction.
Facts Evidence Correct local route Check current deadline / procedure
HOW JURISDICTION AFFECTS THIS ISSUE
Get the legal framework and the local route right.
Brazil combines federal legislation with State and Federal District court organisation and local administrative authorities. Ordinary civil, family and consumer disputes commonly route through the State or Federal District judiciary, while federal-subject disputes may belong in the Federal Justice system and employment disputes use the specialised Justiça do Trabalho. Verify the selected State or Federal District before relying on a local court, authority, filing system, fee, limit or deadline.
OFFICIAL STARTING POINTS
Sources used for this topic
- Presidência da República — PlanaltoLei nº 10.406/2002 — Código Civil
Primary federal Civil Code. Use the current compiled text and the actual contract/facts.
- Presidência da República — PlanaltoLei nº 13.105/2015 — Código de Processo Civil
Primary federal civil-procedure legislation; local court organisation, systems, fees and practice still need the selected jurisdiction.
- Presidência da República — PlanaltoLei nº 9.099/1995 — Juizados Especiais Cíveis e Criminais
Primary legislation for State and Federal District small-claims-style special courts. Eligibility, local organisation and procedure must be checked with the selected court.
- Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ)Tribunais de Justiça Estaduais
Official CNJ directory for the 26 State Courts and the Federal District court.
Small-business unpaid invoices: organise the facts before choosing the route
An unpaid business invoice should be reduced to a contract-and-performance record before choosing a recovery route. Separate what was agreed, what was delivered, when payment became due and whether the customer is disputing quality, scope or price.
Questions that change the route
- • Who contracted with whom and what goods or services were agreed
- • Whether the business completed or delivered what the customer ordered
- • Invoice amount, due date, partial payments and any written dispute
- • Which State or Federal District court route is competent for the parties and claim
Evidence to organise
- • Contract, accepted quote, order or purchase confirmation
- • Invoice and proof of delivery or completed work
- • Customer messages approving, disputing or acknowledging the debt
- • Payment history and a clear calculation of the remaining balance
Move the issue forward carefully
- 1Send a concise written demand identifying the agreement, invoice and balance
- 2Address any genuine performance dispute rather than repeating the invoice alone
- 3Check whether a Juizado Especial Cível or ordinary civil route is actually suitable
- 4Verify the selected court, filing system and current procedure before commencing a claim
KEEP EXPLORING · BRAZIL
Useful paths around this issue
Move between the country overview, the wider topic and closely related guides without losing the legal context.
HOW THIS INFORMATION WAS PREPARED
Jurisdiction first. Official sources first.
GetInstantLaw uses jurisdiction-specific government, court, regulator and primary-law sources first, with JEZ AI used to organise that legal information in plain English. Important facts, eligibility rules and deadlines should be checked against the cited authority before you act.
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