Requerimento

Requerimento is a formal written request directed to a public authority or a private body that exercises public functions, with the purpose of obtaining information, a service, a license, or a decision. It is used in Portuguese-speaking countries such as Portugal and Brazil to initiate administrative procedures, request documents, seek clarification, or obtain actions from authorities.

In administrative law, a requerimento is a procedural instrument that obliges the recipient to acknowledge the request and to respond within a legal or regulatory deadline. The document typically identifies the requester, states the purpose clearly, outlines the factual and legal grounds, and attaches any necessary documents. Depending on the jurisdiction, a missing or incomplete requerimento may be returned for completion.

In civil and criminal procedures, the term also designates a formal petition or application to a court or public office requesting a specific act or decision, such as production of documents, scheduling of a hearing, or other procedural orders. It is common in various contexts to refer to requests for information, access to records, or the initiation of administrative or judicial processes through a requirimento.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin requirere, through the Portuguese verb requerer. While closely related to terms like pedido or solicitação, requerimento conveys a formal, legally framed character and is associated with formal procedural steps in administrative and judicial contexts.