requerente

Requerente is a term used in Portuguese-speaking legal systems to designate the person or entity that files a petition or formal request with a court or public administration, thereby initiating a legal or administrative process. The requerente submits a petition or requerimento that states the facts, the legal basis, and the relief sought, and becomes a party to the proceeding as the party that demands action or a ruling.

In civil procedure, the requerente is typically the party who initiates the action by filing the initial petition or petição inicial. Depending on jurisdiction, this party may be described as the autor, the demandante, or the requerente; the other party is referred to as the requerido or réu. The term emphasizes the act of requesting something through a formal procedure, and its usage can vary by court rules and country.

In administrative and labor proceedings, the requerente may be the person who requests an administrative decision, a license, a benefit, or compensation. The term also appears in family law, consumer protection, and human rights contexts when a formal petition is presented to a court or agency.

Etymology: from the verb requerer (to request, to demand). The concept is close to "applicant" or "petitioner" in English, reflecting the initiator role in a process.

See also: requerimento, petição, autor, requerido, demanda.