Private International Law
Code
LM111
Department
Área de Ensino
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Maria Helena Brito
Weekly hours
4.5
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
Private International Law (Conflict of Laws) is the legal subject which governs cases having relevant connections with different systems of law. Private International Law is a fundamental subject for students who choose the international field of law. Private International Law deals with the regulation of international situations via the conflict of law rules. Accordingly the course includes a general part involving the general theory of conflict of laws, and a special part regarding the conflict of law rules in force in the Portuguese legal system.
Subject matter
Introduction. The scope of Private International Law: cases having relevant connections with different systems of law. Several methods for the regulation of cases having relevant connections with different systems of law. The conflict of laws rules.
I. Conflict of laws: general part. Sources of law, scope, function and nature of the conflict of laws rules. Problems relating to the interpretation and the application of the conflict of laws rules. Reference to the law of a State with more than one legal system. Renvoi. Fraud. Characterisation. Public policy (“ordre public”).
II. Conflict of laws: special part. International sources of law and internal sources of law. The EEC’s Rome Convention on the law applicable to contractual obligations. European Regulations the law applicable to contractual obligations and the law applicable to non-contractual obligations The system of conflict of laws rules in the Portuguese Civil Code. General rules for the choice of the legal system to be applied to persons, legal transactions, obligations, property, family relations and successions.Bibliography
BAPTISTA MACHADO, João – Lições de direito internacional privado, 3ª ed., Coimbra, 1985 (reimp.)
FERRER CORREIA, António – Temas de direito comercial e direito internacional privado, Coimbra, 1989
FERRER CORREIA, António – Lições de direito internacional privado, vol. I, Coimbra, 2000
GALVÃO TELES, Eugénia, BRITO, Maria Helena – “Private International Law”, in Portuguese Law. An Overview, Coimbra, 2007, p. 287-303
LIMA PINHEIRO, Luís – Direito internacional privado, vol. I – Introdução e direito de conflitos. Parte geral, 2ª ed., Coimbra, 2008; vol. II – Direito de conflitos. Parte especial, 3ª ed., Coimbra, 2009
MARQUES DOS SANTOS, António – Direito internacional privado. Introdução, I vol., Lisboa, AAFDL, 2001
MOURA RAMOS, Rui Manuel – Direito internacional privado e Constituição. Introdução a uma análise geral das suas relações, Coimbra, 1980 (reimp.)
MOURA VICENTE, Dário – Direito internacional privado. Ensaios, vol. I, Coimbra, 2002; vol. II, Coimbra, 2005; vol. III, Coimbra, 2010Teaching method
The classes involve dialogue between the lecturer and the students. The teaching is practical and is based on oral and written resolution of practical cases contrived by the lecturer and on the discussion of court decisions.
Evaluation method
Final written examination. The interventions of students in class will also be taken into account when assessing the final grade.