The Remote Assistance Platform (PAD) is now available! With it, you can perform various tasks, such as divorces or deeds, without having to leave home. In this article by Catarina S. Gomes – Lawyers in Portugal We'll show you what the Remote Service Platform is and how lawyers can be useful in this regard.

What is the Remote Service Platform?

The Remote Service Platform allows citizens to perform authentic acts, such as divorces, separation of assets or heir qualifications without having to leave home, as it can be done from anywhere in the country, even in areas where there are no registration services.

The performance of authentic acts via videoconference can be requested by any person, provided that the master has authentication from the Citizen Card or the Digital Mobile Key.

This platform arises from the need to use remote communication methods imposed by the pandemic and is a way for the Justice services to respond with innovative measures to emerging needs.

How does the Remote Service Platform work?

The Remote Assistance Platform can be used by scheduling an appointment on the Justice Portal in the appointment scheduling section. FOLLOW or through a qualified professional, such as lawyers.

After scheduling, citizens will need to authenticate themselves on the platform using their Citizen Card or Digital Mobile Key.

The sessions only begin after the participants consent to the collection of information necessary for the professional to verify their identity, such as an image, have authenticated themselves on the platform, and have declared that they are aware of the conditions for conducting the call.

Furthermore, all sessions are recorded as soon as the video conference begins and will be stored for a period of 20 years.

Who is the Remote Service Platform intended for?

A PDA can be useful for:

• Citizens;
• Companies;
• Record keepers;
• Registry officials;
• Notaries;
• Lawyers;
• Solicitors.

What authentic acts can be performed via video call?

Authentic acts are acts that have been carried out or emanated from an authority, such as:

• property deeds;
• donations;
• signature verification;
• document authentication;
• repudiation of inheritance;
• heir qualifications;
• division of jointly owned property;
• establishment of horizontal property ownership;
• among others.

The following are authentic acts that can be performed via videoconference:

• Deeds for the house or authentications of purchase and sale agreements, usufruct agreements, use and habitation agreements, and surface rights agreements.
• Purchase and sale agreements;
• Loan agreements with mortgage;
• Mortgage-backed financing loan agreements;
• Donations;
• Establishment of horizontal property ownership and division of jointly owned property;
• Qualification of heirs with or without registration, that is, the procedures that make up the "Inheritance Desk" service, which allow the identification of heirs and the division and registration of assets;
• Separation process or Divorce by mutual consent.

At Catarina S. Gomes – Lawyers in Braga, we have a qualified team to assist you with various notarized documents!

Services available on the Remote Assistance Platform

The services available to the user and located in the citizen's reserved area are:

• Consult the list of events in which you are involved (scheduled and completed);
• Check the details of the actions in which you are involved;
• View the list of scheduled or completed sessions;
• Access the video conference session page;
• To express consent and willingness;
• Access and submit documents and proof of payment;
• Digitally sign documents during a video conference session.

How do I schedule a service on the platform?

To schedule a service at PAD, you must access the SIGA appointment portal, or install the sigaApp on your mobile phone and then select the "Registration" entity. After scheduling, you must choose the topic, subtopic, and reason, which in this case is videoconference.

In addition to this scheduling method, you can schedule by phone or through one of these services:

• Civil, Property, Commercial and Automobile Registry of Anadia;
• 1st Land Registry of Coimbra;
• Guarda Land Registry;
• Civil, Property, Commercial and Automobile Registry of Monção;
• National Register of Legal Entities (Lisbon).

How to use this platform?

To use PAD you need to have:

• computer or device with camera, microphone and sound;
• Internet access;
• authentication method.gov (Citizen Card or Digital Mobile Key);
• Digital signature of the Citizen Card or the Digital Mobile Key or the qualified certificate.

The role of lawyers in using the Remote Service Platform.

Lawyers play an essential role in all authentic acts that can be performed on the PDA, which makes their role equally important when these acts are performed on this platform, as they are also important when they are performed outside the platform.

Furthermore, lawyers can schedule appointments on behalf of their clients, facilitating the process and assisting them in all aspects of it.

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