Brazil implements unified digital system for property seizures

Brazil is implementing a unified digital platform, Constri-Jud, to centralize judicial orders for the seizure, arrest, and sequestration of real estate. Regulated by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) and developed by the National Operator of the Electronic Real Estate Registry System (ONR), the system connects courts and registries to accelerate the recording of restrictions on property titles.

This new mandatory system replaces a fragmented model where over 90 Brazilian courts used various individual procedures or the optional Penhora Online system. By establishing a single workflow, the measure aims to reduce the time gap between a judicial decision and the registration of a restriction, thereby increasing security for buyers, owners, and financiers.

Data shows a rising demand for these services; between 2020 and 2025, registries processed approximately 296,000 property seizures, a 14% increase in annual volume. In 2024, records reached a peak of 52,200 cases. The platform currently handles three types of orders: penhora (seizure as debt guarantee), arresto (temporary block to prevent sale), and sequestro (preservation of specific assets in legal disputes).