Class Children's Law

This course unit is essential for equipping students with a comprehensive and practical perspective on the various legal regimes concerning children. It addresses topics such as the child's position within the family covering issues like filiation, adoption, and legal incapacity before examining parental responsibilities regarding the child's person and assets, as well as the regulation of these responsibilities in the event of divorce. The General Regime of Civil Guardianship Proceedings will be studied, with particular emphasis on the hearing of the child. The course will also address the promotion of rights and the protection of children and young people at risk specifically under the Law on the Protection of Children and Young People at Risk and include considerations regarding civil sponsorship. The Educational Guardianship Law will be covered, alongside themes concerning children in the contexts of healthcare, new technologies and social media and the international arena  

Not applicable

Part I - The Child and the Law Part II - The Child in the Family Context 1.  Filiation   2.  Filiation and Medically Assisted Reproduction 3.   Adoption 4.  Considerations Regarding the Right to Know One's Genetic Origins 5.  Incapacity to Enter into Legal Transactions Part III - Parental Responsibilities 1. Parental Responsibilities: Personal Aspects 2. Parental Responsibilities: Property-Related Aspects 3. Exercise of Parental Responsibilities in Cases of Divorce 4. The Child's Right to Be Heard Part IV - Promotion of Rights and Protection of Children and Young People at Risk 1.  The Law on the Protection of Children and Young People at Risk 2.  The Process for Promoting and Protecting Children and Young People at Risk 3.  Civil Sponsorship 4.  The Educational Guardianship Law Part V - Topics in Children's Law 1. The Child and Health 2. The Child in the Face of New Technologies and Social Media 3. Transnational Issues in Children's Law

The course is based on a dynamic, participatory learning process supported by digital platforms-such as Moodle and tools for researching and aggregating legal studies and case law. Classes will begin with a theoretical presentation of the subject matter, followed by its application to case studies; this requires students to demonstrate adaptability and argumentation skills, as they must provide legal grounds for their decisions by drawing upon relevant scholarship and case law.

CRUZ, Rossana, «A divulgação da imagem do filho menor nas redes sociais e o superior interesse da criança», Direito e Informação na Sociedade em rede: Atas do IV Colóquio Luso-Brasileiro Direito e Informação, 2016, pp. 279-293. DIAS, Cristina, "Algumas notas em torno do regime jurídico do apadrinhamento civil", Estudos em Homenagem ao Professor Doutor Heinrich Ewald Hörster, Almedina, 2012, pp. 161-195. DIAS, Cristina, SANTOS, Margarida, CARMO, Rui, Lei Tutelar Educativa Anotada, 2.º ed., Almedina, 2024. GONÇALVES, Anabela, Matérias matrimoniais e responsabilidades parentais na União Europeia, O regulamento (EU) 2019/1111, Editora d´Ideias, 2023. GUERRA, Paulo, Lei de Proteção de Crianças e Jovens em Perigo Anotada, 6.ª ed., Almedina, 2024. OLIVEIRA, Guilherme, RAMOS, Rui Moura, Manual de Direito da Família, 3.ª Ed, Almedina, 2025.  SOTTOMAYOR, M.ª Clara, Regulação do exercício das responsabilidades parentais nos casos de divórcio, 8.ª ed., Almedina, 2022