Article 47 of Code of Civil Procedure

The Registry shall register the action on the day the statement of claim is submitted in the register designated for that purpose and shall set the date of the hearing scheduled for its consideration. The original statement of claim and its copies shall be delivered to the process server for service and return of the original to the Registry. Except in recovery actions and interim enforcement disputes, the original statement of claim and its copies may, whenever the plaintiff so requests, be delivered to the plaintiff to submit them to the process server for service and return of the original to the plaintiff, who shall return it to the Registry. The court's delivery of a copy of the statement of claim to the defendant present at the hearing scheduled for consideration of the action, whether in person or through an agent, or offering it to either of them and his refusal to receive it, shall be deemed service of the statement of claim. 1( Replaced pursuant to Decree-Law No. 133 of 25 20