The individual States are governed by their governors and legislatures, and possess their own judicial systems.
The main body of the civil law has its origin in the Portuguese Code and in the judicial precedents of Portugal.
There is a Supreme Federal Court of Justice, which sits at the capital, Rio de Janeiro, and Federal Courts in each of the twenty States.
Ninety-nine per centum of the people of Brazil are Roman Catholics and consider marriage as a religious sacrament, but the law of the land considers it simply as a civil contract.
Marriage.—The Civil Code defines marriage as a perpetual contract between two persons of different sex to live together and establish a legitimate family.
A civil or legal celebration of marriage is compulsory for all persons, irrespective of race or creed. If after the civil marriage the parties may desire to satisfy their consciences and the mandates of their church or sect by having the marriage solemnized in a religious form, there is no legal objection thereto.
Marriage is forbidden:
1. Of minors under the age of 21 years, unless with parental consent.
2. Of persons of adult age who are incapable of properly governing themselves or their estates, without the authorization of their legal representatives.
3. Of an adulterous wife with her accomplice who has been condemned for the offence.