Os institutos da prescrição e da caducidade no Código Civil

An effective legal order recognizes and protects rights accompanied by limits to its exercise. These limits arise from values such as equity, justice and certainty. Limitation and expiration periods lead to the termination of rights. Legal provisions that enshrine such periods aim at justice and certainty in legal relations. Under Portuguese law the legal regimen differs whether we face a limitation or expiration period and there are several provisions establishing such periods. The application and operation of this legal framework has a significant impact on legal relations and hence its importance and practical value.