Unprecedented measure in the country aims to secure the payment of a debt exceeding R$ 4.5 million after nearly 20 years of default.
By Michelle Lima
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Legale Overseas, no. 950.
The 8th Civil Court of São Bernardo do Campo/SP ordered, in August 2025, the freezing of all PIX keys (Brazil’s real-time payment system) linked to a company and its partners to ensure compliance with a judgment exceeding R$ 4.5 million. The case began in 2005 and stems from a civil liability ruling following a fatal forklift accident involving the defendant company.
The order came after numerous unsuccessful efforts to locate assets subject to seizure. Over the years, traditional asset search tools were employed, such as bank account freezes, vehicle searches, and property registry checks. In the judge’s words, although “exhaustive and repeated” searches were conducted, the execution remained unsuccessful, yielding only modest amounts compared to the total compensation owed.
Conversely, over the years, an emblematic pattern of public ostentation by the defendants on social media was observed, including travel, high-end assets, and a lifestyle inconsistent with the alleged lack of property.
In the decision, faced with clear asset concealment and resistance to fulfilling the obligation, Judge Gustavo Dall’Olio ordered not only the freezing of PIX keys but also additional atypical measures, such as passport blocks, suspension of the defendants’ driver’s licenses, and the seizure of crypto assets. All these measures aim to compel payment of a judicially recognized debt that has long remained unsettled.
The ruling reinforces the legitimacy of using atypical mechanisms, as applied in this case, to counter strategic default practices. The decision is also expected to have significant repercussions in the legal field by recognizing the freezing of PIX keys as a legitimate method to pressure compliance with court rulings.
Thus, as one of the main channels for financial transactions today, the PIX system now occupies a central role in enforcement proceedings, especially when traditional methods prove ineffective.
More than an isolated act, this case sets important precedents that may strengthen creditors’ positions and expand the possibilities for recovering amounts in cases previously considered difficult to enforce.
At Vaz de Almeida Advogados, we assist creditors in adopting effective strategies for credit recovery, responsibly and creatively using available legal mechanisms—including atypical measures—to ensure compliance with judicial decisions and to combat strategic default practices with firmness and legal intelligence.
Translation Disclaimer
This document was originally drafted in Portuguese and subsequently translated into English using artificial intelligence (AI).
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