Buying property · CPCV review
CPCV review in Portugal: a partner lawyer checks your promissory agreement before you sign.
For you if you’re buying a home in Portugal and the seller or the agent has sent you the promissory agreement (Contrato-Promessa de Compra e Venda, or CPCV).
A partner Portuguese lawyer reads the whole agreement and sends you a written review: what’s fine, what’s risky, and the exact changes to ask for before you sign and pay the deposit.
€200 for one agreement. Written review within 5 business days.
€200
for one CPCV, reviewed in full by a partner Portuguese lawyer.
5 business days
to your written review, once you’ve uploaded the agreement.
€40
for each extra review round, if the seller sends back changes.
Why it matters
“It's only the promissory agreement. The real contract comes later, right?”
The CPCV is already binding.
It fixes the price, the deposit (sinal), the date for the deed and what happens if either side pulls out. The deed (escritura) mostly carries out what the CPCV already says.
By default under Portuguese law, if the buyer walks away, they lose the deposit. If the seller walks away, they pay it back twice over. The agreement can change those rules, which is one more reason to read it closely.
If the agent or the seller’s lawyer drafted it, nobody in the room is checking it for you. And it’s usually in Portuguese.
If you’re renting, not buying, you need our lease review instead.
If you don’t have a NIF yet, you need one to buy property in Portugal. Get your NIF online with us.
How the CPCV review works.
One agreement, one written review, within 5 business days.
- You order the review. €200 for one CPCV.
- You upload the agreement in your order thread. In Portuguese, or in English with the Portuguese version.
- A partner Portuguese lawyer reads the whole agreement.
- You get a written review within 5 business days. What's fine, what's risky, and the exact wording to ask the seller to change.
- You send the changes to the seller or the agent. If they send back a new version, you can add another review round for €40.
Send it before you sign. Once the CPCV is signed and the deposit is paid, changing the terms is much harder. Upload the draft as soon as you have it, and allow 5 business days.
One full written review per order. Follow-up questions are a 45-minute call with the lawyer (€80). A new version from the seller is an extra review round (€40).
What the lawyer looks at.
The lawyer reads the whole agreement. These are the parts that matter most to a buyer:
- Who the parties are, and whether the property is described correctly
- The price and the payment schedule
- The deposit, and what happens to it if either side pulls out
- The deadline for the deed, and who sets the date
- Whether you're protected if your mortgage isn't approved
- Who pays which costs
- Any penalties or unusual clauses
The review covers the agreement itself. It doesn't include checks on the property at the land registry or the tax office.
The price
“What if the seller changes the agreement after the review?”
Then you add an extra review round, at €40 each.
The review itself is €200 for one CPCV. You get the written review within 5 business days of uploading the agreement.
If you’d rather talk it through, book a 45-minute call with the lawyer, at €80.
Prices don’t include VAT. It’s added at checkout only if your billing address is in the EU.
Honest scope
What's included, and what isn't.
What's included
- A full review of one CPCV by a partner Portuguese lawyer
- A written review: what's fine, what's risky, and what to change
- The exact wording to ask the seller or agent to change
- Delivery within 5 business days
What isn't
- Follow-up questions after the review. Book a call with the lawyer (€80) or an extra review round (€40).
- Checks on the property itself, such as the land registry, licences or debts.
- Negotiating with the seller or the agent.
- Attending the deed (escritura), or handling the purchase end to end.
- Translating the agreement into English.
- Your NIF. You need one to buy.
- Tax advice on the purchase, such as IMT. Book a tax consultation.
The lawyer tells you what to change. Whether the seller agrees is up to them, and we can’t promise how the purchase goes.
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FAQ
CPCV questions buyers ask before they sign.
What is a CPCV?
The Contrato-Promessa de Compra e Venda, or promissory agreement. You sign it with the seller before the deed. It fixes the price, the deposit, the deadline for the deed and what happens if either side pulls out.
Is the CPCV binding?
Yes. By default under Portuguese law, if the buyer pulls out, they lose the deposit, and if the seller pulls out, they pay it back twice over. The agreement can set different rules, so read it before you sign.
When should I send it to you?
As soon as you have the draft, and before you sign or pay the deposit. The review takes up to 5 business days.
What language does it need to be in?
Portuguese, or English with the Portuguese version. One agreement per order.
What if the seller sends back changes?
Add an extra review round for €40, and the lawyer checks the new version.
Can I talk to the lawyer?
Yes. You can book a 45-minute call with the lawyer, at €80.
Is this the same as your lease review?
No. The lease review is for rental contracts. The CPCV is a purchase agreement with your deposit at stake, so it’s a separate service.
Do you handle the whole purchase?
No. This is a review of the agreement. It doesn’t include property checks at the land registry, negotiating with the seller or attending the deed.
Do I need a NIF to buy property in Portugal?
Yes. If you don’t have one yet, get your NIF online with us first.
Is Novomove a law firm?
No. Novomove is a technology platform that connects you with licensed Portuguese partners. The review is carried out by a partner Portuguese lawyer.
Get your CPCV checked before you sign.
Upload the agreement, and a partner Portuguese lawyer sends back what to change within 5 business days.
€200 for one CPCV · Written review in 5 business days · Extra review rounds €40
Novomove is a relocation technology platform that connects clients with licensed Portuguese partners. It is not a law firm. The CPCV review is carried out by a partner Portuguese lawyer. Novomove does not negotiate with sellers or agents, attend the deed, or check the property at the land registry, and cannot guarantee the outcome of any property purchase.