07/08/2017
The importance of the written contract and the benefit of the signature of witnesses in the contract
Initially, it is extremely important to report that, under the terms of Brazilian Civil Law, to enter into a contract, the mere consent is sufficient to validate the contract and hence generate its effects. That is, in order to enter into contract it can be formalized by written or oral, with or without the signature of the witnesses.
Therefore, in accordance to the Brazilian legal system, the general rule for celebrating contracts is the principle of freedom of forms, and it will not be applicable when the law expressly determines a special form for the celebration of a specific contract, whereas when not observed, results in the invalidity of the act practiced. If a contract is entered into only by oral means, it will be difficult to prove as to the will of the parties and what was actually agreed. In this sense, the most secure and indicated when there is greater complexity in the legal transaction it is to enter into a contract in written form so that the parties are assigned their responsibilities and respective penalties for noncompliance, and the rights are clearly protected.
The signatures of the two witnesses in a contract serve to prove that it was entered into by the parties, according to their will, without coercion, threats and constraints. Thus, under the terms of the New Code of Civil Procedure (Law 13.105 / 15) in its article 784, item III, the contract in written form, duly signed by the contracting parties and two witnesses, constitutes the so-called "extrajudicial enforceable title". This means that any question / breach arising from this contract, does not need to present proof of the claimed right, and can be executed immediately by means of the Ex*****on Action.
Therefore, in order to clarify the difference between a contract signed by two witnesses and one that does not have such signatures, at the time of ex*****on of a contract that does not contain these two signatures, this will be a mere document proving the relationship agreed between the parties. With that said, in order to execute this contract, it will initially be necessary to file an Action for Acquaintance to produce all the necessary evidence of the contract, which lasts an average of 2 (two) to 5 (five) years to be judged. After it is rendered a final judgement of the Action of Acquaintance, it will be possible to file an Ex*****on Action to execute the judgement rendered. On the other hand, a contract signed by two witnesses skips the need to file an Action of Acquaintance, and the compliance of the contract is demanded immediately by a prompt Ex*****on Action, without the need to present other evidence and discuss the existence of the relationship between the Parties.
Thus, in addition to the question of procedural time savings, before negotiation, simple as it may be, it is valid to consult a lawyer specialized in Contract Law, in order to draft a contract that is in compliance with the Brazilian legislation in force and that clearly expresses the intentions and interests of the parties, always safeguarding their rights, specially, in order to accelerate the ex*****on.