The legal system of Timor-Leste is based on the civil law system. This system is derived from Portuguese law, which was the predominant colonial legal system imposed in the country. The Timorese legal system is composed of three primary branches: civil law, criminal law, and administrative law.
Civil law is mainly governed by the Civil Code of Timor-Leste, which was enacted in 2004. This code is largely based on the Portuguese Civil Code, with some modifications to reflect the particular socio-economic, religious, and cultural characteristics of the country. The Civil Code covers matters such as guardianship of minors, marriage, divorce, adoption, succession, contracts, and property rights.
Criminal law is mainly governed by the Criminal Code of Timor-Leste, which was also enacted in 2004. This code is largely based on the Portuguese Criminal Code, and contains provisions related to crimes such as murder, theft, robbery, fraud, and corruption.
The third branch of the legal system is administrative law, which is mainly governed by the Administrative Law Code of Timor-Leste. This code was enacted in 2006, and covers matters such as the organization and functions of various government agencies and bodies, public procurement, and environmental protection.
In addition to the above, the legal system of Timor-Leste is also composed of various other sources of law, such as international treaties, customary law, and religious law.