On April 4th, the Decree-Law no. 26/2024, of April 3rd, came into force, creating and regulating the RAL + Platform, a computer platform that enables the management and operation of various means of alternative dispute resolution, namely public family and labor mediation systems, peace courts, and consumer conflict arbitration centers that are part of the consumer arbitration network.
The RAL+ Platform was made available in stages to allow closer monitoring of its use by the various users, initially applying only to the family and labour mediation systems and to some justice of the peace courts and extending in a second phase (45 days after the date of publication of the decree-law) to another set of justice of the peace courts.
The results achieved by monitoring the activity of the alternative dispute resolution means that are already operating using this platform, in an experimental phase, suggest that there should be adequate flexibility in extending this solution to the other justice of the peace courts and the consumer arbitration network that do not yet benefit from it, which is why the first amendment to this law has now been made, with the publication of Decree-Law no. 56/2024, of 10 September, extending the experimental period of the RAL+ platform.
Therefore, article 10 of Decree-Law no. 26/2024, of 3 April, was amended, repealing its paragraph 4 and providing in its paragraph 3 for the application of this regime to procedures and processes in the other justices of the peace, as well as the consumer conflict arbitration centers that are part of the consumer arbitration network, starting from 28 February 2025.
From that date on, citizens and their representatives will then have access to RAL+, being able to perform acts, initiate conflict resolution procedures and consult the case status, without having to go to these arbitration centers and peace courts, just like the rest of the alternative means of dispute resolution that already benefit from this tool.
Partner
Trainee Lawyer
