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New Law 15.240/2025 Transforms Affective Abandonment into Civil Illegality and Requires Absent Parents to Compensate Children
The new Law 15.240/2025 amends the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA) and establishes that affective abandonment is now a civil illegality. In practice, absent parents can be ordered to compensate their children for the lack of emotional presence, defining omission as a legal damage rather than merely a moral one. The legal text redefines parenthood, making emotional presence a legal duty alongside material support.
With the new Law 15.240/2025, Justice begins to recognize affection as an essential element for the development of children and adolescents. The legislation outlines three pillars: guidance in life choices, solidarity in times of difficulty, and physical presence when requested by the child. Neglecting any of these aspects can constitute affective abandonment, paving the way for financial compensation and formal accountability.
What Changes with the New Law 15.240/2025
The norm consolidates years of isolated judicial decisions on the subject and incorporates affection as a mandatory part of parenthood.
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Now, courts can determine compensation without the need to prove deep psychological damage, as long as there is evidence of unjustified absence.
Evidence such as lack of contact, difference in treatment among children, and absence during important moments will carry enough weight for convictions.
According to family law experts, the new Law 15.240/2025 represents a symbolic and practical milestone: affection ceases to be merely a moral ideal and becomes part of legal duty.
For single-parent families, especially solo mothers, this represents progress in recognizing the emotional and economic burden accumulated over the years.
The Legal Scope of the Law and Its Implications
Affective abandonment, now classified as civil illegality, applies to biological or adoptive parents and also extends to those who did not register the child, as long as parentage is proven.
Even those living in another city or country are not exempt from the affective obligation.
Contributing financially is no longer sufficient — the law demands active participation and emotional presence, even if mediated by physical distance.
In cases where protective measures involve the mother, the father remains responsible for the emotional support of the child, unless a court decision states otherwise.
The public defender’s office already anticipates an increase in the number of actions based on the new Law 15.240/2025, as the verification process has been simplified.
Evidence and Judicial Consequences
Cases may be based on testimonies, message records, photos, trips, expenses, or testimonies from family and friends.
If abandonment is proven, the parent may be ordered to pay compensation, in addition to facing restrictions on custody, visitation, and any legal benefits.
The law also provides for the possibility of removing the father’s name from the birth certificate if emotional absence is proven and the bond is merely formal.
The Public Defender’s Office of Bahia indicates that, until 2024, cases of affective abandonment were rare and complex to prove.
With the new Law 15.240/2025, the trend is a significant increase in actions and a strengthening of the debate regarding the emotional role of parents in the upbringing of their children.
A New Paradigm of Parenthood
More than a legal norm, the new Law 15.240/2025 redefines the understanding of family and care.
Affection now holds legal value, and emotional absence is no longer invisible before the law.
The measure aims to balance responsibility between father and mother, recognizing that the full development of the child depends on presence, dialogue, and emotional bonds.
Experts consider the law a step forward in Brazilian legal culture, bringing civil law closer to the emotional realities of families.
Still, the challenge will be to apply the text without turning affection into a legal currency, keeping the focus on the well-being and repair of the bond.
Do you believe that the new Law 15.240/2025 will really encourage the emotional presence of parents or that the judicialization of family relationships may generate new emotional conflicts?
E aquí mi querida gente de los comentarios queria hacerles una pregunta haber que opinan y me den su opinión que pasaría si todo esto se va a tribunales y la niña que está con un relacionamento con un mayor de edad y ella ve que el chico la trata mejor que su madre y su padre que a estado ausente durante mucho tiempo y ella alega que es mejor estar con su pareja que con su madre ****ál sería el desenvolvimiento de todo esto la menor seria ayuda y enviada a vivir con su pareja o simplemente irían todos preso por el bien de la niña menor de edad o sí la niña justifica maltrato y otras cosas como desigualdad de trato quien seria el ganador en estos casos
Meu ex não liga para os filhos liga no domingo no final do dia a cada 3 semanas e ainda pergunta se as crianças querem ir na casa dele com a maior falta de interesse! Nunca liga para saber se as crianças precisam de alguma coisa! Mas jamais vou aplicar essa lei! Amor precisa ser verdadeiro e não forçado! Graças a Deus não preciso daquile inútil moro no Japão tenho 2 empregos e nunca vou mendigar nada!
No futuro vai ser triste pra ele mas meus filhos estão sendo bem educados
Tem um mãe incrível….💪😊
O que vai ter de alienadora parental se aproveitando disso…
Já vou até esperar o meu processo.
Desde que separei, pegava minha filha (dos 2 anos até os 10). Todos os anos fazíamos aqui do meu lado, festa de aniversário e ela sempre esteve presente. A família da minha atual esposa é super apegada à ela.
Só que agora, sem mais nem menos ela não quer mais falar comigo. São 4 meses sem nem responder minhas mensagens, ligação ou qualquer outro tipo de contato meu ou das pessoas do meu redor.
Gostaria que o estado desse mais atenção pro pai que sofre com a alienação parental também.