He had eight children with his first wife, Célia: son, José Almino de Alencar e Silva Neto (born June 25, 1946); daughter, Ana Lúcia Arraes de Alencar (born July 28, 1947); son, Carlos Augusto Arraes de Alencar (born November 25, 1950; died March 26, 2010); son,
Guel Arraes; twin sons, Marcos Arraes de Alencar and Maurício Arraes de Alencar (born July 3, 1956); daughter, Carmen Sylvia Arraes de Alencar (born July 30, 1957); and daughter, Luiz Cláudio Arraes de Alencar (born January 31, 1959). He also had two children with his second wife, Maria: daughter, Mariana Arraes de Alencar (born September 20, 1963); and son, Pedro Arraes de Alencar (born January 11, 1966).