Common questions
General information for foreigners and investors interested in Cabarete, Sosúa and Puerto Plata. It is not personalized legal advice. Contact the firm to discuss your situation.
How does inheritance of Dominican property usually start?
When someone who owned Dominican assets dies, heirs typically identify the estate, locate the will if any, establish heirship and clear taxes before titles can be transferred. Foreign heirs often need apostilled documents and Spanish translations. Early inventory of properties and bank assets in Cabarete or elsewhere in the DR helps scope the work.
Do foreign heirs need to travel to the Dominican Republic?
Not always. Powers of attorney and local counsel can handle many registry and tax steps while heirs remain abroad. Some signatures or embassy appointments may still be required depending on the documents. Plan authentication timelines into the succession schedule.
Is a foreign will valid for assets in the Dominican Republic?
Foreign wills may be relevant but Dominican assets often still require local succession formalities, tax clearance and registry updates. Conflicts between foreign estate plans and Dominican forced-heirship-type rules can arise. Have both the foreign estate plan and the Dominican asset list reviewed together.
What is the difference between inheritance and successions pages on this site?
They covered overlapping topics. The firm now consolidates this information under the Inheritance practice page so foreigners and families have one place for estate and title-transfer overviews related to Dominican assets. Contact the Cabarete office for a case-specific assessment.