Do I really need a local lawyer to buy property in Punta Cana?

Your agent's incentive is to close the sale. A Dominican attorney's incentive is to protect your investment. Dominican property law operates differently from US, European, or Canadian systems. Title defects, unregistered liens, and developer insolvency risks are real and invisible without proper due diligence. A buyer who skips independent legal counsel in Punta Cana is assuming risk they cannot see.

Is it safe for foreigners to buy property in the Dominican Republic?

Yes, with the right preparation. The Dominican Republic offers foreigners the same property ownership rights as citizens, and the legal framework for real estate transactions is well-established. The risk is in the gaps: unverified titles, developers with undisclosed liabilities, contracts drafted to protect the seller. These are addressable problems with experienced local counsel conducting proper due diligence before you commit.

How do I know if a property in Punta Cana has a clean title?

You can't know unless someone runs the search for you. Title verification in the Dominican Republic involves a search at the Registro de Títulos (Title Registry) for the certificate of title, any registered liens or encumbrances, ownership history, and pending legal actions. This requires someone with access to the registry and the legal training to interpret what they find.

My developer in Punta Cana has missed delivery by years. Can I get my money back?

In most cases, yes, and you may be entitled to more than just your investment. Under Dominican law, a developer who has materially breached a purchase contract is generally liable for rescission plus contractual penalties. The strength of your claim depends on what is in your contract: specifically whether it includes a delivery date, penalty clauses, and termination rights.

Can I buy property in Punta Cana through a US LLC, foreign company, or trust?

Yes, and for many international investors, holding Dominican property through a corporate structure has meaningful advantages: simplified succession, potential liability protection, and sometimes favorable tax treatment. However, structuring this correctly under Dominican corporate and tax law requires careful legal planning.

A family member just passed away with property in Punta Cana. Where do I even start?

Dominican succession law provides a clear process. It just needs to be followed correctly. Whether there's a will or not, whether heirs are in three different countries, I handle every layer: court filings, certificate of title verification, title transfers in the heirs' names, inheritance tax calculation and payment, and cross-border coordination. What most families are told will take years routinely takes under twelve months when handled proactively.

What does it cost to hire a Dominican real estate attorney in Punta Cana?

For real estate transactions, fees are typically based on a percentage of the property value, standard practice in Dominican law. For litigation and dispute resolution, I work on agreed retainer or hourly structures depending on complexity. For succession matters, fees are tiered to the estate's value. All pricing is transparent with no surprises before we begin.

I am already in a dispute in the Dominican Republic. Is it too late to get proper legal help?

Almost never, but timing matters. The sooner you engage counsel, the more options you have. I take over existing matters regularly: reviewing what has been filed, identifying procedural vulnerabilities, and building the strongest possible position from wherever the case currently stands. If you are in an active dispute, a stalled development, or any real estate matter in Punta Cana, reach out now, not after the next court date.

Disputas de Preconstrucción por Proyecto: República Dominicana

Esta página ayuda a compradores internacionales a identificar rápidamente si su situación corresponde a un tipo de caso que Caribbean Counsel maneja. Compradores de los desarrollos listados aquí han consultado con nosotros sobre retrasos de construcción, fases sin construir, fechas de entrega incumplidas o salida de marca hotelera.

Si reconoces tu desarrollo, los artículos enlazados explican el marco legal en detalle. ¿No ves tu proyecto? Contáctame directamente. La mayoría de los casos encajan en un patrón que ya he manejado antes.

No se encontraron proyectos coincidentes. Contáctame directamente. Tu proyecto puede calificar de igual forma.

Marca Hotelera Terminó el Acuerdo: Proyectos Condohotel de Marca

Salida de Marca

Palace Suites, Bávaro

📍 Bávaro, La Altagracia

Desarrollo condohotel afiliado a Wyndham en el corredor de Bávaro donde la marca internacional terminó formalmente su acuerdo de membresía en noviembre de 2025. Aproximadamente 140 compradores afectados.

Tus opciones legales

Salida de Marca

Cualquier Proyecto: Salida de Marca

📍 Punta Cana · Bávaro · Cap Cana

Compradores en cualquier condohotel de preconstrucción en República Dominicana cuya marca hotelera internacional (Wyndham, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG u otra) terminó su afiliación con el desarrollador antes o durante la construcción.

Tus opciones legales

Proyectos Multi-Fase de Gran Escala: Retrasos y Fases Sin Construir

Retraso · Fases Sin Construir

Larimar City & Resort

📍 Farallón de Verón, Punta Cana

Desarrollo mixto multi-fase de gran escala promovido como la primera smart city de RD, con Fase 1 proyectada originalmente para 2025. Compradores de España, Europa y Norteamérica han reportado retrasos y fases sin construir.

Tus opciones legales

Retraso +2 Años · Fases Sin Construir

Palm Oasis, Punta Cana

📍 Punta Cana, La Altagracia

Desarrollo residencial multi-fase en Punta Cana donde compradores han reportado retrasos de construcción superiores a dos años y fases que permanecen sin construir más allá de los hitos proyectados originalmente.

Tus opciones legales

Retraso · Fases Sin Construir