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§ 01 · Estate & succession · Cross-border Punta Cana · handled remotely

Your foreign will is not automatically honored here.

Law 544-14 lets it be.

Foreigners who own property in the Dominican Republic need a clear succession plan to ensure their heirs can inherit without unnecessary delays or complications. The right structure means the law works for your estate, not against it.
Plan your estate strategy →

A written question, personal reply within one business day.

Punta Cana property
Law 544-14 · Private International Law
The statute that can let your home-country estate plan govern your Dominican property.
§ 02 · Without vs. with

The difference a properly invoked statute makes.

Without a plan
Dominican forced heirship rules apply by default
Title freezes until a Dominican succession is opened
Your foreign will has no effect unless it is formally invoked
Heirs may need to appear in person and navigate local courts
With proper planning
Your foreign will and home-country law govern under Law 544-14
Succession opens cleanly on documented, agreed terms
Title transfers to the right people on your terms
Handled by power of attorney, no travel required for heirs
§ 03 · How it works

From drafting to execution, all handled here and coordinated with home.

01
Structure
A Dominican will compliant with Law 544-14, or a company structure if it fits your situation better. Built to stand when your heirs need it to.
02
Coordinate
Your Dominican plan aligned with the estate plan at home. I work directly with your foreign counsel so nothing sits between two legal systems unaddressed.
03
Execute
When the time comes, we open succession, invoke the statute correctly, and clear title for your heirs. By power of attorney. No travel required.
The package · § 02

Cross-Border Estate Settlement Package.

Designed for foreign families who want clarity, control, and a seamless process, while grieving from another country.
✓ Full analysis of how Law 544-14 applies to your case
✓ Structuring options: foreign-will compatibility or Dominican company (SRL)
✓ Entire succession process handled 100% remotely
✓ Direct bilingual coordination with your attorney in the US, Canada, or EU
Secure your family's assets →
§ 06 · Selected matters

What the right approach makes possible.

Names redacted · outcomes factual
Structured in time Outcome
An estate that held its shape, by design.
A foreign couple held their property through a Dominican company built for succession, so their estate passed on the terms they chose rather than fracturing under default rules.
Passed on their terms
Resolved after the fact Outcome
A frozen property, freed without travel.
A family arrived after a death to find the Dominican property frozen, unsellable and untransferable until a succession was opened here. We opened it, recognized the foreign probate (apostilled, no consular legalization required), and cleared the title so the family could move forward.
Title cleared
§ 07 · Questions

Before you reach out.

The questions foreign owners ask about wills, Law 544-14, and Dominican succession. Plain answers.
01.

I was told Dominican forced heirship overrides my will. Is that true?

+
Not necessarily. Law 544-14 on private international law allows a foreign will and the law of your nationality or domicile to govern your succession here, when it is properly invoked. The forced-heirship answer is the default many lawyers give, but it is not the only outcome the law permits.
02.

What is Law 544-14, and why does it matter to me?

+
It's the Dominican statute on private international law. For foreign owners, it's the key provision that can allow your home-country estate plan to govern your Dominican property, rather than having local rules applied automatically. Its benefit depends entirely on raising and applying it correctly.
03.

Can owning through a Dominican company help?

+
Often, yes. Holding the property through a company means your heirs inherit shares governed by terms you set, which adds a layer of control alongside what private international law already allows. It works best when arranged before, not after.
04.

A family member died owning property here. What do we do?

+
A Dominican succession has to be opened to transfer or sell the property, but a foreign will and probate can usually be recognized here when properly apostilled and correctly invoked. We handle the process for heirs who are abroad.

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§ 08 · The next step

The time to plan is before it becomes urgent for your heirs.

Let's make sure the law works for your estate.

Plan your estate strategy →

A written question, personal reply within one business day.

+1 (809) 484-8889 · info@caribbeancounseldr.com
Verified Google reviews

What real clients say about working with Esteban.

5.0 · 5 reviews on Google

If you are looking for the best attorneys in Punta Cana, give Esteban and team a call at Guzman Ariza. We've used them multiple times for various real estate related issues and we could not have asked for a better outcomes. If we ever need an attorney in the DR again, it will definitely be with Esteban!

Jeffrey Hill · Google review

Esteban Sanchez was a great help to my case regarding a lease issue in Vista Cana. If you're looking for someone who has great communication and a great work ethic I would definitely recommend Esteban as your lawyer in Punta Cana.

Jaay Bond · Google review

I had a really great experience with attorney Esteban Sanchez and the rest of the staff at Guzman Ariza! I needed some documents in a rush for the sale of a property back home and they got everything done perfectly and expeditiously! I highly recommend Esteban and the rest of the staff at Guzman Ariza!

Rodney Montoya · Google review

Estaban is great, communicative and attentive lawyer. He had our best interest at heart and we were pleased with the overall experience.

Tianna Ashley · Google review

Absolutely amazing! Such a professional and well rounded Attorney. So many talents from law to personal connection that helped so much! In good hands with this man!

Albert Riibe · Google review
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