Quick Divorce in Dominican Republic

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know whether I qualify for a Quick Divorce?
Two main conditions apply: both spouses must be foreigners and the divorce must be by mutual consent.

How long does this divorce procedure last?
Once the required documents have been provided, documents will be translated and legalized, if they are in a foreign language. The spouse that will be travelling to the Dominican Republic will then select the date of preference for the hearing.

After the hearing is held, the divorce will be pronounced in approximately 7 days. Later, the divorce certificate will be issued, and the divorce judgment will be published in local newspapers as a legal provision for the divorce’s validity in the country. This before mentioned process will last approximately 2-3 weeks.

In what countries is the Quick or Special Divorce valid?
Divorce Law 142 has been in effect since 1971 and the divorces pronounced under this law have been recognized as valid worldwide.

In order to ensure the divorce’s validity, both the divorce certificate and judgment are legalized at the Attorney General’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and corresponding consulate where the documents will be presented. Nevertheless, it is strongly advised that before initiating a Quick Divorce procedure, the spouses investigate whether there are any additional requirements in the country where it will be enforced.

Is it necessary for both spouses to travel to Santo
Domingo?
No, only one spouse is required to be present the day of the hearing. The absent spouse will be represented by a special power of attorney.

Benefits

Quick Process
Obtain your Divorce Judgment in only 7 days

100% Reliable
Valid, legal process registered in corresponding institutions and published in Dominican newspapers.

Valid Worldwide
Divorce documents are legalized by government institutions recognized around the world.

The Divorce Certificate and Judgment will be legalized by the Attorney General’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and corresponding consulate where the documents will be presented in order to ensure the validity of these documents abroad. However, it is strongly recommended that before proceeding with this divorce you verify at the Attorney General’s Office in your state, province or country, in order to determine if any additional requirements apply.

About Quick Divorce

The Quick or Special Divorce procedure is only applicable for foreigners who agree to divorce by mutual consent. It is an expedited procedure where the divorce is granted in only 7 days once the hearing has been held.

Only one of the spouses must travel to the Dominican Republic in one occasion for a day and a half in order to attend the hearing while the other spouse will be represented through a power of attorney. Hearings are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only, so coordinating the date of the hearing as well as your travel arrangements will be of essence.

All documents to be deposited in Dominican courts, such as Marriage Certificate, Separation Agreement, children’s Birth Certificates, if any, and Power of Attorney, must be legalized by the Dominican Consulate in the province, state or country where the document was issued.

If there is no Dominican Consulate you shall travel to the nearest one. Once the divorce judgment has been pronounced, Dominican attorneys will proceed to register the judgment in the corresponding Civil Registry Office and publish the divorce in local newspapers. This process will take approximately 1-3 weeks.