The bride and groom must be in the country 3 working days before the wedding. Symbolic and non-legal ceremonies allow flexibility for the arrival date. Please speak with the wedding coordinator to discuss the requirements. Civil marriage legalized by the Dominican consulate if the couple has already married in their country A canonical marriage contracted by a Roman Catholic priest has the same legal effect as a civil marriage. A variant of the system of separation of property is the dowry system. The dowry system is a system of separation in which the wife, instead of contributing part or all of her income to the couple`s obligations, hands over part or all of the property to her husband, who has the administration and legal enjoyment of it. In addition to the dowry, the wife also owns property that is not affected by domestic obligations, also known as “utensils”. This type of property is valued by the wife, but cannot be sold without the husband`s consent or judicial approval. While the end result may be perfect, the ideal marriage in the Dominican Republic requires some forethought.
Whether you`re planning a symbolic wedding or an official ceremony, you need to approach the process carefully to make sure every detail is taken care of ahead of time. Let`s take a look at some of the Dominican Republic`s legal criteria for getting married: With the exception of passports, all documents must be translated and approved by the Dominican consulate before arriving in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican consulate must legalize the documents no later than three months before the date of marriage. It is the duty of the couple to have all the necessary papers in order before your wedding in the Dominican Republic. Because it can be complicated to get married legally in the Dominican Republic, most wedding couples opt for a symbolic ceremony and then legalize their marriage in the United States before or after their trip. Consider the pros and cons before deciding which option is best for you! Photocopies of the required documents, listed below, may be sent in advance. The couple must bring the originals upon arrival in the country. All documents must be certified by an official translator and translated into Spanish. In addition, foreigners who wish to marry in the Dominican Republic must meet the following requirements and provide the following documents: Notarized declaration of single status for the bride and groom. If you have ever been married, submit two copies of the divorce decree or death certificate. There is a mandatory waiting period for women, 10 months, before they are legally allowed to remarry. Dominican law assumes that the parties to a marriage enjoy common property rights.
However, if the parties choose to enter into another type of agreement, this is permitted. Dominican law describes a number of systems from which the parties can choose. The spouses may also modify one of these systems or create their own, provided that the final agreement respects Dominican legal principles. If the parties opt for a system other than communal ownership (e.g. separate ownership, which is described from page 4 below), they must submit it in writing and have it approved by a representative of the Dominican government. The following information is ONLY intended to guide U.S. civilian citizens planning to marry in the Dominican Republic. U.S. diplomats and consular officials do NOT have the legal authority to enter into marriages. Marriages can NOT be contracted within the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate in the Dominican Republic. With regard to point 1, it should be noted that “common goods” are subdivided into “ordinary goods” and “reserved goods”. Ordinary property passes into marriage, since it belongs to one or the other spouse, but becomes the property of both parties by reason of the marriage. Reserved property, on the other hand, is the wealth that results from the woman`s personal labor or the savings that have arisen from that labor. After marriage, reserved property is usually still managed by the woman, but legally, it is a joint property of both parties. The official organizing the ceremony does so in the presence of the parties and witnesses. During the ceremony, the officer asks the parties and witnesses whether either party was previously married to each other or to others. The party who has already been married must indicate the date of the marriage and the name of the holder.
Marriages into religious denominations other than Roman Catholicism are completely legal and permissible. However, only the Roman Catholic Church has the ability to register marriages on behalf of the couple. At wedding ceremonies in other faiths, both members of the couple must report to the government registry office in order to legalize the marriage. Details of this procedure follow below in the “Civil Marriages” section. Getting married in the Dominican Republic is a dream come true for many couples. Punta Cana is known for its beautiful beaches and spectacular scenery.