Escritura (deed of sale)
The escritura, or contrato de venta, is the deed of sale signed by buyer and seller and legalised by a notary. It is the instrument taken to the tax authority for transfer tax and then to the Registro de Títulos, which issues a new certificado de título in the buyer's name. Signing the escritura is not the end of the transaction; registration is.
Why a Punta Cana buyer should care
Owning a signed deed and never registering it is a real and common failure in the Dominican Republic. Until the registry issues the new certificate in your name, third parties can register competing rights against the property. Budget the transfer tax and registry timeline into the deal, and do not let a seller talk you into delaying registration to save tax.
Common mix-up
The escritura is confused with the certificado de título. The deed is the contract of transfer; the certificate is the state's record of ownership. Buyers are also told a notarised deed is "as good as" registration. It is not.
Escritura FAQs
- How long does registration take?
- It varies by registry office and file quality — weeks rather than days is normal. Your lawyer should track it and deliver the new certificate.
- Can I sign remotely?
- Yes, commonly through a notarised and apostilled power of attorney granted to your Dominican lawyer.
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