Do I need a lawyer to buy in the Dominican Republic?
Editorial update:
Retain an independent Dominican lawyer before entering binding purchase commitments or transferring funds. Agree the scope in writing: ownership and registry checks, seller authority, contractual protections, applicable approvals, closing requirements and registration follow-through. Tax, survey and technical questions may require separate qualified advisers.
Why independence matters
The seller’s or developer’s adviser should not be assumed to represent you. Cana Keys is a broker and normally receives commission from the seller. Appoint your own lawyer, discuss relevant conflicts and obtain an itemised engagement quotation. Do not assume a standard legal-fee percentage or that brokerage assistance replaces legal advice.
What the lawyer does that nobody else can
Agree who will conduct registry and ownership checks, assess any CONFOTUR resolution, review contract and payment protections, prepare any power of attorney and follow the registration process. Ask which work is included in the engagement and which specialists or additional fees may be needed.
What we do instead
We select zones and projects against your goal, gather the documents, and put them in front of your lawyer. We do not give legal advice and we do not close in place of one.
Do I need a lawyer? — FAQs
- Can I use my home-country lawyer?
- Not for the Dominican registry work. You may want your own tax adviser at home in parallel.
- Can I close without travelling?
- Yes, commonly by granting a power of attorney to your lawyer.
Go deeper
2026 orientation, not guarantees and not legal advice. No guaranteed ROI, no invented occupancy.