Steps to get married in Santiago, Dominican Republic


Getting Married in Dominican Republic

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Legal Home | Getting Married | Dominican Residency | Services

Whether you are still thinking about getting married in the Dominican Republic or have already made up your mind, here are some of the things that you will need to know.

Weddings here can be as simple or as lavish as you want. There are many options available to you and your loved one. We have found that many of the weddings here are very small ceremonies with only the wedding party and immediate family. The big get together is normally done at the reception afterwards. These are all details to be worked out between the partners.

There are basically 3 types of marriages here. The common law, where they are living together. What we would consider a justice of the peace wedding, and a church wedding. We are going to focus on the legal steps leading up to the actual cermony that a foreigner must complete for a justice of the peace type of wedding.

Keep in mind that the focal point for the cermany will be the oficina civil. You can either get married in the office or off site at a place of your liking. In either case, you must deal with the office that has jurisdiction of the place where you are holding the wedding. Prior to going to the office to schedule and pay for the wedding the foreigner needs to visit the lawyers office to get some paperwork done. Listed below are the steps.

Lawyer’s Office

Letter of singleness
Translate of birth certificate

First need to go to lawyers for letter of singleness. Basically a letter stating that you are legally able to get married. I have never been asked, nor has any of the guys that I have taken to the lawyers office been asked to back it up with divorce papers or death certificates. I tell the guys to have them, but DO NOT volunteer them as they may then see an opportunity to ask for more money saying they need to be translated also. They will need a copy of your passport.

Also you need ORIGINAL birth certificates. They will send them out to be translated and formatted to look like a Dominican birth certificate. There are at least 2 styles, maybe 3 so I do not know the name of the style, but they should. Now the translator has to be certified to translate for the government by the government. The lawyers should have a list they work with.

Civil Office

Copy of the passport for the foreign bride/groom
Copy of the cedula for dominican bride/groom
Copy of the cedulas for best man and brides maids **
Letters you get from lawyer office
Translated birth certificate you get from lawyers office
Birth certificate of dominican bride/groom
Pay money – keep receipt no way to prove that you paid later.

This will be the place that you are planning on having the wedding. Each office has different time frames as far as advance notice, one office here is 5 days. You will pay your fee and schedule your wedding date. Below you will see the latest fees.

** Notes - The smallest required party is 4 people, bride/groom and 2 witnesses. The witnesses cannot be related to either the bride nor the groom. This is not true of the bride's maid or best man. For example the bride's sister can be her bride's maid. In this case, you would need a third party to be the second witness. If the best man was a friend and not related, then he can also be a witness. In this example the party would be with 5 people.

Fees

Both bride and groom are Dominican Residents

On site during normal work hours - $2,500 pesos
Off site or not during normal work hours - $6,000 pesos

One Dominican Resident and One Foreigner

On site during normal work hours - $7,000 pesos
Off site or not during normal work hours - $10,000 pesos

Both Foreigners

On site during normal work hours - $15,000 pesos
Off site or not during normal work hours - $20,000 pesos

Over the years we have received many request in helping with the letter and translations. We started by recommending a local big law office. Over time their prices went higher and their turn around time went longer. We stopped recommending them when their prices almost doubled those of other lawyers offices. We have now teamed up and recommend the Law Office of Teresa Batista. You can view her legal services and pricing here.

Living in Santiago is a source of information for those visiting the Dominican Republic. We specialize in Santiago but will also have real estate listings of other Dominican cities. If you need info on insurance, lawyers, real estate, hotels, sites to see, Living in Santiago will be your source.

Getting Married in Dominican Republic