Where there's a Will, there's a way..

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
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I don't have one, but I should. Does anyone here have a Dominican Will? How did you do it?
 

SKY

Gold
Apr 11, 2004
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I do. Had a lawyer draw it up. He went and got some Govt. stamp on it. Need one witness and the recipients of the will to sign. Whether it works I won't know...........
 
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JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
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I do. Had a lawyer draw it up. He went and got some Govt. stamp on it. Need one witness and the recipients of the will to sign. Whether it works I won't know...........
May I ask, did he ask for any sort of list before? What did they charge?
 

aarhus

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Jun 10, 2008
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I spoke to Guzman Ariza about this. They recommended we just get a will in the US. Said it would take precedence over a will here for us, permanent residents.
Still assets in the DR will have to be dealt with in the DR. I think best to avoid unless it’s a Dominican who inherits and can deal with it. Not leave it for family outside the DR to do that paperwork.
 
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SKY

Gold
Apr 11, 2004
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May I ask, did he ask for any sort of list before? What did they charge?
There was only one person in the Will. This was about 10 years ago and I really don't remember the charge. But the lawyer did a lot of other work for me and he charged me next to nothing for this. Just guessing 2,000-3000 pesos at most..............There was a list that was on the Will stating what was left to the party if that is what you mean..........
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
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I guess the first step would be to make a list of all my "stuff" and who I would like to receive it.
 
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aarhus

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I guess the first step would be to make a list of all my "stuff" and who I would like to receive it.
I would think it has to be done in the DR as we here all of us, I am assuming, are talking about assets in the DR.
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
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I would think it has to be done in the DR as we here all of us, I am assuming, are talking about assets in the DR.
All of my assets are here, but I'm sure there are quite a few members here who have assets in various countries.
 

aarhus

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Jun 10, 2008
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All of my assets are here, but I'm sure there are quite a few members here who have assets in various countries.
Well what I meant was being a DR forum we must be talking about DR assets and I would think if one lives in the DR it must be Dominican law.
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
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Not at all, big guy, I was referring to anyone living here in the DR such as myself.

I was hoping to hear about wills covering different situations of the board members.
 

keepcoming

Moderator - Living & General Stuff
May 25, 2011
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Hate to talk about it (my issue). We have a will in the DR and US. For the DR we paid about 5k pesos (so many stamps). In the DR our son had to sign along with us (2020) and the disruption of the will was clearly laid out. However, our attorney told us that our US will take precedent over the DR will. We obviously have property in both countries. We have an appointment with our attorney (for other reasons) so we will speak about this.
 

aarhus

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Jun 10, 2008
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Hate to talk about it (my issue). We have a will in the DR and US. For the DR we paid about 5k pesos (so many stamps). In the DR our son had to sign along with us (2020) and the disruption of the will was clearly laid out. However, our attorney told us that our US will take precedent over the DR will. We obviously have property in both countries. We have an appointment with our attorney (for other reasons) so we will speak about this.
I would think that’s a smart way of doing it.
 

RDKNIGHT

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Mar 13, 2017
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A will is a good idea if you have a child here who is a minor and his mom or dad is Dominican and you are not together no more. and you want all your assets to go to your child . Because here the parent has the right to make decision's on the behalf the minor even if you are not with the other half. .
the will guarantee your kid gets all your assets. and not the sleazy parent who will probably rob their own kids for the money. and yes a us will will supercede a Dominican will.but it will be very costly to have the us lawyers get involved.

on the other hand if you have a child that is not a minor and over 18 and is adult 'the parents have no legal way to obtain your assets except trying to brainwash you kid.

but I think it's always good to have a will why put the burden on your kids
 
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aarhus

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Why exactly does a US will supercede a Dominican ? US law doesn’t cover the Dominican Republic. Ok if you live in the US it does but surely not if you are a permanent resident of the DR unless Dominican residency isn’t really considered anything anyway once again proving residency in the DR really has no value. And then what about other countries laws and a will. German, Canadian etc do they also supercede Dominican law or just the US ? How confusing. For sure I would have a Dominican will if I had assets in the DR.
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
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Hate to talk about it (my issue). We have a will in the DR and US. For the DR we paid about 5k pesos (so many stamps). In the DR our son had to sign along with us (2020) and the disruption of the will was clearly laid out. However, our attorney told us that our US will take precedent over the DR will. We obviously have property in both countries. We have an appointment with our attorney (for other reasons) so we will speak about this.
Do you remember why there were so many stamps?
 

william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
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A friend of mine died with no will....

He felt the law represented his wishes....
why write it down if it's already written ?
 

keepcoming

Moderator - Living & General Stuff
May 25, 2011
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Do you remember why there were so many stamps?
I really don't. We did get it translated so there was a stamp authenticating that. Also, I remember a stamp for the person who notarized it. There were a couple more. Let me see if I can find out what the stamps were for.
 
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MariaRubia

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Jun 25, 2019
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Still assets in the DR will have to be dealt with in the DR. I think best to avoid unless it’s a Dominican who inherits and can deal with it. Not leave it for family outside the DR to do that paperwork.

My lawyer told me that as long as the will in my home country mentioned assets in the DR it would just need to be translated and apostilled and then would be valid here.

It is best to have a Dominican lawyer named and to tell whoever will execute your will how to contact them just to make things smoother.
 
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