Anselmo Bello Ferreras, the judge of the First Chamber of the Court of the First Instance for Civil and Commercial Cases, ruled that the properties and wealth created by a common-law couple be split between the two. Nelly Altagracia Baez Ortiz and Sotero Garcia Rodriguez must now select an adjuster to establish the true value of the properties to be divided. This sentence sets a precedent in the Dominican justice system. The lawyers for Baez Ortiz determined that for 15 years the pair had lived a stable, public life with profound and effective ties, which was agreed on by the judge. The total property will have to be split between the two, even though they were never legally married. At stake are several buildings and businesses here and in New York.