Who owns what in a marriage in Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic's default is a legal community of the property acquired during the marriage, in the French tradition.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
What applies by default
Property acquired during the marriage is part of the community, and property from before and gifts and inheritances stay personal.
When the marriage ends in divorce
The community is dissolved and divided equally.
A marriage contract
Spouses can make a marriage contract before the wedding to choose another regime.
What stays your own, and gifts
Property from before the marriage, gifts and inheritances stay personal.
If one spouse is a foreigner
The country has its own rules on which law applies. Get local advice if one spouse is a foreigner or the couple live abroad.
Understand the legal system first
Dominican Republic belongs to the Civil law family. Family law grows out of the legal tradition, so it helps to know how the system works.
Read the Dominican Republic legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Official sources
Take it further
The family and property rules of a European country in one PDF, with questions for a local lawyer.
Set the property rules before the marriage, in your own terms.
For couples who live together without marrying.
Marriage, divorce, custody and support, step by step.
Divide property and settle the terms in writing.
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s marital property guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.
