Prenuptial

Prenuptial in the DR are great; for they cover current and future assets & debts.

Without one, your partner is entitled to 50%; even if you don't get married a concubine at a certain point will have the same benefits.

PM me if you wish to know more in-depth.

Are you sure? I thought, upon the death of the male partner, all assets went to his family.  Maybe this negates that? I know, as a married, US citizen couple holding property in the DR, we have been advised to take legal steps to make sure I would inherit. Even after my husband gets his citizenship (US born but Dominican parents) we still need to take legal steps to make me the beneficiary.

If I die first,  which is more likely, everything is his, so irrelevant.

This is a complicated subject and you will get different answers from just about everyone.  This countries laws are territorial in nature.  You need legal protection of assets here.

1. Yes get a prenup here!  Protect yourself and what you currently have.

2. A prenup is NOT a will.  Very different documents. 

3.  Have a will if you have any assets here.  Your will outside of here may or may not apply here and will require much more effort to enforce.  Get a will here! They are inexpensive.

Brewpub; Also, don't confuse beneficiary (from death) with right to entitlement because of marriage or common law.  These are 2 different things. 

Wills from outside of the country can work but my experience it takes a great deal of legal effort, time and money to get what you think you should be entitled to.  By then, you might wind up with nothing.

As stated above...prenup, will and a power of attorney.  The will gives you the rights to the property, the power of attorney gives the right to execute the will and sell any property that might otherwise be delayed.  This will speed up the process to light speed!

Remember, the power of attorney must be explicit.

I am not a lawyer, so please discuss this with your attorney.

My Dominican father in law died in Santo Domingo about 10 years ago without a will. The law at that time was half went to his wife (my MIL) and half was to go to his children. 8 of the 9 children signed over their portion to their mother, After some intervention from the 8 siblings the hold-out final signed. Also since he died without a will, the oldest male child became the executive of his estate.

Have a prenup, a will, and have copies secured with a lawyer and trusted friend.

Absolutely correct legs.

However there is a lot more to consider depending upon circumstances.
For example, if your FIL had no children, it would go to his parents, no parents, siblings, no siblings, nieces, nephews, then cousins and by then it's good luck.  No proper beneficiary, you just married the Government of the DR.  They now own the other half.  Again this is if there is no will.

There is a right way and a wrong way to buy property in this country, again, depending upon your situation.

Having had several years of experience working with lawyers on this subject and others, I am happy to offer advice and help in a private message.  Oh by the way, it will be honest and not in my best interest but yours as I do not have a fee to consider! 

YES thank you a Power of Attorney is also important. And consider a Medical Power of Attorney!