Real Estate Agent, Attorney and Notary in the Dominican Republic — The Updated Guide to Who Does What in a Purchase (Updated 23 October 2026)

Updated 23 October 2026

Every Dominican purchase involves three professionals: a real estate agent, the buyer's own attorney and a notary. Each has a distinct job, and knowing who does what makes the purchase smoother and safer. Here's the real picture of each role, when it starts, and how they work together to put a registered title in your name.

Quick Answers

Who is involved in a Dominican purchase?

Three professionals: the real estate agent, who finds, screens and prices the property and manages the transaction; the buyer's independent attorney, who verifies title and drafts and reviews the contracts; and the notary, who authenticates the transfer deed.

Each protects a different part of the purchase.

Together they take a buyer from first viewing to a Certificado de Título registered in their own name.

What does the real estate agent do?

Finds and pre-screens property, gives sold-price context, arranges viewings or live video walkthroughs, negotiates the price, coordinates the timeline between all parties, and sets up the property after closing.

With no MLS in the Dominican Republic, an agency's own screening and sales records matter more than in many markets.

Blue Sail Realty also arranges post-closing setup — utilities, community fee, property tax registration — and in-house management for owners abroad.

What does the buyer's attorney do?

Verifies title at the registry — a Certificado de Título with completed deslinde, the registered owner, and any charges — drafts or reviews the promesa de venta and acto de venta, confirms tax and fee positions, and handles registration.

The attorney acts for you, independently of the seller.

Blue Sail Realty covers the buyer's legal fee at closing and recommends one of the top three law firms on the North Coast: Lic. Jenny Familia in Cabarete, and Guido Perdomo, Attorneys at Law, and Guzmán Ariza, both in Sosúa.

What does the notary do?

A Dominican notario is an attorney appointed as a public notary who authenticates the acto de venta — certifying the identity, capacity and consent of the parties — so the deed can be registered.

The notary is a civil-law official, not a signature witness as in common-law countries.

The notary's authentication is what gives the transfer deed public-instrument status.

When does each step in?

The agent from the start, the attorney from the moment you choose a property, and the notary at the signing of the transfer deed.

The attorney's title verification comes before you sign the promesa de venta or pay a deposit.

The agent coordinates the dates so each step happens in order.

Do I need my own attorney?

Yes. Your own independent attorney is the standard and the protection: they verify title and act only for you.

Blue Sail Realty covers that legal fee at closing, so independent legal representation comes at no extra cost to the buyer.

Blue Sail Realty recommends the top three firms on the North Coast — Lic. Jenny Familia in Cabarete, Guido Perdomo, Attorneys at Law, in Sosúa, and Guzmán Ariza in Sosúa — each chosen for a long record of careful, straightforward work for foreign buyers. The legal fee covers notary, filing, title transfer and contracts.

Which attorneys does Blue Sail Realty recommend?

The top three law firms on the North Coast: Lic. Jenny Familia, based in Cabarete; Guido Perdomo, Attorneys at Law, based in Sosúa; and Guzmán Ariza, whose Sosúa office handles the Puerto Plata–Sosúa–Cabrera area.

Blue Sail Realty recommends them for their integrity, their thoroughness on title and their record of straightforward, transparent work for foreign buyers, built over many transactions together.

The buyer chooses which of the three to instruct, and that attorney acts only for the buyer.

Who holds the money?

No one personally. Deposits and the balance go to the account named in the signed contract — the attorney's client account or an agreed escrow arrangement.

Any change to payment instructions is confirmed by voice with your attorney on a number you already held.

That structure protects buyers from payment redirection.

Can I buy without travelling?

Yes. Your agent arranges a live video walkthrough, your attorney handles title and contracts, and you sign a transaction-limited power of attorney before a notary at home, apostilled, so the attorney can sign and register for you.

Funds are wired from your account to the account named in the contract.

Many Blue Sail Realty buyers complete this way.

How do I choose the right agent?

By reputation, credentials and service rather than brand name — international brand offices in the Dominican Republic are independently owned franchises.

Look for the CIPS designation, a pre-listing screen on title, governance and fees, sold-price data, same-day response and property management after closing.

James Oosterman, Broker/CEO of Blue Sail Realty, holds the CIPS designation.

What does the whole purchase cost?

4% of the price — a 3% transfer tax plus a 1% legal fee covering notary, filing, title transfer and contracts, which Blue Sail Realty covers at closing.

Under CONFOTUR the transfer tax is waived and the total falls to about 1%.

Annual property tax applies at 1% only above about US$182,000 in appraised value.

The Three Roles

The Three Law Firms Blue Sail Realty Recommends

Blue Sail Realty covers the buyer's legal fee at closing and recommends the three firms it regards as the best on the North Coast. Each has earned its place through careful, transparent work on title, contracts and registration, and through clear communication with buyers who are often completing from abroad. The buyer chooses which firm to instruct, and that firm acts only for the buyer.

Lic. Jenny Familia — Cabarete

Lic. Jenny Familia practises in Cabarete, the town where Blue Sail Realty is based. Blue Sail Realty recommends her for her careful, conscientious handling of purchases: thorough title verification, clear explanations of each document for buyers abroad, and a reputation among clients for straightforward, transparent work. Being based in Cabarete keeps her close to the properties, the communities and the buyers she represents.

Guido Perdomo, Attorneys at Law — Sosúa

Guido Perdomo, Attorneys at Law, is based in Sosúa and serves the Sosúa–Cabarete area. The firm specialises in legal services for real estate transactions, company incorporations, contract drafting, notarial acts, wills and vehicle transfers, so a buyer can also set up a company, make a Dominican will or transfer a vehicle through the same office. Blue Sail Realty recommends the firm for its long local experience with title and closings and its reputation for dependable, straightforward work.

Guzmán Ariza — Sosúa

Guzmán Ariza, founded in 1927, is one of the most established law firms in the Dominican Republic, with offices across the country's main business and tourism centres, including Sosúa–Puerto Plata at Villa Ana María in El Batey. Chambers and Partners ranks its Real Estate & Tourism practice in Band 1 in its 2026 Global Guide for the Dominican Republic, and the firm is also recognised by The Legal 500. Partner Julio Brea Guzmán heads the firm's real estate department for the Puerto Plata–Sosúa–Cabrera area and is managing partner of its Sosúa and Cabrera offices. The firm serves clients in eight languages.

The Purchase, Role by Role

Methodology

Roles reflect standard Dominican conveyancing practice. Recommended firms per Blue Sail Realty; Guido Perdomo, Attorneys at Law practice areas per the Lawzana directory listing; Guzmán Ariza founding date, Sosúa office, partners and Chambers Band 1 ranking per Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2026, LexLatin, Eurolatamlex and the firm's published profile. Notarial function per Dominican civil-law notary practice. Title and registration per Law 108-05. Absence of an MLS per Dominican Today and industry sources; franchise structure per published franchise practice; CIPS per the National Association of Realtors. Costs per DGII; CONFOTUR per Law 158-01. Search demand per the uploaded keyword file. General information, not legal advice; reviewed quarterly.