Why You Need a Power of Attorney in the Dominican Republic
Buying real estate here is wonderfully hands‑on—sometimes too hands‑on if you live abroad. You, or someone legally standing in for you, must sign the Promise of Sale, appear before a notary for the definitive Compraventa, pay transfer taxes to the DGII, and file paperwork at the Registro de Títulos. Missing a single signature can stall the process for weeks. A properly drafted Poder Notarial lets an attorney or a trusted friend act as your legal clone while you keep working—or surfing—elsewhere.
My roadmap:
• Santiago de los Caballeros – a loft in La Esmeralda purchased while I was coding in Texas.
• Puerto Plata – a beachfront condo signed during the pandemic when flights were grounded.
• Punta Cana – a Bávaro villa authorized from a hammock in Mexico.
One document, three deals, zero red‑eye flights. Below I dismantle that document line by line, keeping every Spanish clause intact and adding its English translation so you can read, understand, and repeat.
Heading & Parties ( Comparecientes )
Spanish: “En la ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros, República Dominicana, a los veintitrés (23) días del mes de abril del año dos mil veinticinco (2025).”
English: “In the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, on the twenty‑third (23rd) day of April, two‑thousand twenty‑five (2025).”
This opener locks in the place and date; Dominican notarial acts need fe pública (public faith) to be valid.
Spanish: “Comparece de una parte, el señor JAMES…”
English: “Appearing on the one part, Mr. James…”
The infamous “appearer” line: full name, nationality, marital status, passport, and address. (Pro‑tip: proofread—my first draft for Santiago misspelled my name and we had to notarize a correction.)
Statement of Intent
Spanish: “Declara el otorgante que confiere PODER ESPECIAL, amplio y suficiente…”
English: “The grantor declares that he confers a SPECIAL power, broad and sufficient…”
Those two adjectives—amplio y suficiente—tell every clerk that your agent is fully empowered. Skip them and the Registrar may bounce your file back as “insufficiently authorized.”
Operative Clauses in Plain English
Lawyers shuffle wording, but you’ll meet these big hitters every time. Spanish first, translation second.
- Taxes & Notaries“PRIMERO: Faculto a mi apoderado para que me represente ante cualquier Notario Público, registrar contratos privados, reconocer firmas y pagar impuestos relacionados con la adquisición del inmueble ubicado en…”
EN: “FIRST: I empower my attorney to appear before any Notary Public, record private contracts, acknowledge signatures, and pay taxes related to the purchase of the property located at…”
In Puerto Plata we added:
“…incluyendo la Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII) de Puerto Plata.”
EN: “…including the Puerto Plata branch of the Tax Authority (DGII).” - Contracts“SEGUNDO: Podrá firmar la Promesa de Venta, Contrato de Compraventa Definitivo y cualesquiera modificaciones.”
EN: “SECOND: He may sign the Promise of Sale, the Definitive Purchase Contract, and any amendments thereto.” - Title Certificate“TERCERO: Autoriza al apoderado a gestionar la emisión del Certificado de Título a su favor y efectuar su posterior inscripción.”
EN: “THIRD: He is authorized to secure the Certificate of Title in my favor and record it accordingly.” - Bank Accounts“CUARTO: Podrá abrir y manejar cuentas bancarias en moneda nacional o extranjera exclusivamente para la operación inmobiliaria.”
EN: “FOURTH: He may open and manage bank accounts in local or foreign currency solely for this real‑estate transaction.” - Self‑Cancellation“QUINTO: Queda facultado para cancelar este poder una vez concluida la operación.”
EN: “FIFTH: He is empowered to cancel this power once the deal is complete.”
Geographic Limits—Playing It Safe
Restrict the map, reduce the risk.
| Deal Location | Spanish Wording | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago | “…respecto del inmueble sito en la provincia Santiago, Sector La Esmeralda, Matrícula No. 300019823.” | “…regarding the property located in Santiago Province, La Esmeralda Sector, Title No. 300019823.” |
| Puerto Plata | “…inmueble localizado en el condominio Ocean Wave, parcela No. 14‑A, San Felipe de Puerto Plata.” | “…property located in the Ocean Wave condominium, parcel No. 14‑A, San Felipe de Puerto Plata.” |
| Punta Cana | “…villa número 7, Residencial Coral Gardens, Distrito Turístico Verón–Punta Cana, provincia La Altagracia.” | “…villa number 7, Coral Gardens Residence, Tourist District Verón–Punta Cana, La Altagracia Province.” |
Caps, Currencies & No‑Mortgage Shield
Max Price (Spanish): “El precio máximo de adquisición será de hasta DOSCIENTOS CINCUENTA MIL DÓLARES AMERICANOS (US$250,000.00)…”
EN: “The maximum purchase price shall be up to TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND US DOLLARS (US $250,000.00)…”
Anti‑Mortgage (Spanish): “Queda expresamente excluida la facultad de contratar préstamos o hipotecas a mi nombre.”
EN: “The power to contract loans or mortgages in my name is expressly excluded.”
Time Limit (Spanish): “El presente poder tendrá una vigencia de doce (12) meses contados a partir de su fecha.”
EN: “This power shall be valid for twelve (12) months from its date.”
Signature, Legalization, Apostille (Workflow Snapshot)
- Sign – in the DR before a notary or abroad before a Dominican consul.
- Legalize – the notary registers the act; you pay a small tax stamp.
- Apostille – the Foreign Ministry stamps the doc if it will travel internationally.
(Santiago: consulate in Houston → gold seal → DHL overnight. Puerto Plata: advanced digital signature accepted by a Santo Domingo notary. Punta Cana: in‑person thanks to my temporary residency.)
Sample Costs (2025)
| Location | Notary Fee | Legalization Tax | Courier / Fuel |
| Santiago (consulate) | US $150 | RD$ 3,000 | US $65 |
| Puerto Plata (digital) | RD$ 7,000 | RD$ 2,500 | — |
| Punta Cana (in‑person) | RD$ 10,000 | RD$ 3,000 | RD$ 1,000 |
Spanish in Action: Real Dialogues + Translation
Lawyer in Santiago
Spanish: ―“Necesito un poder, pero que incluya apertura de cuenta.”
English: “I need a power of attorney, but make sure it includes opening a bank account.”
Reply (Spanish): ―“Claro, lo coloco en la cláusula cuarta.”
English: “Sure, I’ll put that in clause four.”
Bank in Puerto Plata
Spanish: ―“¿El apoderado tiene facultad para firmar cheques?”
English: “Does the agent have authority to sign checks?”
Reply (Spanish): ―“Revise el párrafo donde dice ‘manejar cuentas’.”
English: “Check the paragraph that says ‘manage accounts’.”
Notary in Punta Cana
Spanish: ―“¿El poder limita el monto?”
English: “Does the power cap the amount?”
Reply (Spanish): ―“Sí, hasta 250 mil dólares; aquí lo especifica en letras y números.”
English: “Yes, up to 250 thousand dollars; it states that here in words and figures.”
FAQ: Early Revocation
Spanish: “Mediante la presente declaro revocado y sin efecto alguno el poder notarial otorgado el 23/04/2025.”
English: “By this instrument I declare revoked and without effect the power of attorney granted on 23/04/2025.”
Record the revocation at the Registry (≈ RD$ 1,000 fee) and voilà—the agent’s pen is officially dry.
Practical Recommendations
• Skip the cookie‑cutter templates. Each province has quirks; demand a tailored draft.
• Read every faculty aloud. If a line makes you sweat, shrink it.
• Choose a WhatsApp ninja. My golden rule: if they answer voice notes before the two blue ticks light up, they can hold my pen.
With a well‑built Poder Notarial you can shop in Santiago, daydream over the Atlantic in Puerto Plata, and toast piña coladas in Punta Cana—all without leaving your laptop. Read each line, sign confidently, and let the Caribbean waves greet your new keys.
