When people talk about child support, many believe it is a simple matter… until they have to face it themselves.
In practice, it is one of the most common conflicts in family law. Not necessarily because people intend to do things wrong, but because they are not clear about their obligations, what they can demand, or the consequences they may face.
At Santana Ripoll & Assoc., one of the most common questions we receive is:
Can I travel with my child without the other parent’s permission?
Buying your first home is a dream, but many people realize too late that obtaining a mortgage can turn into a path full of surprises and legal obstacles.
What happens if the bank changes conditions without notifying you? Or if charges appear that were never clearly explained? Continue reading “Your rights as a borrower: don’t sign a mortgage without knowing this.”
There is something almost everyone does when starting a business, closing a deal, or entering into a partnership: they trust. They trust in someone’s word, in the relationship, in “good faith.” And for a while, everything works. No one thinks about contracts when things are going well… until they stop.
More and more foreigners are interested in purchasing property in the Dominican Republic. Some are looking for a second home in the Caribbean, while others see an investment opportunity in tourist areas such as Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, or Las Terrenas.
However, one of the most common questions we receive at Santana Ripoll & Assoc. is quite direct:
Continue reading “Buying Property in the Dominican Republic: What Many Foreigners Discover Too Late”
At Santana Ripoll & Assoc., it is very common to meet people who come in with the same idea: they want to adopt, but they don’t really know where to begin. And it’s not due to a lack of interest or intention, but because the adoption process is not always as clear as it may seem from the outside.
When a legal issue arises, many people quickly jump to one conclusion: “this needs to go to court.” It’s almost automatic. Justice is often associated with courtrooms, hearings, and a judge making the final call. But reality is more complex… and in many cases, very different.
Continue reading “Going to court isn’t always the best decision… and many realize it too late”
Getting married in the Dominican Republic—or investing while married—may seem legally straightforward. However, there is a key question that is often not asked in time: what really happens to assets within a marriage? Continue reading “Separation of Assets in the Dominican Republic: What Seems Clear… but Isn’t Always So”
Many foreigners visit the Dominican Republic for vacation and end up having the same conversation before returning to their country: “Can you imagine living here?”
Continue reading “How to obtain residency in the Dominican Republic?”
When a foreigner faces a legal issue in the Dominican Republic, one of the first feelings that often arises is uncertainty. Not necessarily because of the severity of the situation, but because of something deeper: being in a system that is not your own. The rules are different, the processes are not the same, and what might be simple in your home country can take a completely different direction here.
Continue reading “The legal system in the Dominican Republic is not the same as in your country”