If you’re an expatriate and you and your spouse are in mutual agreement about getting divorced, you may feel frustrated by the length of time this can take in the U.S. Depending on the US jurisdiction, you could have to wait as long as a year or even two to regain your status as a single individual. If you happen to be residing in certain foreign countries, the process could take even longer, as does the process for members of the military and armed forces.
Although your own or your spouse’s attorneys might not mention it, you do have another option for obtaining a divorce decree. Regardless of what country you reside in, you can obtain a speedy divorce in the Dominican Republic as long as you’re not a Dominican resident. This is a great solution for expatriates who don’t have the time or money to spend traveling to the U.S. to attend court hearings for months on end.
Legislation permitting a so-called 3-day divorce or por vapor divorce was passed into law in the Dominican Republic in 1971. Since then, law firms in the Dominican Republic have specialized in making por vapor divorces available to US and foreign citizens, including expatriates. It’s a very fast, easy and affordable option for couples who wish to divorce by mutual consent.
The beauty of a por vapor divorce is the ease with which it can be obtained. Only one spouse needs to travel to the Dominican Republic to appear before a judge. The other spouse simply needs to provide the visiting spouse with power of attorney. The divorce should be uncontested, and certain documents detailing the agreement need to be presented. The date with the judge must be set up ahead of time, as well. Following an audience with the judge, the agreement will be approved and the divorce is granted.
The entire cost of a por vapor divorce could involve a cost of as little as $4,500, including airfare and accommodations expenses. If you wish to stay longer than 3 days to enjoy spending time in the Caribbean, costs will of course be slightly higher.
If a por vapor divorce sounds ideal for your situation, take the time to do some legal research first. You can research information on your own regarding the legality of the divorce in your own jurisdiction. You should also seek the legal advice of a professional specializing in this type of divorce before making any arrangements to pursue obtaining a divorce in the Dominican Republic.
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