Apply In-Person (Inside the Country)

1. To file for Divorce, the applicant has to approach Regional Court in their respective country.
2. The applicant has to consult with the lawyer regarding the application.
3. To file, the lawyer must prepare a Petition for Divorce signed by the lawyer and sworn to by you (the Petitioner).
4. The Petition will contain copies of all the relevant documents and must also be accompanied by the Judicial Affidavit of the proposed witnesses.
5. Then the Regional Trial Court will order that the substance of the Petition be published in a random newspaper once a week for 3 weeks.
6. The case will be calendared for first Hearing and Notices of this will be served to the government offices concerned, to the last known address of the ex-spouse, and to any other required parties.
7. The Testimony of a Witness will be through a Judicial Affidavit. A Judicial Affidavit is used to speed up the Trial.
8. In a Judicial Affidavit, the lawyer’s questions and the answers of the Witness are set into writing and Notarized before the Hearing. During court, a Witness will simply identify and affirm this Judicial Affidavit in Court to complete her direct Testimony.
9. After all the evidence is submitted, the lawyer will submit to the Regional Court a legal document known as a Formal Offer of Evidence.
10. If there is no active opposition by other parties, the Petitioner will then await the Court’s Decision. The waiting after these submissions will probably take a few months because of the clogged court dockets.
11. The Trial can take about a year and a half to finish from date of filing. This can vary depending on the situation.
12. A Recognition of Divorce cost can vary. Certainly, a Petition entails a number of different costs. There are the minimal fees to be paid to government offices for the Certified Copies of documents.

Apply In Person (Outside the Country)

1. To file for Divorce, the applicant has to approach the respective country embassies and consulates legal affairs offices link
2. The applicant has to make an appointment before visiting the office.
3. The applicant visits the office on the appointment date.
4. The concerned officer will advices the applicant regarding the application.
5. The concerned officer will provide the details of lawyer in that country.
6. Then the lawyer will file the petition for the applicant residing abroad on their behalf.
7. In a Judicial Affidavit, the lawyer’s questions and the answers of the Witness are set into writing and Notarized before the Hearing. During court, a Witness will simply identify and affirm this Judicial Affidavit in Court to complete her direct Testimony.
8. After all the evidence is submitted, the lawyer will submit to the Regional Court a legal document known as a Formal Offer of Evidence.
9. If there is no active opposition by other parties, the Petitioner will then await the Court’s Decision. The waiting after these submissions will probably take a few months because of the clogged court dockets.
10. The Trial can take about a year and a half to finish from date of filing. This can vary depending on the situation.
11. A Recognition of Divorce cost can vary. Certainly, a Petition entails a number of different costs. There are the minimal fees to be paid to government offices for the Certified Copies of documents.

• Copy of Marriage certificate
• Proof of identity (National Identity Card, Birth Certificate, Passport, Driving License)
• Divorce petition: A written petition for divorce will need to be filed with the appropriate court. The petition should include details such as the grounds for divorce, any property or child custody issues, and any other relevant information.
• Evidence: If you are alleging fault grounds for divorce, such as adultery or cruelty, you may need to provide evidence to support your claims. This may include witness statements, photographs, or other documentation.
• Property inventory: If there is property that needs to be divided, a list of all property and assets owned by both spouses will need to be submitted to the court.
• Child custody plan
• Proof of citizenship

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic
Avenida Independencia No. 752, Estancia San Gerónimo, Santo Domingo, DR
RNC: 401-00734-7
Tel.: (809) 987-7001 | (809) 535-6280 | E-mail: relexteriores@mirex.gob.do
Contact link

• Any married persons who intend to file for Divorce is eligible to make this application.

• A divorce cost can vary. Certainly, a Petition entails a number of different costs. There are the minimal fees to be paid to government offices for the Certified Copies of documents.

• The validity of a divorce certificate depends on various factors such as the jurisdiction where it was issued and the purpose for which it is being used.

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.