Tempted To Get Divorced On An Island Paradise?

By: Valerie Rind

Have you ever attended a destination wedding? Instead of getting married in their hometown, the bride and groom pick a glamorous location to get hitched, perhaps on the beaches of a Caribbean island.

Friends and family members fly in for several days of celebrations. It’s a mini-vacation for everyone and often the newlyweds spend their honeymoon in the same locale.

But what if you regret last night’s impulsive nuptials in Las Vegas or your marriage otherwise goes south and you want to end it quickly? Can you make an unpleasant process less painful or expensive by divorcing overseas?

Like most other legal questions, the correct answer is … it depends.

Each state in the U.S. has its own laws about marriage and divorce, so what might work in New York may not be acceptable in New Mexico.

So where in the world can you get an international divorce?

The Dominican Republic is one country that attracts people who want to untie their knot quickly via a “special divorce.”

However, don’t think you can fly nonstop from Miami to the Caribbean, sign some papers, and tell each other we are now ex-spouses.

The “quickie” procedure only applies to a divorce by mutual consent. The couple has to formally agree in writing to get a Dominican Republican divorce, sign a formal separation agreement, and follow all other procedural requirements. One spouse has to physically appear at the hearing in the capital city of Santo Domingo; the other can also attend or be represented by an attorney authorized by a special power of attorney.

While there is no long-term residency requirement and you can often get the deal done in one business day, you have to allow several weeks for all the paperwork to be finalized.

However, there’s a major risk: not all states recognize a Dominican Republic divorce.

What an expensive exercise in futility it would be if you spent the time and money to take a vacation in Punta Cana, only to return and find out that your divorce was invalid in your home state!

You’ve got a great tan, but you’re still legally stuck with your spouse.

The cost of getting a Dominican Republic divorce is at least $1550 — $1650 for professional fees, drafting of the settlement agreement, provision of interpretation by the official translator before the judge, official fees and taxes payable to the court, and translation of the Divorce Decree into Spanish.

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