SANTO DOMINGO – Before purchasing a property, knowing who is listed as the owner and whether there are any liens, encumbrances, or legal disputes affecting the property is one of the checks that can help the buyer reduce risks. For this purpose, the Property Registry (RI) provides the Property Legal Status Certificate.
The document is issued by the Registry of Titles and certifies the legal status of the property, as well as the validity of the duplicate or extracts of the Certificate of Title. It also records the current entries in the Supplementary Registry as of the date of issuance.
What is it for?
The certification allows you to know the legal status of a property before carrying out a real estate transaction. Among other things, it can help verify who is listed as the owner(s), whether the property has any liens or encumbrances, and if there are any registered restrictions or encumbrances.
The Property Registry itself recommends requesting this document before buying or mortgaging a property. The institution points out that this document allows you to determine who the owners are, whether the property has any encumbrances, or if it is the subject of any litigation.
For a buyer, this verification can be especially important before handing over money, signing a purchase agreement, or proceeding with financing a property.
Does it have an expiration date?
An important point is that the certificate reflects the legal status of the property on the date of its issuance. In other words, it should not be interpreted as a permanent snapshot of the property's registration status, as new registrations or modifications may occur subsequently.
The General Regulations for the Registration of Titles establish that the certification accredits the legal status and the entries in force on the date indicated.
Therefore, rather than focusing on a general expiration date, it's important to consider how up-to-date the certification is for the intended transaction. In fact, certain procedures before the Land Registry expressly require an "original and up-to-date" certification; in some cases, the Registry itself establishes specific requirements regarding its age.
How can the buyer request it?
The Real Estate Registry indicates that it can be requested at the Title Registry corresponding to the place where the property is located, through remote deposit or through its digital services, such as the Virtual Office of the Real Estate Registry and RI Mobile.
Currently, the cost indicated by the Real Estate Registry is RD$1,000 per certification, with additional fees for certain services, such as the Express Window or remote deposit.
A prevention tool
For those about to buy a house, apartment, plot of land, or other registered property, the Legal Status Certificate is a preventative legal security. It allows you to compare the information provided by the seller with the data officially recorded in the Property Registry before committing any funds to the transaction.
The RI also recommends complementing this review with a consultation of the cadastral status of the property, a certification from the IPI before the DGII and the assistance of specialized professionals.
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