Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 14. Disputes › Conciliation and mediation in the Dominican Republic: chamber courts, settlements and what binds

Conciliation and mediation in the Dominican Republic: chamber courts, settlements and what binds

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

Mediation is voluntary in commercial disputes, usually at a chamber arbitration court under Ley 36-23. A written settlement has the force of a final judgment between the parties under the Código Civil, but a notarial act or consent award is what gives enforcement teeth. Consumer and labor disputes have their own conciliation steps.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.8594 per US dollar for 28 October 2026, the latest row in its published rate file on the verification date, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

General mandatory pre suit conciliation in commercial cases	None found textLey 36-23, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Settlement has res judicata effect	Yes yes/noCódigo Civil art. 2052, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Rate used for USD conversions	60.8594 DOP per USDBanco Central reference selling rate, 28 October 2026, as of 2026-10-28 · in force

The rule

1. Chamber courts can offer arbitration, friendly composition, conciliation and mediation, for members and non members.Ley 36-23, amending Ley 50-87, art. 4, new art. 15 par. II, 2023-06-23 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. Disputes at these courts are private and confidential and follow rules approved by the chamber board.Ley 36-23, amending Ley 50-87, art. 4, new art. 15 par. V, 2023-06-23 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. The chamber board keeps lists of mediators and conciliators and reviews tariffs.
Cost to do it: Fees follow each chamber's tariff. The current tariff was not found.Ley 36-23, amending Ley 50-87, art. 6, new art. 16.1, 2023-06-23 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. A settlement is a contract that ends or avoids a suit, and must be in writing.Código Civil, art. 2044, 1882-07-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Settlements carry res judicata between the parties and cannot be attacked for error of law or lesion.Código Civil, art. 2052, 1882-07-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. First copies of notarial acts for money debts are enforceable titles.Código de Procedimiento Civil, art. 545, 1934-05-23 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. If parties settle during arbitration, the tribunal can record it as an award with the effect of any other award.Ley 489-08 sobre Arbitraje Comercial, art. 35, 2008-12-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. Consumers and providers have a free conciliation step at Pro Consumidor, before its administrative process and before the courts.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor, art. 124 and art. 127, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. Debt acknowledgments in a settlement interrupt limitation.Código Civil, art. 2248, 1882-07-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. Foreign investors can use the chamber court as the delegate of international institutions.Ley 36-23, amending Ley 50-87, art. 4, new art. 15 par. VI, 2023-06-23 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

Two partners settle a RD$4,000,000 dispute (about US$65,725.26) at mediation. They sign a notarial act with a payment date, so that the first copy is an enforceable title if the payer defaults.

Step by step

Agree on the center.
Sign a confidentiality term.
Put the deal in writing.
Use a notarial act or consent award.

Common traps

A private settlement binds but is not an enforceable title for seizure by itself.
No general mediation statute was found in this research, so the rules are those of the institution chosen.

Sources

← Limitation periods in the Dominican Republic: from 60 days to 20 yearsConsumer claims in the Dominican Republic: Pro Consumidor conciliation, fines and limits →

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