The Country of Aruba cannot unilaterally amend an erfpacht deed: that requires your consent, an amendment clause in the deed or the court after 25 years. But through vacation-rental regulation, enforcement of the residential designation and new issuance the government does have instruments. What to check in your deed.
Read →A 1956 treaty gives Americans in Aruba the same position as a Dutch national from the Netherlands: lighter permit rules, no security deposit and automatic admission after five years. What the treaty makes easier and what continues to apply.
Read →In 2026 the Joint Court laid down the framework for Central Bank AML fines and overruled a bank that wanted to restrict accounts over KYC forms, while the Court of First Instance decided when a bank may refuse a client and when it must open an account. The state of play for banks and their clients.
Read →Since 1 September 2021 children can be fully disinherited in Aruba: the forced share is gone. Who inherits without a will, how the statutory division protects the surviving spouse, what a will can do, and the deadlines that decide everything.
Read →Guideline amounts of Afl. 450 to 750 per child, a living allowance of Afl. 1,400, division in proportion to ability to pay and a maximum of 12 years of spousal maintenance: how Aruban judges calculate, explained in plain language with a worked example.
Read →No nationality restrictions, but freehold or long lease, the notary, transfer tax and ground tax make Aruba just different enough to warrant a guide. The legal points to check before you sign.
Read →Retiring or relocating to Aruba without working runs through two DIMAS permits — the rentenier permit below 55 and the pensioner permit from 55. The financial, medical and practical conditions, explained.
Read →A Canadian disciplinary ruling marks a turning point for AI in legal practice — our analysis and what we expect for the profession.
Read →How South Korea's stock crash of 23 June 2026 struck a generation of young investors trading on borrowed money — and why Dutch duty-of-care case law, from securities leasing to interest-rate derivatives, predicts how it ends.
Read →A quiet change to Aruba's Civil Code raised the statutory minimum holiday entitlement — and many payrolls still calculate it the old way.
Read →A proposed Kingdom Act on sustainable public finances is one of 2026's most consequential — and contested — legal debates on Aruba. Here is a plain, balanced overview.
Read →As Spain phases out humanitarian-grounds residence for Venezuelans, those with means are weighing stable alternatives. Here is where Aruba fits — honestly.
Read →Aruba's immigration authority has strengthened its team to work through permit requests — a welcome shift for anyone waiting on a work or residence decision.
Read →What international founders should know about company formation, governance and the Dutch-derived legal framework on the island.
Read →With output projected to pass AFL 8 billion, the island's investment case is strong — but the legal groundwork is what turns a good market into a good decision.
Read →How Aruba's land-lease system works and what to verify before you buy, build or transfer.
Read →A practical look at cross-border debt recovery - including for clients based in the Netherlands.
Read →A broadened expat regime and refreshed benefit rules make it easier — and more tax-efficient — to relocate skilled staff to the island.
Read →A package of tax breaks effective 1 January 2026 makes Aruba markedly more attractive for investors and founders — provided the structure is set up correctly.
Read →For the first time Aruba sets a statutory minimum per hour — not just per month — closing a gap that quietly underpaid staff on longer weeks.
Read →Aruba is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with a civil law system derived from Dutch legal principles and its own legislature and courts. For international entrepreneurs that combination offers something rare: a familiar, predictable legal framework in a stable Caribbean jurisdiction, a short flight from the United States and Latin America.
Most foreign investors operate through an Aruban limited liability company. Formation involves notarial incorporation, registration with the Chamber of Commerce and, depending on the activity, sector-specific licences. Good governance documents - clear articles, shareholder agreements and director arrangements - prevent the great majority of later disputes.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different; we are glad to review yours.
A significant share of land in Aruba is held in long-term lease - erfpacht - rather than full ownership. The lessee holds extensive rights to use and build on the land for a fixed term, against an annual ground rent (canon). For buyers this is entirely workable, but the details matter: the remaining term, the canon and how it is reviewed, transfer conditions, and any conditions imposed by the government as land owner.
Before signing, it is worth verifying the title, the precise lease conditions and any encumbrances, and confirming what consents a transfer or new construction requires. Careful due diligence at the outset avoids costly surprises later.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
Recovering unpaid invoices across borders can feel daunting - different jurisdictions, languages and procedures. Our firm handles cross-border debt collection throughout the Caribbean and beyond, and in the region we are permitted to work on a no cure, no pay basis, including for clients based in the Netherlands. That aligns our incentives with yours: we are paid when you are.
A typical matter begins with a demand and an assessment of the debtor's position, followed where needed by judicial proceedings before the competent court. Early, well-documented action materially improves recovery rates.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
