TL;DR Estate planning for foreign property in Sint Maarten matters because the Dutch side uses civil law with forced-heirship rules that can override a foreign will, and transfers must go through a local notary. Owners should clarify which country’s law governs their estate, consider a local will alongside any home-country will, choose an ownership structure...

Most buyers begin their Caribbean property search by comparing listing prices. That’s the wrong starting point. What really separates a rewarding ownership experience from a regretful one in Sint Maarten isn’t the purchase price — it’s understanding the true annual cost of holding the property year after year. This guide walks through every cost category...

Most buyers spend months finding the right property. Then the offer gets accepted — and suddenly they’re in unfamiliar territory. The closing process in Sint Maarten follows Dutch civil law, and it works quite differently from what North American or British buyers are used to. Here’s what actually happens. There’s No ‘Attorney Review’ Window Like...