Valya Pantophlet was sworn in as St. Maartenโs newest attorney-at-law in December 2024, marking the latest milestone in a career built on public service and community commitment. Now the Managing Partner at DEJONG Law Office, Pantophlet has set her sights on one of the islandโs most persistent and complex legal challenges: succession land disputes. Drawing on her years as a civil servant and her dedication to resolving conflicts through fair and practical solutions, she is working to help families secure their property rights and unlock the economic potential tied up in inherited land.
Succession land disputes, complicated, emotional, and rooted in centuries of history, pose a significant barrier to property ownership and economic empowerment in the Dutch Caribbean. In territories like St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba, these challenges are particularly acute: unclear inheritance records, informal leasing arrangements, and land that is effectively in limbo limit familiesโ ability to claim, develop, or benefit from their property. In many cases, this land remains unused or underutilized, even as real estate values climb.
Amid this landscape, attorney Valya Pantophlet has chosen to focus part of her practice on succession land issues, offering families a path to legal clarity and renewed opportunity. Here, using her own words, is her journey, her approach, and her vision for transforming the legal and social fabric of her community.
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐
โLaw has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, though lifeโs twists and turns temporarily steered me in other directions. My 12 years as a Civil Servant gave me valuable exposure to legal frameworks and deepened my appreciation for the lawโs role in society.โ
She credits a moment during the 2018 Parliamentary snap elections as decisive. โThe turning point came during my brief candidacy in the 2018 Parliamentary snap elections, when I realized I wanted to pursue law seriously.โ
She sees purpose guiding her path. โAs the scripture says, โAll things work together for your goodโ and thatโs exactly how it felt. The Government of Sint Maarten partnered with the University of Curaรงao to bring a law program to the island, and at the same time, my mother relocated to help care for my three young children. It was as though God was aligning every piece so I could follow this long-held dream and fulfill my purpose.โ
Now, with a foot in both the civil service and private practice worlds, she reflects:
โIโve learned that while the court system can resolve many disputes, legal victories donโt always translate to real-world solutions. For example, a judgment ordering someone to pay a debt has little value if the debtor has no assets. This has shown me the importance of alternative dispute resolution, settlements that are practical and mutually workable, making court the last resort.โ
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ - ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐
Succession land refers to property that has passed down through generations without a clear, legally recorded transfer of ownership. In many cases, ownership is shared among multiple descendants, often without formal deeds, probate court rulings, or updated cadastral records.
Because the land is not legally divided and titled, no individual can sell, mortgage, or develop it without the consent of all heirs. This becomes increasingly complex as generations pass and the number of legal heirs grows. In some cases, heirs have moved abroad or lost touch, making it nearly impossible to obtain unanimous agreement.
In the Dutch Caribbean, much of this problem stems from the post-emancipation period. Freed people often acquired land informally, without the resources or access to formal registration. Over time, oral traditions and family understandings replaced written deeds. Inheritance was often assumed rather than legally formalized.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ:
โข Underutilized land: Large portions of valuable land remain idle because they cannot be legally sold or developed.
โข Lost generational wealth: Families cannot leverage the land as collateral for loans, blocking opportunities for business creation, home construction, or education financing.
โข Investment barriers: Developers and financial institutions typically avoid succession land because of the legal risks, slowing down community-level growth.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ญ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐
She is driven not by profit, but by impact. โPurpose drives everything I do. Iโm not motivated by wealth, but by the legacy I can leave and the lives I can impact.โ She sees succession land as a strategic focus: โSuccession land disputes are a longstanding challenge across the Caribbean, rooted in the history of slavery and resulting in complex ownership issues. Many families are left unable to claim, develop, or benefit from their land.โ
With property values rising, clarifying land rights becomes an economic matter. โIn Sint Maarten, where real estate prices continue to soar, resolving these disputes can open doors for families to improve their financial security. Few attorneys focus on this area, so I see an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.โ
Her rationale extends beyond individual cases. โResolving succession land disputes empowers families to secure legal ownership, leverage their property for development or investment, and break cycles of economic stagnation. On a community level, it can transform underutilized land into productive assets, boosting both the economy and social stability.โ
She identifies documentation gaps as the central problem. โThe biggest barrier is lack of documentation to prove ownership. Many properties are also informally leased, without written agreements, which leads to disputes over occupancy and rights.โ
Her method is gradual and meticulous: โMy approach is to work with whatever records families have, build their case step-by-step, and encourage the creation of a detailed family tree to establish clear lineage and connection to the property.โ
๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ
Integrity underpins her practice. โIntegrity is non-negotiable for me. I maintain it by being transparent with clients about their options and likely outcomes even when the truth is difficult to hear. I avoid conflicts of interest, follow the letter and spirit of the law, and ensure confidentiality at every stage. My goal is to resolve matters in a way that is fair, ethical, and sustainable for all parties involved.โ
Given the importance of long-term relationships in island communities, she emphasizes early mediation. โSmall island communities thrive on relationships, so preserving them is vital. My strategy is to encourage dialogue early, before disputes escalate. At DEJONG, we aim to use structured mediation and negotiation techniques that focus on realistic, mutually beneficial solutions. Court should remain the final step, which is a principle I actively promote to clients and within the legal community.โ
๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
She offers pragmatic advice to aspiring lawyers: โGo for it but go in prepared. The journey is demanding, but with determination, support, and a clear sense of purpose, itโs possible to overcome any obstacle. Never underestimate the value of your unique perspective and experiences.โ
Her measure of success is deeply community-oriented. โSuccess is helping as many families as possible resolve their land issues and seeing their lives improve as a result. Beyond that, I am also passionate about legislation and want to contribute to updating Sint Maartenโs outdated laws, ensuring they meet the needs of todayโs society. For me, success means working with purpose and leaving a legacy of tangible positive change.โ
Looking ahead five years, she wants to replace despair with possibility: โFive years from now, I envision a community where succession land disputes are no longer seen as hopeless, unsolvable problems. I want families to look at the success stories around them and think, โIf they can do it, so can we.โ My goal is to turn those possibilities into realities, case by case, until the belief in resolution becomes the norm, and more and more families take that step to secure their land and their legacy.โ
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Contact attorney Valya Pantophlet: valya@dejonglegal.com
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https://tribune-site.webflow.io//articles/attorney-valya-pantophlet-legal-journey-leads-to-mission-on-succession-land-in-st-maarten
