G.A.M. Legal Alliance

Family Law

Family law in Thailand and a family lawyer in Thailand is an important section of Thai law which includes the laws related to getting married. Getting divorced and also covers child adoption which is not very common in Thailand. 

Family Law Thailand

Thai Family Law is governed by the Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand mainly being in Section 5. This section in Thai law governs all family-related issues in Thailand. Below you will find some of the most common issues in Thailand which covers not only divorce but also marriage as well as child maintenance and child custody. Any foreigner who is contemplating getting married in Thailand or adopting a Thai child would best be served by speaking to our Thailand family lawyer. See also the law on getting engaged in Thailand if you are getting married. 

Thai Marriage Law

Marriage registration in Thailand can be difficult for certain nationalities. Many will not issue an affirmation letter in Bangkok. Islamic marriage has a special process for foreigners so take proper advice. The marriage registration is valid globally from America to the UK and Australia.

Thailand marriage registration  is where it all starts even after you meet the Islamic marriage requirements. Once you have the traditional certificate of Islamic marriage (nikah) you register the marriage with the government. With a divorce there is also the Islamic divorce procedure (talaq) but still requires the civil procedures.

For the prenuptial agreement, you will need to ensure that this is drafted and valid for both Thailand and your home country. Americans might find this more difficult as the States may have different laws. This needs to be handed in with the marriage registration to be valid. Our family lawyer in Bangkok will always be able to assist. 

Thailand Family Lawyer

If you have family in Thailand or plan on living in Thailand. Then the services of a good family lawyer in Thailand is going to be needed in some in time. We are centered in Bangkok however we do litigation across Thailand. We have represented clients from Chiang Mai all the way down to Phuket on a regular bases. If you are already living in Thailand or abroad then having a Bangkok family lawyer is always good. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and most government department head offices are located here.

Over the years we have fielded many questions. From expats who are living abroad who wished to have their children legitimated and wanted to know how to legitimate a child in the country. There are who wanted to know how to get divorced in Thailand. Then there are those who wanted to know is surrogacy legal in Thailand. Surrogacy has become a hot political issue. We have been able to assist all of them. Today or tomorrow we can also assist you with your questions. Our family lawyer in Thailand will be more than happy to assist you as well.

Corporate Law

√ Civil Law  

√ Agreements

√ Import Laws  

√ Contracts

√ Criminal Law  

 √ Export Laws

√ Maritime Laws  

Buying property in Thailand whether it’s a condo, a house/villa or a piece of land is fast becoming popular among foreign investors who would like to have a holiday home in Thailand or simply as a form of investment. 

The form of ownership can be either freehold or leasehold depending on the type of property to be purchased. Our law firm is experienced in assisting foreigners with their property purchase. Always take legal advice from our property lawyer in Thailand. There are a number of Thailand real estate lawyers but you will find better service with us. We understand real estate law in Thailand well and have many satisfied clients over the years. 

Buying Property in Thailand

If you are going to buy real estate in Thailand then you need to ensure that you understand the real estate laws as well as the procedures when buying. There are also property transfer costs as well as checking that the real estate is not encumbered by a mortgage bond, usufruct, servitude, superficies or that the zoning is incorrect. Most people will complete a due diligence before they purchase real estate.

Land ownership in Thailand is an issue since foreigners cannot own land in their own names. This without a large investment and only able to buy a small piece of land. Many opt for placing the land in the name of their Thai wife. This comes with its own dangers and you need to consult an attorney. This at a legal firm in Thailand for sage legal advice.

There are many options such as a usufruct which has become common with foreigners who try to protect their property rights in the event of a divorce in Thailand. A Bangkok law firm will be able to assist you in these circumstances. Always consider a Thailand law firm be it an expatriate or locally staffed Thailand law firm for assistance.

You are going to need a Thai immigration lawyer for this. Our immigration lawyer in Thailand can assist you with your retirement visa in Thailand. Thai immigration or emigration from Thailand is explained below with the visa options. When considering Thailand as a retirement destination or you get married in Thailand. This is what you need to know about an immigration lawyer with Thai legal services. Speak to our immigration lawyer in Bangkok for assistance. 

Then wish to stay with your Thai wife or husband you would have to consider the rules and regulations as set by the Thai Immigration service. There are many rules for settling in Thailand such as your Thailand visa and other issues such as 90 day reporting and also re-entry permits. See the visa questions page for more information for information on Thai immigration. Always take advice from an immigration lawyer in Thailand before you start your move. This especially for a Thai retirement visa for married couple.

Immigration

Living in Thailand or setting up a business has become more complicated over the years as more foreigners coming to live in Thailand. The government has also come down on visa abuse and now expect ever foreigner to obtain the correct visa for entering Thailand. Thai immigration has also become very strict with regards to visa on arrivals and the issuing of Thai visas at embassies. See the options below with regards to applying for and extending this visa in Thailand. Speak to our Thai immigration lawyer today. We are also offer a notary service in Thailand to certify your documents.

Immigration Services in Thailand

Seek assistance when it comes to immigration services in Thailand as there are a number of options. You will note that there are long terms visa stays as well as short term. The long term visa applications tend to be those for the retirement visa in thailand as well as those who are married in Thailand.

The retirement visa are for those over the age of 50 and who wish to retire in Thailand. This is a one year visa which has to be renewed each year. These do change as we have seen over the past 4 years. There has been added requirements for the visas financial requirements.

How long the money now has to remain in your Thai bank account.  There has also been the issue of insurance requirements for those who retire in Thailand. This is where immigration services in Thailand may become handy. 

Living in Thailand

If you are married to a Thai then the extended marriage visa or Thai “O” visa is also a one year visa. This has to be renewed each year and the financial requirements met. These requirements have remained the same over the years unlike the retirement visa. See our immigration lawyer in Bangkok for more information.

Also speak to our immigration lawyer in Bangkok for any changes. There are also shorter term visas such as the work permit and business visa. These tend to be short applications for one year or less. These are mainly for those who teach in Thailand or have short term work in the country. There are those who have a longer view in terms of employment. This would fall under your business visa.

Returning home with your Thai fiancee or Spouse

Many expats do return home with their Thai wife or Thai spouse. These require a foreign visa from Thailand. For the Americans there is the K1 visa from Thailand which is the most common. These are for people who are not married and returning to the US to get married. These take a few months to obtain so be very patient and get the visa application process correct. Errors on the application can become costly and delay your trip back to America.  Take proper advice from our Thai immigration lawyers as laws do change.

Those who are married in Thailand will need to apply for a K3 visa from Thailand or a CR1 visa from Thailand. These take up to a year to complete. There is a major difference between these two visas and each has its advantages. Take proper immigration advice in this regards and see what best suits you. If your Thai wife is going to work in the US when you arrive, then the CR1 visa might be more appropriate. Again take proper immigration advice and guidance on this from Thai immigration lawyers.

Returning to Australia 

For those from Australia, many prefer the Australian fiancee visa as it is faster. You will need to get married in Australia when you arrive. Others who tend to be expats in Thailand tend to obtain and apply for a marriage visa. This mainly as they are already married in Thailand and only moving home. You will also need to ask about the visa for any minor children that are not yours but that of your Thai wife. Those can become a bit more complex if she had been divorced before. Always take advice from Thai immigration lawyers.

British nations prefer the fiancee visa, mainly as most are not expats and are not married. Some would only have a traditional wedding but not register it in Thailand. The British fiancee visa is much faster to obtain than to wait on the spouse visa for Britain. See more details on the links below. Ask our immigration lawyer in Thailand for more advice.

Thai Visa for Thailand (Long Stay)

Immigration rules do change. See what these rules are today for Thailand. It is always advised to use an immigration service in Thailand to manage the immigration process. The retirement visa has had many changes over the years including the adding of grandfather clauses to the retirement visa.

The financial requirements have also seen changes with regards to how long the money needs to be in the account for. The marriage visa has seen few changes of the years. As you will know that business visa has become more stringent when being granted as they normally want to see an application for a work permit on these. Overall immigration has become tougher.