Aphiwat Bualoi Law Office

Do Foreigners in Thailand Need a Thai Will If They Already Have One at Home?

Many foreigners who own a condo or hold a bank account in Thailand already have a will in their home country.1 A common question I receive from clients in Chiang Mai and Bangkok is whether that home-country will is enough to cover their Thai assets, or whether they need a separate Thai will as well.2 The short answer is that a separate Thai will for Thai assets is not legally required, but it is the practical choice for almost everyone.3 This article explains why, using the actual rules that apply to Thai estate planning for foreigners.4

References

  1. 1 Direk Udomsak, Wichian. (2024). Civil Law Commentary, Volume 4 (Revised 2024 Edition): Property, Succession. Jurisprudence Group, p. 323.
  2. 2 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public. Office of the Attorney General, p. 30.
  3. 3 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code. Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, p. 197.
  4. 4 Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, Introduction.
  5. 5 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481.
  6. 6 Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 1-5.
  7. 7 Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 10.
  8. 8 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 37: “Succession in respect of immovable property shall be governed by the law of the country where the property is situated”; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 10.
  9. 9 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 37; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 10-12.
  10. 10 Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 12.
  11. 11 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 38; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 15.
  12. 12 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 38; Direk Udomsak, Wichian. (2024). Civil Law Commentary, Volume 4, p. 323.
  13. 13 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 38; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 15-16.
  14. 14 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, p. 197.
  15. 15 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 40; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 20.
  16. 16 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 40; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 20-22.
  17. 17 Civil and Commercial Code (CCC), Section 1648; Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, p. 143.
  18. 18 CCC, Section 1667; Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, p. 197.
  19. 19 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 40; Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, p. 197.
  20. 20 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, p. 30.
  21. 21 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, pp. 30-31.
  22. 22 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, pp. 30-35.
  23. 23 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, p. 31.
  24. 24 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, pp. 31-32.
  25. 25 Direk Udomsak, Wichian. (2024). Civil Law Commentary, Volume 4, p. 323.
  26. 26 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 39; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 18.
  27. 27 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 39; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 18-19.
  28. 28 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, pp. 32-33.
  29. 29 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 41; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 23.
  30. 30 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Section 41; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 23-25.
  31. 31 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, pp. 197-198.
  32. 32 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Sections 37-38; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 15-16.
  33. 33 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Sections 37-38; Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, p. 198.
  34. 34 Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, p. 16.
  35. 35 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, pp. 198-199.
  36. 36 CCC, Section 1648; Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, pp. 143 and 199.
  37. 37 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, pp. 199-200.
  38. 38 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, p. 32.
  39. 39 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, pp. 32-33.
  40. 40 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, p. 33.
  41. 41 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, pp. 197-200.
  42. 42 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, p. 32.
  43. 43 Direk Udomsak, Wichian. (2024). Civil Law Commentary, Volume 4, p. 371.
  44. 44 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, p. 200.
  45. 45 Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, pp. 30-35; Sukchoti, Udom. (2001). Conflict of Laws in Wills, pp. 20-25.
  46. 46 Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, pp. 197-200; Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Handbook on Estate Administration for the Public, p. 32.
  47. 47 Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481, Sections 37-38; Chatnakrob, Thanapat. (2023). Principles of Succession Law under the Civil and Commercial Code, pp. 197-200.
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