Counsel for Families Navigating Inheritance

Thai law sets out a hierarchy of statutory heirs — spouse, children, parents, siblings, and so on — and specifies how an estate is to be distributed among them when no will exists. The process begins with identifying the heirs, establishing the assets, and applying the statutory provisions to the particular family circumstances. Where family members are in agreement, documentation can be prepared for a consent-based distribution. Where they are not, formal proceedings may be required.

A will executed abroad may be recognised in Thailand, subject to the law governing its formal validity and, in some cases, subject to authentication procedures. The position depends on the jurisdiction of execution, the nature of the assets, and whether the will's provisions conflict with Thai mandatory provisions — particularly where Thai-located assets are involved. Each case requires its own review.

This depends significantly on the nature of the matter. A straightforward statutory distribution where family members agree can often be completed in a matter of weeks. Document authentication typically takes four to eight weeks depending on the authorities involved. Disputed matters that proceed to formal proceedings may take considerably longer, and we are careful to set realistic expectations at the outset — including at each stage of the process.

Thai law does permit challenge to the validity of a will on grounds including improper execution, lack of capacity at the time of making, or the presence of undue influence. Whether a challenge is worth pursuing depends on the strength of the grounds, the assets in question, and the likely costs involved — all of which we review carefully before advising on a course of action.

It is helpful to bring whatever documents you have — the will if there is one, the death certificate, any correspondence with other family members or institutions, and any records relating to the assets involved. An initial consultation is not a document review; it is a conversation. You do not need to have everything in order before we speak.

Our services are priced on a fixed-fee basis for defined scopes of work — statutory distribution counsel at ฿16,500, document authentication at ฿9,800, and disputed representation at ฿35,000. If the scope of a matter changes, we discuss any adjustment before additional work is undertaken. There are no charges that are not agreed in advance.