Litigation & legal advisory
Family Lawyer Thailand — Divorce, Child Custody, Marital Property & Legitimation
Family matters concern the relationship and the property of spouses and children, and each decision has long-term effects on parental rights and assets. We advise in confidence, draft agreements and appear before the Juvenile and Family Court, including for cross-border couples whose documents must be used abroad.
Work we accept
- Consensual divorce and enforceable divorce settlement agreements
- Contested divorce on statutory grounds, for petitioner or respondent
- Parental power, visitation rights and child maintenance
- Division of marital property and joint debts, and tracing transferred assets
- Legitimation, petitions to declare a child legitimate, and adoption
- Prenuptial agreements and spousal property arrangements
- Petitions on legal capacity, guardianship, curatorship and a minor's property
- Document work for cross-border couples: status certificates and certified translations for use abroad
What we do not do
- Guarantees about custody outcomes or maintenance amounts
- Assisting removal of a child abroad without lawful authority or a court order
- Preparing documents with untrue statements for use with any authority
Documents to prepare
- Marriage certificate and house registration of both parties
- Children's birth certificates and records of school or living expenses
- ID cards or passports of both spouses
- Proof of assets: title deeds, sale contracts, bank accounts and debt documents
- Income evidence for both parties, for setting maintenance
- Foreign documents with certified translation, notarised where required
How the matter proceeds
1.Confidential consultation and options
We take the facts, assess grounds for divorce, the status of marital property and the effect on the children, then compare settlement with litigation.
2.Negotiation and settlement drafting
We draft the divorce, custody, maintenance and property terms with enough specificity to be enforceable, not broad statements of intent.
3.Registering the divorce or filing suit
Where terms are agreed we complete registration at the district office; otherwise we file with the competent Juvenile and Family Court.
4.Hearings and protection of the child
We present evidence on grounds, suitability for parental power and the child's costs, including urgent interim protection applications.
5.Enforcement and follow-on documents
We pursue unpaid maintenance, update civil registration records, and arrange certified translation or legalisation when the judgment must be used abroad.
Courts and authorities involved
- Central Juvenile and Family Court and provincial Juvenile and Family Courts
- District offices for registration of a consensual divorce
- Thai embassies or consulates for some cases where a spouse is abroad
Before you decide
- A consensual divorce must be registered; signing papers privately does not end the marriage.
- Vague terms about children and property are often unenforceable when a dispute arises.
- Taking a child abroad without parental power or consent can have serious legal consequences.
- Most property acquired during the marriage is marital property; transfers made before filing can be revoked.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between consensual and contested divorce?
A consensual divorce is registered at the district office when both parties agree and witnesses attend; a contested divorce requires filing suit and proving statutory grounds under the Civil and Commercial Code.
How is child maintenance determined?
The court weighs the child's needs against the payer's ability, so there is no fixed rate. Evidence of actual expenses and both parties' income should be prepared.
Can a foreign spouse divorce in Thailand?
Yes, where the marriage is validly registered and the Thai court or registrar has authority. Foreign documents need certified translation and often notarisation with legalisation first.
Does an unmarried father have rights over the child?
Parental power generally rests with the mother; the father must first legitimate the child by consent or court order to hold full legal rights and duties.
Are prenuptial agreements effective in Thailand?
Yes, if made and recorded together with the marriage registration in the prescribed form; terms contrary to public order or mandatory family law provisions have no effect.
How is a mortgaged home divided?
Marital and personal shares must be separated and the outstanding loan considered. Common routes are sale and division, transfer to one party who assumes the debt, or securing the child's right of residence in the agreement.
How long does it take?
Agreed cases are much quicker because they are registered at the district office; contested cases depend on the court's calendar and the complexity of the assets. We report the timetable from the dates actually received.
Is a family consultation confidential?
Yes. Attorneys are bound by professional rules of confidentiality, and information is used only for the work you instruct.
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Next step
Send the documents you hold with a short chronology. The responsible attorney will assess the case, the limitation period and the realistic options, then quote in writing before work begins. We do not guarantee outcomes.
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Send every page for review before work starts.
Identify the destination country and receiving authority.
Do not treat estimates as a government processing guarantee.
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The office checks purpose, legal scope, and certification sequence before work starts. Registered company 0405565001923.
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Selected from our knowledge base of 3,300+ real questions we have answered.
What documents are required for notarization in Thailand?
Practitioner's view to "What documents are required for notarization in Thailand?" — Fees depend on page count, complexity and language pair; request a written quotation by phone +66 94 895 8999, LINE @Thainotary or Contact@thainotary.co.th. In Thailand notarial services are performed by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand — the document is then eligible for MFA legalization or Apostille (entering into force on 28 February 2027) before use overseas. Walk-in and mobile-notary appointments both available — call 094-895-8999 to confirm a slot.
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Quick summary for expats, HR teams and law firms to "What cosmetic rules govern certificate of analysis (COA) ingredient report translations?" — Government fees are THB 200 per stamp for the normal service (2–3 business days) and THB 400 per stamp for same-day express (filed before 11:30); translation itself is priced per page/word and by language rarity. Every translation ships with a Certificate of Accuracy carrying the translator's name, a job reference number and the company seal — the format Thai ministries, embassies and universities expect. Door-to-door pickup in Bangkok and DHL dispatch worldwide — call 094-895-8999.
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Per the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (MFA Thailand) to "What maritime rules govern deep-sea port management agreement translations?" — Inbound chain for foreign documents: notarisation or Apostille in the country of origin → that country's embassy in Bangkok (non-Apostille states only) → Thai translation → MFA certification, after which DBD, district offices, Immigration and the Thai courts accept the file. Multi-language certified translation for use in Thailand runs in three layers: translation by a native/MFA-recognised translator, a certificate of accuracy sealed by the translation company or a Notary Public lawyer, then MFA legalisation of that translation. Door-to-door pickup in Bangkok and DHL dispatch worldwide — call 094-895-8999.
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Practitioner's view to "What radio regulations govern maritime radio frequency spectrum license translations?" — Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, with entry into force on 28 February 2027, so outbound documents to member states need one Apostille from MFA instead of a destination-embassy step, except for states that objected to the accession. We cover English, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hindi, Vietnamese, Myanmar, Lao, Khmer, Indonesian, Malay, Tagalog, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Eastern European languages. Door-to-door pickup in Bangkok and DHL dispatch worldwide — call 094-895-8999.
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Per the Lawyers Council of Thailand's Notarial Services rules to "How to notarize DNA test results for immigration purposes in Thailand?" — Standard turnaround is 1 business day; same-day service is available by appointment for straightforward files. You must sign in front of the attorney with your original passport; the attorney affixes the notarial seal, signature, register number and date so the document is accepted abroad. Walk-in and mobile-notary appointments both available — call 094-895-8999 to confirm a slot.
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Practitioner's view to "What occupational safety rules govern ISO 45001 standard translations?" — Government fees are THB 200 per stamp for the normal service (2–3 business days) and THB 400 per stamp for same-day express (filed before 11:30); translation itself is priced per page/word and by language rarity. Every translation ships with a Certificate of Accuracy carrying the translator's name, a job reference number and the company seal — the format Thai ministries, embassies and universities expect. Door-to-door pickup in Bangkok and DHL dispatch worldwide — call 094-895-8999.
Related service: All-language translationKey facts at a glance — End-to-end certification and translation
- Indicative price
- Contact us for a quote — a firm quote is always given before work starts
- Turnaround
- 1–7 business days by document type and receiving authority
- What you receive
- Properly certified documents plus guidance on the next filing step
- Service coverage
- Nationwide Thailand — courier and fully online intake, no in-person visit required.
Figures above are indicative ranges; the final quote depends on page count, language pair and receiving authority.
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