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[Spaniel]

Their usually isn't any "fuss" unless someone contests the will.

[Mobi]

Do any of you Thai legal experts out there happen to know if a legally married Thai wife has any claim over her foreign husband's Thai estate, even if he makes a will leaving all his Thai assets to another Thai person?

Does the wife have any automatic rights, as I believe she would have in the UK?

[sandgroper2]

Do I have to write my will out or type it ?

[sandgroper2]

Went to lodge my will, left everything to son in oz, couldnt lodge it, had to hve copy of his passport.

[buzzer]

Hi,

Really good information previously - Thanks!

I, too, am looking for a recommendation of a Law Firm capable of creating a Last Will - for me - in BKK. I'm looking for competence without high expense . Doofus paid ฿10,000 and gerry53 paid ฿10,000. That is an acceptable price range.

Interestingly enough, I don't believe that the original post was actually ever answered (at bottom from jerry53) as the OP found their own firm in Pattaya.

First of all I tried to PM SweetiePie, as he, or she is a lawyer, and had some great suggestions earlier in this post. However, depending on settings, that PM may go unread for awhile.

Then there was a suggestion by the following for Berkshire Legal on Sukhumvit. However, none of their phone numbers were valid, which I took as a bad omen and dismissed them as a possibility. Also, two more legal firms I don't want to deal with are Sunbelt, and Siam Legal due to previous TV posters bad experiences.

Any suggestions you could provide would be gratefully accepted.

Thanks!

Buzzer

Quote

From Doofus
Posted 2012-01-11 14:37:57
Berkshire Legal (http://bbgi.asia/leg...es/will-writing) do professional wills for expatriates for less than 10,000 baht if I'm not mistaken. They've recently established a presence in Pattaya after several years in BKK. They are also doing a promotion on legal services here: http://shar.es/Wz7uQ

Disclosure: I know the boss at Berkshire but I have no stake in his business.

Quote

From Gerry53
Posted 2011-03-01 14:01:11
I am looking for a lawyer to do my will and last testament for my Thai assets and having my Thai G/F as the beneficiary, I do not want the Thai government to confiscate them. My Thai assets are only a motorcycle, bank account and an investment account at the same bank. I had been advised of a service near immigration that did simple wills and only charged only 5,000 baht, when I enquired it was 20,000 baht which seemed ridiculous. I tried a second Thai law office and they wanted 10,000 baht for Thai only writting and 15,000 if I wanted a copy in english also. Does anyone have any recent experiences and prices? I did a search and know you can do one yourself and pay for translation but feel more comfortable with a real lawyer giving advice. Does a Thai will need to be registered as in many other countries?

[gerry53]

gerry53, on 2011-04-22 16:41:10, said:

I am the O/P and had a will drawn up by a local lawyer on Theppasit Rd (near Soi 10) for a 5,000 baht fee.  This included 4 copies in English and Thai, one each for lawyer, executor, alternate executor and myself - all sealed.  I thought the fee was reasonable as it included about 2 1/2 hours of consultation.  I appreciate others recommendations but I felt more comfortable with a lawyer familiar with Thai and the legal system here drawing up my will.  I had mentioned peviously my bank would not just add her as a beneficiary, she would have to have full signing rights!  The will is a very detailed 8 page document leaving no doubt of my possessions and allowing for future possessions should I aquire a new car or motorcycle.  Identities were well proven with passports, Thai IDs and supporting documents and should I die I am comfortable my wishes will be carried out.  Should I and my girlfriend die I am confident the alternate executor will proceed with my wishes. Thanks to all.  

Hi BUZZER,

I am the OP and my final price was 5,000 baht (not 10,000) as your post indicated and I think was a good value (but prices can change!).  The legal firm I utilized was PJ Law on Thepprasit Road near the Soi 10 Thepprasit intersection (Ms. Panisama)  for anyone interested about Pattaya and good english was spoken.  I hope you find a reasonable priced lawyer in Bangkok.

Edited by gerry53, 2012-03-15 18:23:50.

[buzzer]

Hi gerry53,

I don't know how that happened. I distinctly remember you paid 5,000 baht, and writing it down that way. Also, I reread the post several times.

It wouldn't make any sense to talk about being willing to pay for a Will in the range of ฿10,000 and ฿10,000.

I meant to say ฿5,000 and ฿10,000. Sorry!

I need a Bangkok lawyer, but this site had the best info about legally accurate wills.

Thanks,

Buzzer

gerry53, on 2012-03-15 18:17:26, said:

gerry53, on 2011-04-22 16:41:10, said:

I am the O/P and had a will drawn up by a local lawyer on Theppasit Rd (near Soi 10) for a 5,000 baht fee.  This included 4 copies in English and Thai, one each for lawyer, executor, alternate executor and myself - all sealed.  I thought the fee was reasonable as it included about 2 1/2 hours of consultation.  I appreciate others recommendations but I felt more comfortable with a lawyer familiar with Thai and the legal system here drawing up my will.  I had mentioned peviously my bank would not just add her as a beneficiary, she would have to have full signing rights!  The will is a very detailed 8 page document leaving no doubt of my possessions and allowing for future possessions should I aquire a new car or motorcycle.  Identities were well proven with passports, Thai IDs and supporting documents and should I die I am comfortable my wishes will be carried out.  Should I and my girlfriend die I am confident the alternate executor will proceed with my wishes. Thanks to all.  

Hi BUZZER,

I am the OP and my final price was 5,000 baht (not 10,000) as your post indicated and I think was a good value (but prices can change!).  The legal firm I utilized was PJ Law on Thepprasit Road near the Soi 10 Thepprasit intersection (Ms. Panisama)  for anyone interested about Pattaya and good english was spoken.  I hope you find a reasonable priced lawyer in Bangkok.

[sandgroper2]

Did my will yesterday, translation cost 300 bht, 3 spelling mistakes of names, so, have your translation checked before you lodge the will.Three passport copies of persons mentiond in will,witness fees and cost of lodgement, 22400 baht. (plus the 300)

[prk888]

I recommend to note well what sandgroper2 says about checking names translations.  We've  had several misspellings/translations (both of English & Thai names) not noticed at the time which although overcome subsequently were annoying/frustrating to deal with and lots of paperwork involved too.

[jimsrant]

Some excellent advice here. Thailands options are much easier than Europe but just like Europe it has rules of the dispersion of your Estate in  the event of you not having a Will. You get out for nout.
Lawyers the world over believe in the sanctity of their role and protect it jealously, particularly to justify their exorbitant fees. Thailand is the same as the rest of the world. After all the will is written by a clerk who earns 500 to 1000b a day if they are really lucky. Takes one to two hours and then the lawyer looks through it. Decide what you think the expertise for that is worth to you.
Writing a will is about creating peace of mind and the most important criteria is what will give you peace of mind not what will give someone else peace of mind. The price needs to fit your peace of mind criteria.
Thailand does not have trust laws as do some European countries and particularly of course the UK.  Therefore in Thailand they are not valid.
It is always best to have a will for each country you have assets in that you want to distribute assets. It saves a massive amount of time on death and reduces any complications dramatically.
A simple will can be produced for a low cost and in Thailand if the will is not contested then you do not have to probate it ie: register it with the court on death.
As in all things if you lack the skills pay someone you trust to do the work professionally.
Do you know two Thais of real status in society, If so, get them as your witnesses. Will contested, I doubt it very very much..
I have two senior Thai police officers and two prominent farangs who witnessed my English language Thai Will. No it does not need be be 2 just a minimum of 2.

[beachyman]

Anybody know how the will procedure works if your wife is not thai? Ie. if I die does dying intestate automatically mean my real estate and other assets revert to my farang wife?

I have a will and prenup registered in my home country and anti ciliary documents tied to the will in other countries where I have bank or real estate assets but not in Thailand.

Any assistance would be appreciated.