What are some budget-friendly options for creating a will in Thailand?

Nick MuayPlam If you want an efficient will that cannot be tampered with. You need to certify your passport and its translation With your embassy and the local thai government. You then write your will and have A certified translation of it.

Filed with the local district office. All of this can be done at very little cost, Translations are between 300 and 500 T. H. B. If I'm not mistaken, the file fee was actually less than 100 thb. As you said you don't have to do this this is not the only way, But this is the correct way to see to it that your thailand family receives the money and property that you want them to have. And it's gonna cost you less than 2000 thb total .a small price to pay to insure your family gets what you want them to get,quickly and efficiently. Obtw I followed the coaching of a Thai lawyer to do this for my family:)

Nick MuayPlam thank you very much for your efforts in researching this matter!

Nick MuayPlam OK

@Nongnuch *******

The misunderstanding comes that you rely upon an English text instead of the actual Thai written law. I rely upon the actual Thai language written law.

1656 precedes 1657, 1658,... but doesn't "govern" or define 1657, ...

There are 5 different types of will

Section 1656 describes the first type of will, commonly known as พินัยกรรมแบบธรรมดา Here the testator can sign or even thumb print a printed will, with 2 witnesses.

Then section 1657 describes the second type of will, commonly known as พินัยกรรมแบบเขียนเองทั้งฉบับ --> this is the handwritten will we're talking about, thimbprint is not allowed. (Wouldn't make sense since this has to be completely handwritten by the testator)

These first 2 wills don't need registering. And the handwritten type (2nd type) doesn't need witnesses either.

Then there are 3 more types :

3.พินัยกรรมทำเป็นเอกสารฝ่ายเมือง --> 1658

4.พินัยกรรมทำเป็นเอกสารลับ --> 1660

5.พินัยกรรมทำด้วยวาจา --> 1663

You can't rely on English versions of the law you find on the internet. The English version is just a "more or less" translation with mistakes.

Nick MuayPlam oh my god, you got your wires crossed! WHAT DO YOU NOT understand when it says: "REQUIREMENTS OF (shall I say "ANY"?) A THAI LAST WILL" as the headline clearly written in the section 1656 ? Which is the headline that is PRECEDING the NEXT sections ? It is PRECEDING the following sections! And this means that a handwritten Thai Last Will NEEDS TO BE CO-SIGNED by two witnesses

@Nongnuch *******

Aha, I see where the misunderstanding comes from :

You used section 1656, which is for the first type of will, which needs 2 witnesses. This is for a printed will. And furthermore you used an incorrect English text, not original Thai.

Handwritten will is section 1657, which doesn't need witnesses.

Nick MuayPlam it clearly says the witness part in section 1656 which stands ahead of the following 5 types of the Thai Last Will. So it might be right to assume that none of the 5 types can stand alone without at least two witnesses having co-signed. Being the REQUIREMENT that goes with all 5 types

@Nongnuch *******

website from the bureau of registration administration (สำนักบริหารการทะเบียน) about Thai wills :

The section about handwritten will :

2] พินัยกรรมแบบเขียนเองทั้งฉบับ

หลักเกณฑ์การทำ

1. ต้องทำเป็นเอกสาร คือ ทำเป็นหนังสือ โดยจะใช้ภาษาไทยหรือภาษาต่างประเทศก็ได้

2. ผู้ทำพินัยกรรมต้องเขียนด้วยลายมือของตนเองทั้งฉบับจะพิมพ์ไม่ได้ เพราะฉะนั้นผู้เขียนหนังสือไม่ได้ ไม่สามารถจะทำพินัยกรรมแบบนี้ได้ -->> พินัยกรรมแบบนี้จะมีพยานหรือไม่มีก็ได้ เพราะกฎหมายไม่ได้ห้ามไว้ <<--

...

@Nongnuch *******

handwritten will doesn't need witnesses. If it needs, please show the specific section where it states that witnesses are needed for handwritten will.

SCB bank website even has an information page about the different wills, with information about the handwritten will :

พินัยกรรมแบบเขียนเองทั้งฉบับ ผู้ทำพินัยกรรมจะทำเป็นเอกสารเขียนเองทั้งฉบับก็ได้ แต่ผู้ทำนั้นต้องเขียนพินัยกรรมนั้นด้วยลายมือตนเอง ลงวัน เดือน ปีที่ทำ และที่สำคัญต้องลงลายมือชื่อผู้ทำด้วย !!-> กรณีนี้จะมีพยานมารับรู้การทำพินัยกรรมด้วยหรือไม่มีก็ได้ <--!!

Nick MuayPlam this means, a holographic (handwritten) Thai Last Will is also be subject to be signed before at least two witnesses

Nick MuayPlam All and every five types of a Thai Last Will are subject to fulfill the pretext, Section 1656: "A will may be made in the following form, that is to say, it must be made in writing, dated at the time of making of will and signed by the testator before at least two witnesses present at the same time who shall then and there sign their names certifying the signature of the testator.

No erasure, addition or other alternation in such will is valid unless made in the same form as prescribed by this section."

@Nongnuch *******

I base my comments on the original Thai text regarding the different types of wills described in Thai civil law. The difference between the 5 types are described in sections (มาตรา) 1656 to 1663 as part of the whole set of laws regarding Thai will.

@Phil *****

Why would I have been lucky? I used the samuiforsale template (which I found is excellent and is made up according to Thai Civil Law) and set up a Thai Last Will in 3 languages. I am a German retiree. I set up a Thai Last Will by myself for my assets in Thailand, went to the Amphur, got each page proofread, signed and stamped in the presence of two witnesses and the beneficiary. And of course I got separate Last Wills, one for assets in my home country and one for my assets in Thailand. I also included a "Living Will" (which my girlfriend would need in case I get hospitalized and which will prevent my corpse from being repatriated) . . .

@Nongnuch *******

Your lucky I don't know your individual circumstances Is that because your thai? Also you you have property/assets in 2 or more countries?

@Nongnuch *******

This must be a misunderstanding, there is nothing in the specification of handwritten testament which limits the beneficiaries to legal partner.

There are 5 different types of testament specified in Thai law.

The handwritten type is the second one --> พินัยกรรมแบบเขียนเองทั้งฉบับ and described in ป.พ.พ. มาตรา 1657 : has to be entirely handwritten and properly signed (no thumbprint as signing) by the person and needs a date (day month year).

To read the law Article 1657 go to the source at

%20law/pang01.htm

Then use the find function of your browser to look for 1657 and it will bring you to the specific Article for handwritten testament.

Nick MuayPlam handwritten - not valid and legal in Thailand, except if the beneficiary is your legal wife or husband