What happens to the 800,000 baht deposit in a Thai bank account if the account holder dies?

Jan 2, 2025
5 days ago
Holger **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
What Happen with the 800000 bht deposit in your Thai Bank account in Case you die? I Hope the Thai government wont keep IT๐Ÿค”
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When a foreigner dies in Thailand, their bank account and the required 800,000 THB deposit can become complicated without a proper Thai will. If there is no will, the money may go to the Thai government. It is essential to have a Thai will to ensure that designated beneficiaries receive the funds. The process can involve legal proceedings and may take several months, especially if heirs live outside Thailand. Having power of attorney and documented directives can facilitate smoother transitions. Several contributors stressed the importance of setting up a will to avoid potential issues with inheritance and bank account access after death.
Lion *****************************
Exactly...and easy to do.
Roberto *********
Get onto the 65k monthly transfers and you won't have to worry about this ridiculous 800k bond
Nick *******
Well obviously you make sure you have a Thai will.

Simple really.
Stuart **********
I would just leave the pin for my wife so she can draw the money out as required,funeral expenses,etc
Lion *****************************
@Stuart *********
Maybe check to make sure the Bank does not lock the account if they know you are gone !๐Ÿ‘
Greg ***********
@Holger *************
Any foreign Last Will is NOT valid in Thailand. For all your assets in Thailand, you need to set up a Thai Last Will, according to the Thai Civil Code

And even when you name a beneficiary and executor in your Thai Last Will, it first needs to go through a Thai Court. Only by the Court order, your bank account will be released.

KEEP IN MIND: Any person who withdraws money at the ATM from an account that was set up in your sole name, after your demise, is acting illegally and can get prosecuted!

It could take up to 6 months until the Court clearance, and if the beneficiary is not your Thai wife, the person you named as the beneficiary could get approached by a court staff and asked to pay tea money first.

Keep in mind, corruption is widespread
Ady ******
I would also like some info on this as Iโ€™ve made a will in my home country of England starting my Thai partner get the money in my bank so does a English will still count in Thailand if I die or do I need to make another will in Thailand
Russell ***********
@Ady *****
i should imagine Ady you need to make one in Thailand, translated into Thai & held with a legal representative
Pete *******
@Ady *****
you need a will for each jurisdiction where your assets are located.
Ady ******
@Pete ******
ok thank you
Nongnuch ********
@Ady *****
for your assets in England, you need a valid UK Last Will. For your assets in Thailand, you need a Thai last Will acording to the Thai Civil Code. Your UK Last Will will not be easily accepted in Thailand
Paul **********
I've just done a will back in the UK and my solicitor said it was legally binding in Thailand also but interesting to see some comments here.
Greg ***********
and even when you name a beneficiary and executor in your Thai Last Will, it first needs to go through a Thai Court. It could take up to 6 months until cleared, and if the beneficiary is not your Thai wife, the person you named as the beneficiary could get approached by a court staff and asked to pay tea money first. Keep in mind, corruption is widespread
Greg ***********
@Paul *********
you have been told wrong! Show your solicitor the exit door! A U.K. Last Will is NOT valid in Thailand. For all your assets in Thailand, you need to set up a Thai Last Will, according to the Thai Civil Code
Paul **********
@Greg **********
I'll look into it thanks.
Greg ***********
While foreign wills are recognized in Thailand as long as they comply with the laws of the country where they were made and do not contradict Thai legal principles, they must undergo translation and authentication to ensure clarity and validity within the Thai judicial system.
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bdc66af#:~:text=While%20foreign%20wills%20are%20recognized,within%20the%20Thai%20judicial%20system.
Greg ***********
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Greg ***********
@Paul *********
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Erick ********
If this is what youโ€™re thinking about - youโ€™re not out and about to enjoy amazing Thailand. In the words of the amazing American philosopher, Elsa from Frozen, Let it go bro. Lol
Art ************
It's worth spending the money to use a Visa service so you don't have to put your own money in the bank
Ingvar *******
There are a lot of acounts money which the banks keeps when the acount owner dissappear of some reason.
Darren **********
Unless you have a will, it goes to the Thai government. Just like every other country.
Bart **************
It goes to your heirs, as does the money you keep anywhere else.
Rick *********
Again last place you rely on Thai legal advise is the internet and a guy next to you on a bar stool!!
Bart **************
@Rick ********
it really isn't a difficult question.
Frankie *******
It goes to paying up all your bar fines the freelancers u skipped without paying n the massage parlors n rest goes to your thai gfs
Brian ********
Have you thought about making a will in Thailand ?
Mark *********
People saying can transfer via the banking app but theres a new law where if you transfer more than 50k at a time you need face recognition so unless they have your cold body that's not going to work
Andy **********
I was advised by one of the bank staff, to only use the facial recognition against a plain white background, with nothing else in the image on your phone, if anything is not exactly the same as your appearance in their system it will play up, not sure exactly what, but I assumed it to mean maybe wearing glasses or something similar.
Mark *********
@Andy *********
got to pay for a car on Monday and just wondering if I should just go and get the cash from the bank which also causes problems as my bank is in koh Samui ,all the fun of spending your own money lol
Andy **********
@Mark ********
I was doing the same, after the advice from the bank, it works okay now, I asked the bank about getting cash, they advised me to go to the dealership where I was buying the car, and explain the situation, and if I couldn't complete the transfer, return to the bank for the cash, but they needed a bit of notice, they said it's better to bank transfer because you have concrete proof that you paid them, plus the obvious risks of walking around with a substantial amount of cash in your back pocket. ๐Ÿ™†๐Ÿ˜…
Andy **********
@Mark ********
on my banking app, you need facial recognition to change the transfer limit, and then again for the actual transfer, during the transfer it prompted me to smile and blink, it made sense when i thought about it later, if someone got your pin for your mobile banking, they could just scan your face while you were sleeping and clean out your account ๐Ÿ™ˆ๐Ÿ˜…
Mark *********
@Andy *********
I thought that as well but half the time it doesn't work have to go to the bank anyway ๐Ÿ˜•
Barbie ********
I wish someone could lend me 1500 baht only
Tim **********
Get an agent..you wonโ€™t have to put it in
Pertti *************
@Tim *********
and you loose money every year๐Ÿคก๐Ÿ’ต๐Ÿ’จ
Todd *********
@Tim *********
yes, one more good reason for an agent
Perry *******
@Tim *********
Can/will you elaborate on your statement for me? Thank you
Tim **********
@Perry ******
an agent will complete all your visa needs including putting
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0 into your new Thai bank account and withdrawing it after the bank account is set up
Bart **************
@Tim *********
it's called "fraud".
Tim **********
@Bart *************
get over yourself busy body..prostitutionโ€™ is illegal in Thailand,you donโ€™t see anybody arrested for that !!!
Brenda *********
So the account can only be in one name?
Bart **************
@Brenda ********
can be two names but that's entirely unrelated.
Greta *****
The last Thai girl (or lady boy) you picked up gets it
Jon *****
Jason ******
Same as if you had it in your bank account in your home country ,with what ever has been arranged in your will,what ever you want,you prepare for it ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ
Mel ******
@Jason *****
but in some countries, the bank allows you to assign a payable on death beneficiary and a will is not necessary in that scenario. My bank in Thailand does not have this same process and so I have to get a will here even though I donโ€™t need one in my home country.
Lion *****************************
@Jason *****
๐Ÿ‘
Lion *****************************
@Jason *****
You need a Thai will... your home country will does not cut it here.
Bart **************
@Lion ****************************
a will from your home country makes it more complicated but in the end it'll get the job done.

And remember that you have heirs also without a will. The will itself doesn't make that someone can't just keep your money.
Lion *****************************
@Bart *************
Yes well aware thanks. Resolving a Thai will is 'usually' faster..than waiting for the home country one... and xan be less expensive to implement..that was my point only. imo.
Jason ******
@Lion ****************************
yes of course ,that's exactly what I meant ,a will here for the Thai bank account ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ
Lion *****************************
@Jason *****
oops sorry..misread.
Jason ******
Nathan ******
Do you need a lawyer to make a Thai will?

How much is the process?
John ********
@Nathan *****
no need for a lawyer to make a will just make sure that your will is witnessed by 2 people and then you can go to get it translated into thai for the future court case
James *********
Will it to me,,, I'll make sure it gets taken care of ๐Ÿ‘
Stephen ********
I have been through all this for a deceased swiss friend. His family live outside thailand so gave me power of attorney to act on their behalf. It took about 14 months much of which were delays in Switzerland proving his Will.

After I appeared in Court here, it was about 2 weeks later, that I received papers from the Court, acceptable to Bkk Bank to release the 800k..

With a properly executed thai Will, the process would have been much faster.

For general interest, he had executed a Living Will here, to avoid unnecessarily extending life on tubes and machines, if it was clear that recovery was impossible. When his time came, that helped.

I also have a Living Will, and, like him, carry a body donor card, from Maharaj to support training of new doctors.

(I am merely sharing info for those interested and will not get into any debate about the rights and wrongs. Personal decisions)
Holger **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Handwritten and signed ....but in english IS ok?
Stephen ********
@Holger *************
yes, but both is better
Melissa *********
My bank said I have to have a Thai will
Carlos *********
That's what their hoping for, but if you're dead you won't need it.
Bagsida *********
My Girlfriend has got access to my mobile banking in chase of habend she can transfer all money she want and last will is made to maybe give a copy to the Bank. Good Idea.
Pete **********
Could you give your atm PIN number to your wife and if you die she would have a few days to clear out the account?
Bill *********
@Pete *********
Any female with your pin number would clear it out before you die, just in the interest of planning ahead! ๐Ÿ˜‰
Greg ***********
@Pete *********
that would be illegal, your Thai wife could get prosecuted, since the account is in your sole name, and she, as either the beneficiary of your Thai Last Will, or as the direct heir, needs to await the court order to release it
Pete **********
@Greg **********
a lot of actions are illegal - do you always carry your passport with you when you go anywhere? Must do by law .
Greg ***********
@Pete *********
you are comparing a light offense to a criminal action. I strongly advise you should never allow your Thai wife to begin plunder your account at the ATM after you deceased. It is illegal and it DEFINITELY will result in repercussions and bribery
Greg ***********
@Pete *********
no. I however carry a copy of my passport detail page and the stay-permit stamp. I have never been asked. I got pulled over at many many checkpoints, and after showing my Thai drivers license, were waived on
Pete **********
@Greg **********
then your acting illegally.
Greg ***********
@Pete *********
no I am not. I got a Thai DL, and this Thai DL has my passport number printed on it. So, police could always check
Pete **********
@Greg **********
by law you must carry your passport with you at all times. maybe you donโ€™t know the difference between a driving license and passport?
Greg ***********
@Pete *********
90% of tourists and expats never carry their passport on them. And it doesn't have any repercussions during police checks. I live in Thailand since 28 years. I have NEVER been asked for my passport in police roadchecks
Pete **********
True but as your so keen about abiding by the legal requirements - maybe you should.
Robin **********
She might take it before you die.
Pete **********
Depends on your type of wife!
Michael *******
@Pete *********
๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ correct ๐Ÿ˜€
Chris **********
@Pete *********
This is a no good idea because this is illegal
Euan ********
@Pete *********
one way to shorten your life expectancy
Rod *********
Could send it to me
Tom ***********
The advice that I have been given by Lawyers for Expats Thailand
@Brian ********
is to make sure that you have a Thai Will covering it.
James ********
@Tom **********
if you are writing a Thai will , and you already have another Will in place in another jurisdiction it is essential to let the Thai lawyer know that otherwise the new Thai Will will void any previous Will
Ernesto ********
@Tom **********
didnโ€™t need a lawyer for that advice
Paul ***********
What does your will say ๐Ÿคฆ
Carlos *********
@Paul **********
it better be a thai will!?!
Paul ***********
@Carlos ********
absolutely if you hold anything significant in Thailand
John ********
It's very important for you to have a will or the bank will get the money, so make the will to whoever you want to get the money, keep one for your self and one for your lawyer to hold also I believe that you can give one to the bank for reference, it took me almost 2 years to get the money from my friend's will even though it was left only to me, also they will have to go court to get the money even if they are thai so they will need a lawyer to help them out I had to go 3 times and the cost for your lawyer was
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thb
Steve *******
@John *******
Is there any point in making a Thai will if my only benefactors are in the UK. Can you state that any funds are returned to my UK bank. I just have a feeling that there is very little chance of that happening.
John ********
@Steve ******
it will happen if your family wants it
Pete *******
Depends what you put in your Thai will.
Apple *****
@Pete ******
also different topic with Bangkok bank for example do they have some paper or agreement that if I die my bank account will be accessible to my Thai partner? Would u know?
Aake **********
@Apple ****
Me and my Thai wife went to the municipal office that drew up a will and keeps it. Cost about 100 baht per person, one will per person
Apple *****
@Aake *********
thank you sounds great
Pete *******
@Apple ****
Thai will, power of attorney, named executors. 7k job done.
Apple *****
@Pete ******
sorry sounds silly but to make a Thai will all I need is a Thai lawyer or is it more complicated?
Jason *******
@Apple ****
I don't think you need a Thai lawyer.. You just need the documents written properly and then filed with the proper office. Chatgpt can write the docs for you and also tell you the correct place to file them nn
Jim ***********
Reckon it's a minefield get back. That's the reason I changed to 66k month now send
Kim *********
@Jim **********
an advantage with the 65k is that you can withdraw them immediately they have arrived
Jim ***********
@Kim ********
and not loose 800k anything happened
Kim *********
Jim ***********
@Kim ********
that was my reasoning
Kim *********
@Jim **********
I know - just wanted to point out that no money sitting idle in the bank when using the 65k option. So 2 advantages with that ๐Ÿ‘
Johan **************
Make sure you have a will ;-)
Giuseppe **********
@Johan *************
, they will if you not make any power of attorney
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