Passing on What Families Value

Thailand's framework for inheritance and succession is set out in the Civil and Commercial Code. It distinguishes between statutory heirs — those entitled to inherit where no valid will exists — and those named as beneficiaries in a properly executed testament. Where no will is in place, assets pass according to a fixed order of priority among spouse, children, parents, and more distant relatives.

Wills prepared in Thailand must meet specific formal requirements to be valid. A will that fails to satisfy those conditions may be set aside entirely, even if the testator's intentions were clearly expressed. This is a common source of difficulty for families, particularly when documents were prepared informally or many years ago.

The executor of a Thai estate is appointed by the court and holds a defined set of powers and obligations. Where heirs disagree on the appointment of an executor, or on how the estate should be managed, formal proceedings before the Civil Court may be necessary. The process is methodical rather than swift, and clients benefit from early, realistic advice about what to expect.

Foreign nationals owning assets in Thailand — including condominium units, bank accounts, and business interests — face additional considerations. The estate may need to be handled partly under Thai law and partly under the law of the deceased's home country, depending on how assets are held. Our team has experience navigating these cross-border situations and can explain what steps are needed in each jurisdiction.

Suvarna Legal works exclusively in the field of inheritance and estate matters. This focus allows us to develop and maintain a depth of knowledge that a general practice firm, covering many areas of law, would find harder to sustain. Clients benefit from that accumulated experience at each stage of their matter.