jakestevernson

1 hour ago, male expat said:

Take the international law office  in Phuket. The Austrian senior partner  Sam Fauma is well installed here for more than 25 years and absolutely trust worthy.  You can clarify by phone. The can make the doc and you do not need to go there. 

 

be careful with local lawyers.

 

 Thanks much appreciated. I will contact them and go from there.

Thanks again.

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Although we now live in Bangkok, I made my Thai will with Magna Carta in Pattaya.  Make sure you have a separate UK will for any UK assets.

 

https://magnacarta.co.th/home/

Thank you Brewster, I will check them out now. Much appreciated.

Hi Guys,

I am looking at making a Will for my wife in Thailand. Basically I want to make sure that the properties and land in her name go to our children (both Thai/UK citizens) without any issues. 

It would be appreciated if anyone could let me know which lawyers/companies they used, costs and any general advice to follow when setting one up. I know this can be done at the Land Office, but realise that the wording, setup, etc has to be done very carefully, hence why I would feel more comfortable with paying for a lawyer to avoid any errors. 

Any advice would be really appreciated. 

Cheers JS

11 hours ago, rhodie said:

@scubascuba3

I can't be sure, but I think I read somewhere that both options show as international transfer. I did a test transfer last week and selected 'purchase property' to test. I have not updated my bank book yet to see the result. But, it is worrying that the OP's bank could not provide the correct forex form. I mean it is easy to trace the transaction for the bank and show the money came from abroad. OP says the fact that the money arrived in Thai Baht was the issue.

I am looking to buy in Pattaya so that is the Land Office that I am interested in. Would they accept a Wise transfer? Who knows but I have yet to see a confirmed report that it has worked.

 Rhodie,

If you want to avoid my mistake just follow what myself and Treetops have suggested. I selected property purchase on VFX and Transwire when I used both companies and the money landed in Thai baht. It stated International Transfer for property.  This was not sufficient for the Land Department for my purchase unless you are a Permanent Residence. In fact, if you are a Permanent residence your money doesn't even need to come from abroad.

Hope all works out for you, which it should do.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not the Pattaya land office, a letter from the thai bank showing it's a foreign transfer is sufficient

This may be the case in Pattaya and indeed other places, but in Bangkok they will usually need the money to land in Bangkok Bank in a foreign currency. The Bank will then change the money into Thai Baht and then will issue you a confirmation letter of this to show to the Land Department.

I know this as the Land Department told me this directly!

Just now, rhodie said:

Thanks. I have heard others say that this was acceptable, so very good information. Of course we still have the problem of different LO's with different rules, but better safe than sorry. Cheers.

I also have heard from others who's money was accepted the way I sent it, so I guess I was just unfortunate to have someone checking my documents thoroughly. It's irritating, but like an earlier poster said it could have been much worse for me.

2 hours ago, rhodie said:

How did you send the money? Transferwise?

VFX financial, but I have used Transferwise before. Both seem good. 

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Many guys seem to have a condo and house up country, you know the script, if they break up the wife can keep the worthless house no one wants and the man can keep the condo, not so easy if in the wife's name

 I think that's a safer way to do things for sure.

Like I said, I have been with my wife for a long time and we have children together, but it is always sensible to be cautious as nobody knows the future. 

Thanks for all the replies guys. it's good to know other's people's thoughts on this.

26 minutes ago, wprime said:

Thankfully sending the money in THB was your only mistake...

 Wise words indeed!

44 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Schoolboy error, really want condo in your name not wife

It's not really an issue as we have been together for a long time (over 20 years now, time flies!) and have properties together in the UK, but I wanted to have my own one here.  But yes, the money transfer in local currency rather than foreign currency was a school boy error.

44 minutes ago, tonray said:

You get a horrible exchange rate by sending baht also...always send home currency and do the conversion once it arrives.

Sounds like good advice to me.

Hi Swiss,

Thanks for the information.

I will double check and my account now and see what happens and let you know.

Cheers, JS.

Hi Guys,

Just wondering how any of you download books onto your Kindle from Kindle Unlimited or Amazon if you are based in Thailand.

I ask, as I am now registered and based in Thailand (my address, bank accounts, credit cards, etc) and my amazon account won't let me download any more books (even when using a VPN). Such a pain!!!!!

Anyway, any help, info, alternative sites would be really appreciated.

Cheers, JS.

Correction. I meant to say that it wasn't difficult to organsie and complete.

JS

Hi Guys,

Just an update.

After visiting my local District Office in Bangkok and following their advice to get my passport notarised (which I submitted on my second visit to the office) I had to wait 3 weeks for my final and 3rd appointment.

I had to bring my passport, 2 photographs (specific size) work permit, marriage certificate, children's birth certificates and my wife's Tabien Baan (Blue) Book, Wife's ID, Thai Witness ID (they also had to come for the appointment - but only had to stay for the first part) and pay the fee (a very small amount).

I came for my appointment and it took around 1.5 hours to receive the 'Yellow Book' with my name on it. It also included the names of both my mother and father. I waited to receive the 'Pink ID' Card which took around another hour. This would have been completed much more quickly, but there was a long queue at the office due to the many local Thai's upgrading their ID  card. During the process I was asked what my blood group was, my religion, my height was measured and two thumbs prints taken. The staff were friendly and polite so I was pleased with the process.

The Pink ID Card has already got me into a National Park for the local price where as my friends had to pay the foreigner's price even-though they had work permits. Not sure this will always work, but it's a good start.

 Anyway, so in summary,  as a foreigner, you can get your name in your own Yellow Tabien Baan Book' and a Thai Residency ID (Pink Card). It really was difficult to do so.

Hope this helps.

On 12/18/2020 at 11:39 AM, StevieAus said:

Before you go down the road of obtaining the documentation it might be preferable to visit your local Amphur ( District Office) and check on their requirements as it varies from office to office.

From some of the posts on this site some offices it seems require very little documentation.

When I obtained my blue book a few years ago they wanted everything apart from a photograph of the dog.

Yes Steve, this is what they asked me to do more or less. Hopefully it will be ok when I next go down there.

1 minute ago, KhaoYai said:

OP, take note of what others tell you about individual Amphurs having their own requirements.  When I tried to obtain a Yellow Tabien Baan the manager at my local Amphur insisted point blank that the house owner and registered housemaster (in my case the same person) be present.  I had a power of attorney document but she would not move.  The owner was 200 miles away and busy - I had to back down.  I'm pretty sure that if I'd been prepared to take my lawyer with me, things would have been different (they had been when conducting some chanotte related business at the Land Office) but I figured that the expense wasn't worth it.

 

I would also recommend you take Richard's advice and use a translation service to handle your passport notarisation - I've done it both ways and believe me, the MFA job is a pain in the butt and remember, you will have to go twice.  There are several agencies at the location he provided - the address is Mahatun Plaza.

 

On that subject, is Thailand the only country in the world that requires passports to be translated and the translation notarised?  I've never had or heard of this in any other country.

KhoaYai,

I will be doing all this January. I agree the translation service is probably the best way to go. If I can minimize the hassle and save myself stress, than that's the best option.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, it's been massively helpful.

I will report how it goes for me by the end of January.

JS

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

No appointment is needed at the MFA Chaeng Wattana. 

 

Option 1: 

1) Take your Notarised Copy of your Passport to the *MFA Building at Chaeng Wattana

2) Use a Translation service there (ground floor, while you wait)

3) Take Translation to second floor, apply for notarisation (it takes 3 days)

4) You can either collect the MFA verified translation 3 days later, or pay to have it posted to your address. 

 

*Note: On google Maps this building is called the Department of Consular Affairs (this is where I went last year to have my documents translated and varied) - Double check that the MFA has not moved.

 

Option 2: 

1) Take your Notarised Copy of your Passport to a Translation Service next to Ploernchit BTS

2) The Translation service will take care of everything - Translate the documents and get the Document translated at the MFA (this will take a few days)

 

 

If you are taking taxi’s etc, Option 2 is probably the cheaper option. Its also a lot more convenient. But, if you like doing things yourself, Option 1 is easy enough. 

 

 

 

 

 

Really good info Richard - Top Man!

Much appreciated. JS

richard_smith237

I have made an appointment with the Embassy and a fee has been paid online.

Will I need to make an appointment with the MFA to get the notarized/certified copy of passport translated?

Thanks JS

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

OP - As a foreign national you cannot have your name entered into the Blue Tabien Baan house (condo) book. 

 

BUT, you can obtain a Yellow Tabien Baan house (Condo) book for foreign nationals, with this you can also obtain a ‘Pink ID Card’ for foreign nationals (can be done on the same day). 

 

 

Requirements vary from Amphur office to Amphur office, thus everyone’s experience will be different. 

 

My experience was slight convoluted, although the staff at the Amphur office were very polite. 

 

- Make an appointment (I had to wait about a month!)

- Obtain a Notarised Copy of Your Passport (from your Embassy - you may need to make an appointment)

- Have the Notarised Copy of your Passport translated in to Thai (at an official translation service - takes about an hour at MFA building)

- Have the Translation of the Notarised Copy your Passport verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA will post your documents back to you a few days later).

- With a Thai Witness attend the Amphur office on the appointment day.

- Your Wife and Witness will need plenty of their documentation - Thai ID, Marraige certificate etc

- The process itself takes a couple of hours - its a lot of paper work for the Amphur officer to complete while you just wait around. 

- The Pink ID card takes about 15 mins and is very quick (worth getting on the same day). 

 

Important: Ensure YOUR name on your Marriage Certificate (in Thai) exactly matches the Thai Translation of your name on your Marriage certificate. 

 

 

 

 

What a excellent reply! 

Richard you are a star. Much appreciated!

Brilliant Peter, that makes a lot more sense. I will get in contact with the Embassy and then the MFA.

Much appreciated.

Thanks Steve.

The officer at the District Office indicated that I could have my name in the Blue Book, but like you said, I assume in reality, I would need to have it in the yellow book.