cosmont

I too have recently divorced from a very bad girl named Vee Vee from just outside Udon Thani.

When we met I thought she was the perfect girl, but over time I discovered the drug and alcohol abuse and of course the thai bf's.

Anyhow following an argument over me supporting her family, she left our home and filed for divorce.

I already had a good lawyer, but I went to Court expecting the worst, as all my mates had told me she would get "everything" and I would be stupid to fight her in court.

Well the surprise was was solely for her, the Judge was extremely fair to me, would not listen to her Thai ways arguments,nor her family witnesses.

The Judge explained Thai Law to me, especially the 50/50 split situation,I told the Judge that I welcomed my day in court to vindicate myself. The Judge explained to both of us any appeal process, and the likely time frame, any appeals could take at least 10 years to complete.

In front of the Judge, I told him that I would not accept a 50/50 split as I had done nothing to cause the divorce. If you cannot reach an agreement for Divorce in Thailand, then you need a reason to divorce in court, such as adultery or serious bodily harm.

All through the process the Judge agreed with me on every count, he told me numerous times the "he knew all about Thai bargirls ".

The Judge told me he was not allowing her claim for divorce, nor would he rule for her to get a 50/50 split of our assets, he told her in no uncertain terms to reach a settlement with me.

Both of us were sent to another judge to broker a settlement, that Judge told her if she did not agree to a settlement she would get nothing from the marriage.

Anyway the bottom line is the Judge forced a settlement in my favour, I got the house, land and car, I have to pay a smalll settlement to her, nothing like the value of our assets.

I suppose my story line is that the farlang can win, I had a good Thai Lawyer who did not cost me much and a Thai Judge who told me he had 180 cases just like mine to rule upon of Thai bargirls trying to rip off farlangs.

In Udon Thani, it seems it has become an "urban myth" amongst bargirls as to how to cheat farlangs, by building homes on "her land" and then she mortgages the house and land or sells the property. They always think they own everything.

Lastly, you may all wonder about what happens to the land my house is built on, the Judge in all his wisdom put a clause in the settlement stating that the land remains in her name, but upon my selling the house (and land), she must sign the land over to the new Thai owner, a very wise man!!!

So depending on the situation you will get at least 50%, or if it is another scam, then standing up for your rights will get you a better deal.

For her the bottom line is she will get nothing from the marriage and has returned to her bargirl profession, making her money in the worlds oldest "trade".

Well done, she was a bargirl and low class girl from the esaan, "easy" case, it will not be same story with a well educated girl from an upper class, believe my experience...

I live in the muak lek area saraburee province.Maybe she will get the lot, but she also has a lot of debt from the farm,That's not a big problem i am just wandering about the visa situation and living in the same house.We have no children to-gether so i can not do anything that way i.e leaving everything to the kid's.It is me that want's the divorce.

I divorced a few year ago here in Bangkok.

If you can't find any agreement with her and she refuse to divorce, you will have to find a lawyer and sue her at the court.

But regarding this matter, you should have a reason to divorce and it should match the Thai law where a short list of main reasons could be find.

Then the judge will push you to compromise first and find agreement with her, it could be give her some extra cash as you are the one who want end the relationship.

But maybe the best is to deal with her without lawyer maybe with the help of someone from the family, every situation is different.

English speaking lawyer will cost you a lot of money, 50K to 100K minimum, maybe you could offer this amount to her and go to Ampur straightly with a 50/50 on local AS/SET.

Lucky, you don't have kids with her as she might have been pressure you by using them against you but this another story....

I got a lawyer after I found out my wife had a Thai boyfriend. The lawyer did a good job and had plenty of evidence. We went to court in Korat and I kept everything, 100%....house, car, money everything. She got nothing.

Lucky you found a good lawyer able to assist you... This is hard to find in Thailand.

200 baht fine for Thais, and 5000 baht for falangs. Win win for all!

200B is Thai price

5000B is farang price

This is F........g Thailand

Thailand at its very best greed is good more money money I need more money not enough never enough money money, lovely money.

If you have some AS/SET, keep it away from Thailand and never married a Thai woman or have a kid with her so you won't have any serious problem.

Everything here is finally a matter of money.

Insurance policies can be either Dealer repair or Contract repair. When Dealer repair you can have it repaired at your dealership; if contract repair that means it gets repaired at shops under contract with the insurance company. This would be reflected on your policy sheet statements. However, after a vehicle is 5 year old, insurance companies don't offer Dealer repair coverage; it shifts to contract repair only. So, you might want to confirm whether your insurance covers Dealer or Contract repair...the insurance company will try to steer you towards one of their contract repair shops even if you have Dealer repair coverage but you can have your vehicle repaired at the dealer if the coverage provides that. Happened to me a couple years ago when I needed a broken door window replaced...my insurance company (LMG) tried to send me to one of their Contract repair shops...I said I have Dealer repair coverage...got my insurane broker involved who straightened out the insurance company and it was repaired at my dealership. My 2009 Fortuner (actually reflects 2008 on the car blue book since it was bought in Oct 2008) insurance was dealer repair for the first 5 years, I just renewed my insurance and that is when I found out only contract repair is now available and even some of the medical coverage amounts take a healthy drop...my broker even gave me three more quotes from other companies just to show me how coverage changes once the vehicle is more than 5 years old...guess the vehicle is consider less safe once it gets so old and don't rate Dealer repair anymore....appears to be the norm for Thai insurance.

My car is older than 5 years and I'm insure at AXA, still have Dealer repair... but AXA is not Thai company...

She lives with her mom, dad and brother. Although she has her own house and that plot of land. The three cars are owned by the family. Two housekeepers are paid by the family. Does not explain how she is still able to afford parking fees, gasoline, school fees and activities for her kid, expensive dinners, consumables, holiday to HK and other stuff.

I know she is middle class. But lets not focus on my girlfriend. Lets focus on all those new modern moobarns and condo's with 3-4 cars in front and all the thai people I see at shopping malls with the latest cars, smartphones. Surely all of those people are middle class right?

We look at them with western eyes and what you see could not be the real side of the reality. I stay here for a long time now and something that I have understand is that Thai people like to "show". In fact, you can see a lot of people at shopping mall with new cars, lot of stuffs (last smartphones models, etc) but without any real AS/SET. Why ? because they have lot of debits and can cumulate like 100% of income in monthly payment.

If I take example of my ex wife, when I met her, she had education from university, was driving a brand new Honda Accord, wearing nice clothes, Louis Vuiton original bag, smartphone, jewelry, living in house without rental fees, etc, typical "shiny" middle class girl !

But behind the apparence, she was earning 40,000B and paid monthly debit around 35,000B !!!

And the house she was living was owned by her mom...

So I guess it was hard to live with 5,000B to put Gasoline in car, etc so the credit card was always push to the credit limit and she was really happy to meet me to support her lifestyle.

By the way, this example is very common in Thailand, as most people in Bangkok living upper to their own level and never really save money even for retirement time, it is the Thai way...

Go look around basic Thai appartments in Bangkok, monthly rental fee about 3000B to 5000B but many cars on parking with value over 1 Million Baht.

Thai people prefer to "invest" in a car to "show" than in a better place to live, and maybe own by themselve.

In conclusion, until you learn exactly what is your GF real income and expenses, be careful about what you see, it can be just an apparence of a different reality.

And one more thing, 500USD a month is not very expensive international school fee, the expensive one will be rather 1000USD a month...

I feel a bit surprise about the story that seems quite strange.

When you live in Thailand as an expat since more than 10 years, you should be aware that good medical service in Thailand is expensive and you need an health insurance. As Oil engineer able to get a good income since many years, you should have also a saving.

But this guy live in a small studio of 39smq that he rent less than 200 USD in PATTAYA, claiming he was living in a smaller appartment before... very strange.

Thailand is a land of corruption, especially in Pattaya, but I doubt Police will be interest in conflict between farangs over an email message and prosecutor will keep your passport as here have no criminal charge.

I don't want imagine the guy is a scammer as he seems sincere, so he might did not say everything about the case.

Anyway, good luck to him.

Maybe in Thailand Police should more investigate with which money owners bought those sport cars... Sure many money landering involve...

Life value in THailand is cheap, especially for those Hiso... No justice in Thailand !

I got the 1 year then 5 years and renewed to 5 more last year, just need to show tabian baan, then no need paper from immigration if you have it.

Advantage of Driving Lience is that it is legal ID in Thailand, so no need passport anywhere and can use it at Bank, hotel, etc. and Thai Police appreciate it when they check your documents on the road.

Are foreigners allowed to work as waitresses ?

wrong typing, should be "Hostess"

RIP to the victim, nobody desserve to die like this, anything she done.

Old farang husband, Tomboy and business money... dangerous cocktail, especially in Pattaya

A new way to make some new extra cash for the immigration office, isn't it ???

Thats a very strange story ... Russian can entenr the kingdom without Visa and stay 3 months. Why he would need a visa ?

I guess Mama sold them a One Year multiple entry visa.

More than labels, a stamp should be input on the visa/passport so I am pretty sure staff from embassy is involved in the scam.

I was engaged to my wife when we found out she was pregnant, but this is exactly why we did get married. I wanted rights over my daughter so we became legally married before my daughter was born. Fathers have no rights over children born into wedlock.

You can marry after the kid born (as what I did), it will also make your kid become legal at the date of wedding.

You have 2 choices. Register marriage or legitimize your parenthood by going through the courts.

CORRECT but seems that have another way.

You have to wait the kid have 7 years and up to testify at ampur that he/she is your "legal" kid

.

By this way, no need to proceed by the court.

Is that your name is already on birth certificate as the father ?

I can only speak for my self. I am a tourist since almost 6 years. I did many back to back visa runs. I am under 50 years, and i do not work. But i can effort to stay on long term in Thailand. So, what i should do? Next time i will show them a bank report. Then they can see, i have the money. Btw; i never had even one day overstay. I never got arrested for something. I have a expensive but good Health Insurance. The worst thing i did here was to drive in to a one-way street. For that i got charged with a 400 Baht fine.

Anyway, should they refuse my visa some days, i consider it, that i am not longer welcome in the Kingdom of Thailand. Then, i will move to another SEA-Country.

And yes, i just got my 6th visa in a row on the same passport. So far it looks, i am still welcome in the Kingdom of Thailand. Thanks to the Thai Embassy in Vientiane and the Consulat in Savannakhet.

6 multiples entries Tourist Visa all from Laos only ?

Strange they don't apply the rules they showed on letter I took the picture.

Thanks guys for all the advises.

This below my report about the Visa Run in Laos :

I gone last week in Vientiane by Thai airways, promotion ticket fare was 7100B, not bad.

Laos visa on arrival 30 USD (I am European)

8 USD taxi from airport to my hotel.

Stayed at hotel located in same road as Thai consulate (Douangpraseuth hotel), it was very convenient (around 40 USD a night with abf).

Thai consulate open at 8H30 am but queue started outside at 8H00 am, I was lucky it was not raining that day.

I submited the following document to apply a Non Immigrant O 90 days, single entry :

Copy of child Birth certificate

Copy of my passport

Copy of Laos visa and entry stamp on my passport

Copy 2 Tabianbaan of kid and me at same address (Yellow and Blue one)

Certificate from the bank showing more than 400K at Thai bank

I guess the 2 last documents are optionals,

Then they asked me a copy of the Thai id of the mom of my kid that of course I did not have.

So I explained to them that because we are divorced I don't have her id copy.

When I said that, the guy immediatly asked me a copy of the divorce registration that luckily, I had with me.

(I suppose that showing I was married with the mom, prove that the child is my legal kid following the Thai law... no more discusses)

Job done, paid 2000B and got my passport back the day after.

Will apply an extension of stay in October before the expiration of the Visa, it will be another matter...

A new report will follow... Cheers.

The reason why the consulate refused a new tourist visa must have been that they doubted that after this long time you already spent in Thailand – one year for study, followed by close to another year for tourism – your real purpose to travel to Thailand this time was indeed for the purpose of tourism.

Too many visa run in Laos, they warned the public by showing this letter in Thai consulate of Vientiane...

Does anyone know a business run by foreigners not using nominees?

The only other choice is to open a business, find genuine Thai investors who will actually invest 51% of the capital and own 51% of the company and have effective control.

Using nominees is illegal, but everyone does it. It greases the wheels, and is the bread and butter for Thai accounting firms who actually provide the nominees, not to mention the endless kickbacks which end up in the pockets of the same people who every now and the beat their chests and threaten a crackdown.

Option 2 is legal and likely to end in ruin.

Then again it's illegal to drive on the wrong side of the road also

Option 3 is NOT CREATE a business in Thailand, this country does not desserve our business investment.

As European, I paid the Lao Visa 30 USD at Vientiane airport, even at night time, no over charge...

Talked about this case yesterday with some Thai friends, 2 working in banks, 1 running a small business. Typical Thai middle class. And they all shocked me by saying, the farang got what he deserved, for not respecting the "Thai way"

When I looked like a questionmark, they explained, the only "face" for the taxidriver, was his role as a taxidriver. And with that questioned, he had nothing left to loose. My friends didn't even think, that his reaction was OTT.

If that is the general attitude of Thais, we all have a very steep learningcurve ahead of us !

I don't think anyone has said or even implied that he "deserved to die". However, it can equally be said that to get upset/angry about a 51 baht cab fare is foolish. He could have just paid and walked away.

Read the first post

To be fair for both parties, taxi driver was wrong for killing for just 51 Baht but you think he wants to go to jail for killing . He has to raise his family .

Thailand is the best taxis in the Asia, In Malaysia they have special button hidden under the driver seat and the fare like magic without the passanger knowledge.

I have been taking taxi many times same route with only 2-10 baht different, Thai people may be friendly but please don't provoked them.

In any nation learn to respect people and we will get same in return. Don't think farang are more superior. If you think taxi cheated you ask them to stop and pay fares then took a new one but for my 20 years here no such incident happen.

The taxis driver here very good and polite people.

Look at other Asean countries you will know Thailand still best and safetest country to lived in.

In Malaysia, I always establish the taxi fare before I get into the taxi. The very first day I was there, I was told to always talk to the driver and determine the fare beforehand. And ask somebody in the know (friend, hotel, etc.) how much the fare should be beforehand as well.

In Bangkok taxis have meters, so the fare depends on the traffic and the distance.

That's correct if the taxi accept to use the meter and if the meter working correctly. By the way, the driver is able to take a longer way to reach your destination for make extra money...

I'm concerned this murderer is going to become a kind of folk hero among a segment of Thai people.

Certainly, many feel that westerners complain too much, are suspicious of being scammed even when they're not being scammed, and don't behave in the Thai way, whatever that is.

The coffee throwing, which is hard to believe, will no doubt be believed by many, whether there is any evidence other than the murderer's low value word. Just having coffee on his clothes if he does is meaningless, he can throw coffee on himself.

Bangkok taxi drivers have a political association with the red shirt movement, that is well known.

Many are of course armed for personal protection/business enforcement reasons but during red shirt flare ups, they can become part of a potential army.

I am concerned this news story and following trial are going to stir up some ugly anti-western xenophobia. Never far from the surface already of course.

My gut feeling is this is not just another murder case, but one that is going to represent much more to many people, Thai and western.

It really shouldn't, objectively it's just another murder case, but I think it WILL.

I am afraid you are right.

Talked about this case yesterday with some Thai friends, 2 working in banks, 1 running a small business. Typical Thai middle class. And they all shocked me by saying, the farang got what he deserved, for not respecting the "Thai way"

When I looked like a questionmark, they explained, the only "face" for the taxidriver, was his role as a taxidriver. And with that questioned, he had nothing left to loose. My friends didn't even think, that his reaction was OTT.

If that is the general attitude of Thais, we all have a very steep learningcurve ahead of us !

Don't insult Thais, don't throw coffee in someones face, pay your taxi fare, don't attack the man with a machete in his hand.

Should be not difficult to learn.

UNREALISTIC discuss between both of you. The question is not to insult Thai or anyone, those people who can say that someone desserve to die for 60 baht are stupid as I guess they won't accept that their kids, parents, friends die for such reason. The value of life is more than that !!!