Recommend a reasonably priced lawyer to draw up a will.

[giddyup]

I have two bank accounts in Pattaya, one to keep the 800,000 baht for the retirement extension, and the other for daily living expenses. I need a reasonably priced lawyer to draw up a simple will so my partner will inherit the monies in both accounts when I am no more. Need a trustworthy lawyer to draw up a will and who doesn't charge silly prices.

[ELVIS123456]

Contact the Aus Embassy - they can send you a list of 'acceptable' lawyers. I used a guy in CM when we lived there but you should get someone in Pattaya who is there and knows the ropes and people there.  You will need to put in in both English and Thai - Lawyer will know how. Suggest you also include what to do with your remains etc etc.  Worth paying some money to get it done right as it aint like Aus with our transparent and fair legal system - many things and many people can stop her getting the money here (or just take a cut).

 

[notamember]

i used Alisa

cost 7000 baht after four re-writes of my own making and after following her correct advise

 

[giddyup]

4 minutes ago, notamember said:

i used Alisa

cost 7000 baht after four re-writes of my own making and after following her correct advise

 

Thanks, is she in Pattaya?

[amvet]

7000 baht seems a bit much for a will with only two bank accounts on it.  Was that the initial fee or as a result of more complicated procedures or items inherited?

[giddyup]

4 minutes ago, amvet said:

7000 baht seems a bit much for a will with only two bank accounts on it.  Was that the initial fee or as a result of more complicated procedures or items inherited?

There's probably a set fee, whether it's dead simple or a little more complicated. I did hear that the banks do what's called a POD, payment on death, so will look into that next week.There's also the matter of permission to cremate my body, if that isn't specified in a will, apparently it can get messy.

[notamember]

20 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Thanks, is she in Pattaya?

yes, soi num plab wan

 

[notamember]

9 minutes ago, amvet said:

7000 baht seems a bit much for a will with only two bank accounts on it.  Was that the initial fee or as a result of more complicated procedures or items inherited?

i thought it was fair

i had been quoted up to 15k elsewhere

it was always 7000 despite the rewrites

[amvet]

7 minutes ago, giddyup said:

There's probably a set fee, whether it's dead simple or a little more complicated. I did hear that the banks do what's called a POD, payment on death, so will look into that next week.There's also the matter of permission to cremate my body, if that isn't specified in a will, apparently it can get messy.

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/949830-bank-accounts-transfer-on-death/?page=3

 

This thread says you can't do it and need a will costing 7000 baht.

[Jip99]

12 minutes ago, giddyup said:

There's probably a set fee, whether it's dead simple or a little more complicated. I did hear that the banks do what's called a POD, payment on death, so will look into that next week.There's also the matter of permission to cremate my body, if that isn't specified in a will, apparently it can get messy.

 

 

If if you are married, no problem...... otherwise potentially messy without a Will specifying your wishes.

 

 

That said, die at home and they could have you cremated in 3 days. Two days was the quickest I have seen.

 

[Jip99]

1 minute ago, amvet said:

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/949830-bank-accounts-transfer-on-death/?page=3

 

This thread says you can't do it and need a will costing 7000 baht.

 

You can get a valid Will for 2,000 Baht.

 

Other costs will crop up later with Probate.

 

 

If you are married, and everything is going to your wife, consider whether you need a Will at all.

[giddyup]

Just now, Jip99 said:

 

 

If if you are married, no problem...... otherwise potentially messy with a Will specifying your wishes.

 

 

That said, die at home and they could have you cremated in 3 days. Two days was the quickest I have seen.

 

otherwise potentially messy with a Will specifying your wishes

 

I would have thought a will would eliminate the mess.

[notamember]

1 minute ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

If if you are married, no problem...... otherwise potentially messy with a Will specifying your wishes.

 

 

That said, die at home and they could have you cremated in 3 days. Two days was the quickest I have seen.

 

it will not be messy for me, her assistant videoed me and the witnesses signing the will, there will be no disputes 

[Jip99]

Just now, giddyup said:

otherwise potentially messy with a Will specifying your wishes

 

I would have thought a will would eliminate the mess.

 

 

Apologies... ?.... missed off 'out'..... duly edited, thank you.

[giddyup]

Just now, Jip99 said:

 

You can get a valid Will for 2,000 Baht.

 

Other costs will crop up later with Probate.

 

 

If you are married, and everything is going to your wife, consider whether you need a Will at all.

Been together 8 years, but not married. Was all set to tie the knot until I found out Centrelink (Australia) can reduce my pension once married.

[amvet]

24 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

You can get a valid Will for 2,000 Baht.

 

Other costs will crop up later with Probate.

 

 

If you are married, and everything is going to your wife, consider whether you need a Will at all.

Where do you get a will for 2000 baht?

[giddyup]

1 hour ago, amvet said:

Where do you get a will for 2000 baht?

Yeah, I'd like to know as well.

[tropo]

13 hours ago, giddyup said:

Been together 8 years, but not married. Was all set to tie the knot until I found out Centrelink (Australia) can reduce my pension once married.

Only if you report your marriage. If you're living with your wife in Thailand they don't need to know.

[Jip99]

13 hours ago, amvet said:

Where do you get a will for 2000 baht?

 

 

I had a simple Thai Will drawn up in Buriram province for 2,000 Baht.

 

Nothing complicated in my case, just leaving all my Thai assets to my partner.

[geriatrickid]

14 hours ago, Jip99 said:

You can get a valid Will for 2,000 Baht.

Other costs will crop up later with Probate.

If you are married, and everything is going to your wife, consider whether you need a Will at all.

Good grief. A boilerplate document that is cheap will cost more in the long run. The intent of a will is to ensure that;

1. Instructions are set out and

2. That the beneficiaries are identified and that the estate assets are disposed of in accordance with the deceased's instructions.

 

7,000 baht is a low cost basic non complex will.  Low cost lawyers offer low costs because they don't have overhead for things such as ;

-qualified paralegals and actual members of the  bar.

- data storage facilities in a secure location with offsite backup

 

Even if one is married, there is no guarantee that everything goes to the wife. With a large enough estate, there are taxes to be  paid and tax claims to be handled. The tax department can and will look at at deceased's income and assets to determine if the appropriate taxes were paid when the deceased was alive.  Estate settlements can and do become  messy in Thailand if there are ex-spouses and children from previous relationships.  If there are secured debts such as mortgages and demand loans, these have priority in the settlement of an estate. A spouse can quite literally inherit debt obligations unless the  assets are verified to be free of debt obligation.

And on and on it goes.

 

 

 

[giddyup]

2 hours ago, tropo said:

Only if you report your marriage. If you're living with your wife in Thailand they don't need to know.

Not prepared to take the risk. If Centrelink find out after you're deceased maybe they can claim an overpayment for however long you were married.

[Jip99]

7 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

Good grief. A boilerplate document that is cheap will cost more in the long run. The intent of a will is to ensure that;

1. Instructions are set out and

2. That the beneficiaries are identified and that the estate assets are disposed of in accordance with the deceased's instructions.

 

7,000 baht is a low cost basic non complex will.  Low cost lawyers offer low costs because they don't have overhead for things such as ;

-qualified paralegals and actual members of the  bar.

- data storage facilities in a secure location with offsite backup

 

Even if one is married, there is no guarantee that everything goes to the wife. With a large enough estate, there are taxes to be  paid and tax claims to be handled. The tax department can and will look at at deceased's income and assets to determine if the appropriate taxes were paid when the deceased was alive.  Estate settlements can and do become  messy in Thailand if there are ex-spouses and children from previous relationships.  If there are secured debts such as mortgages and demand loans, these have priority in the settlement of an estate. A spouse can quite literally inherit debt obligations unless the  assets are verified to be free of debt obligation.

And on and on it goes.

 

 

 

 

My Will is perfectly valid. and will do the job at the appropriate time.

 

No need for lawyers to draw up a basic Will... obviously, this can also be achieved at the Amphur... I didn't take that route as everything is in Thai. I chose to do my Will in English with a Thai translation.

 

I would always recommend a lawyer where there is any degree of complexity. My UK estate is more complex  and require legal input.

[Henryford]

I paid 4000 for a will. Forget the name of the firm but its about 400 yards down from Tesco north Naklua on the same side.

[SidJames]

11 hours ago, giddyup said:

Not prepared to take the risk. If Centrelink find out after you're deceased maybe they can claim an overpayment for however long you were married.

Once deceased then you longer exist as a legal entity & so cannot be sued.

An Australian financial department would have have some fun trying to sue a Thai national through the Thai courts who happened to be apparently married to you in the past plus there would no proof that you hadn't already actually spent those 'funds' anyway & that she was now in possession of them.

This would not hold up in a Thai court as it would have to illegal in Thailand, Aussie rules do not apply.

[Rimmer]

There is an eleven page pinned topic all about wills HERE

It will be helpfull for everyone if all this is kept in one place, thank you

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