Legal issues/risk of being summoned to court

[NorthernRyland]

Recently my father passed away while in Cambodia but he has a Thai national wife who he left behind including 2 sons (myself) and my brother who both reside in Thailand. I'm just a tourist here (on an expired METV due to COVID and visa amnesty) but my brother has a proper business which he runs in BKK (we're Americans btw).

 

My Dads financial assets reside in the USA but I'm worried that things could go bad between us and his wife which results in some legal action being taken against us in Thailand. There is a will involved over his bank account in the US but it's possible to be contested and get ugly in various ways, hence my concerns about legal action.

 

My question is, are we at risk of potentially being summoned to court or having our travel rights restricted? I don't want to hang around here and risk getting dragged through court over splitting assets. My brother has no choice but we'd like to know our rights at the very least.

[Sheryl]

Not over a will being contested in the US, I don't think.

 

She would have to accuse you of something here in Thailand.

[smutcakes]

My advice would be contact a lawyer.

[seajae]

if the money and will are in the US she would have to take action there, Thailand has nothing to do with it, you havent done anything wrong in Thailand so she can do nothing here, she has to go to the US to contest the will unless he also left a thai will

[NorthernRyland]

Just now, smutcakes said:

My advice would be contact a lawyer.

Indeed. I was just curious to ask here first.

[NorthernRyland]

Just now, seajae said:

if the money and will are in the US she would have to take action there, Thailand has nothing to do with it, you havent done anything wrong in Thailand so she can do nothing here, she has to go to thew US to contest the will

That's what we thought. There is some personal property and joint land they purchased in Thailand but we didn't want to engage in any legal battles over it. She's already pushed to not allow us access into the house to collect any sentimental property so I'm preparing for the worst with this women.

[ezzra]

You need to see if your father made a will and if so what's in it and who get what? i'm sure that by now the woman already contacted a lawyer to see where she stand in all of this, basically you have nothing to worry about but getting a legal opinion wouldn't be a bad idea... 

[blackcab]

There are lawyers in Thailand that have dual USA-Thai citizenship and who are qualified to practice in the US.

 

If you have problems this might be a good place to start.

[thequietman]

Maybe, give her reassurances that you will not contest anything that is currently owned in Thailand. It is likely that she doesn't know her rights completely, and so is putting her back to the wall. 

 

Once she knows where she stands, she might allow access for sentimental things that were dear to you. She might also be sentimental about the same items as you, so discuss it.

 

There is no reason why your relationship with her needs to go stale, just talk about it.

 

I wish you the best in your future. Sorry about your dad passing.

[NorthernRyland]

1 hour ago, thequietman said:

There is no reason why your relationship with her needs to go stale, just talk about it.

 

I wish you the best in your future. Sorry about your dad passing.

Cross culture relationships can be difficult to navigate, especially when money is involved.

 

thank you for your kind wishes.