If my Thai wife (who owns my house) dies before I do, do I automatically inherit the property under Thai law? I am a USA citizen. We have a son together. But I would hope I have power over the land until he reaches legal age.

If the last will does not have a different order you will inherit it but you need to sell it within a certain time because foreigners can not own land... was it 6 or 12 months?

1 hour ago, zappalot said:

If the last will does not have a different order you will inherit it but you need to sell it within a certain time because foreigners can not own land... was it 6 or 12 months?

12 months

Under Thai law you will not  inherit the property.

This assumes that there is no will.

In such circumstances (ie no will) there is  a pecking order on who gets what. As widower you are at the bottom of the list.

Why is this?-You are not blood related.

 

A will is required.

If you acquire the property -then you have 1 year to sell it.

 

Maybe you can put it into  a company. Legal advice required.

Three nonsense replies so far,

If the house was purchased during your marriage, you already own 50% or it.

 

Inheritance laws (if no will) specify you will inherit 50% of her share.

 

While you would probably be required to sell your share within 12 months of probate, there is no set time for probate under Thai law, so you could not complete probate and continue to live in a house registered to your deceased wife.

 

 

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

and continue to live in a house registered to your deceased wife

Exactly! our neighbor (very old brit wannabe-professor) still lives in the house obviously registered to his wife who died more than 7 years ago. I think more than that. Their kids - daughter is in UK doing noodles and son in asylum.