Accessing deceased foreigner's thai bank account

[kiwijack]

As the executor I have been advised I need to apply to the Thai courts to access the funds held by the deceased in a thai bank.

It could take many months after all the notarized certified translated documents are lodged.

The court did say there may be a short cut...TIT???.. .Can anyone clarify or suggest an appropriate  lawyer from their knowledge  or experience 

 

Any guidance would be much appreciated. 

Thank you

[mancub]

The Thai court itself could appoint a Thai lawyer ( at least in the case of a Thai applicant). The charge being significantly lower than a private notary. It was 6 weeks to obtain probate/letters to show the bank, SCB, and another 4 weeks for the bank to release the funds, 

[kiwijack]

As the executor I have been advised I need to apply to the Thai courts to access the funds held by the deceased foreigner in a thai bank. He died outside Thailand. 

It could take many months after all the notarized certified translated documents are lodged.

The court did say there may be a short cut...TIT???.. .Can anyone clarify or suggest an appropriate  lawyer from their knowledge  or experience 

 

Any guidance would be much appreciated. 

Thank you

[CM4Me]

Thailand s a big country. What's the province where the bank account is held? I would then go to that province's forum for help and local knowledge.

[still kicking]

5 minutes ago, CM4Me said:

Thailand s a big country. What's the province where the bank account is held? I would then go to that province's forum for help and local knowledge.

Thailand is a big country?

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, CM4Me said:

Thailand s a big country. What's the province where the bank account is held? I would then go to that province's forum for help and local knowledge.

What are you talking about, you can go anywhere in TH for your bank as long you just have your bank book and passport. But then you need to be alive. Thailand is also everything but big lol, it's like a big village here. Just need 'a branch' willing to cooporate with XYZ paperwork. Up to branch manager to decide.

 

So i think the most important for the OP would be to at very least have that bank book. Then death certificate + something proving you are the person having rights but I think a direct relate is required + notarized + translate foreign affairs stamp + thai lawyer. 

I could imagine if that is not enough that it would be a simple court procedure, even it takes time to get the court date etc, 1-2 months. Budget lawyer 10-30K and otherwise sky limit. I'd get one beforehand to not arrive with missing paperwork.

 

And let a Thai visit a random branch or 2-3 of them to ask too. Don't try getting that info by phone etc unless it is the branch phone.

[kiwijack]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I have presented the original death certificate and will to no avail. There is no dispute by bank that funds are held. Just a matter of procedure.

I've been to the attorney general department and they have told me what needs to be done legally. This involves numerous documents that need to be notarized.. certified ..translated  from deceased home country. Then I apply to court. It takes 4 months then to get the required order.

But...I was advised by them that there may be a short cut to this approach.

This has prompted the search for a lawyer that someone  may have used for a similar situation. 

The bank account is in Bangkok

Cheers.

 

 

[udontomi]

I imagine it would depend on if the account was individual (farang only) or joint with the questioner being the joint tenant.

[topt]

6 hours ago, kiwijack said:

.I was advised by them that there may be a short cut to this approach.

Could you not have asked them what the "shortcut" entailed - or are we talking something under the table?

[Kerryd]

In Thailand you have to wait 45 days after a person's death before the Will can be probated in court.

In addition to (certified) copies of the Will, you will also need (certified) copies of the Death Certificate. (Translated into Thai preferably. Your lawyer should be able to help with that.)

There is no "short cut" to let you empty their accounts before anyone else realizes the account holder is dead. The whole purpose of the 45 day wait is to allow relatives and creditors a chance to file claims on the deceased's estate in the event he/she owed money (or the relatives think they are entitled to a chunk of the estate).

You, as the Executor, will have to swear an oath in court (promising to tell the truth) and the judge will ask a few basic questions and the lawyer will verify the Will and so on.

Takes maybe half an hour if there are no wrinkles. 

Wear a white shirt with a collar and dark slacks (and shoes) when you go to the court.

 

[rwill]

Did you ask them how much the 'shortcut' would cost?

[wwest5829]

6 hours ago, kiwijack said:

Thanks for the suggestions.  I have presented the original death certificate and will to no avail. There is no dispute by bank that funds are held. Just a matter of procedure.

I've been to the attorney general department and they have told me what needs to be done legally. This involves numerous documents that need to be notarized.. certified ..translated  from deceased home country. Then I apply to court. It takes 4 months then to get the required order.

But...I was advised by them that there may be a short cut to this approach.

This has prompted the search for a lawyer that someone  may have used for a similar situation. 

The bank account is in Bangkok

Cheers.

 

 

My Aussie friend passed in December. Yes, after securing the Police Report and a death Certificate, as the named Executor in the Will, I needed to contact the Australian Embassy which in turn contacted the next of kin in Australia. Next of kin confirmed that I was to be Executor. Statement issued by the Embassy allowed me to proceed with the release of remains and carrying out cremation. Working with the Attorney who drew up the Will (in Thai and English), a Provincial Court date was requested. That took place the beginning of March (do keep in mind the Christmas and New Year holidays). The Attorney was also a notary so all documents were prepared and stamped. Testimony was given along with the documents and I was approved that day. However, it will take an additional month or two to receive the Court Document which is required by the bank for the release of funds(understandable as protecting the bank from being defrauded). Upon death, I had previously gone to the bank and informed them of the death so accounts were frozen. Today marked the 100 Day Mourning Period. Next to wait for the document so I can proceed to authorize sale of the Condo and remit residue of funds to kin, named in the Will (in Australia). I only recommend acting as Executor for a friend here if one has full knowledge of what to expect and … the ability/willingness to forward spending your own funds to pay necessary bills until the deceased person's funds can be accessed. Being who I am, having lived here 14 years, I agreed to do this for an aged friend. In the future? Not without some change in the way financial preparation should be arranged. There is a bit of time and effort involved … oh, I am in Chiang Mai.

[WDSmart]

This is exactly why I give my Thai wife withdrawal access to my bank account. 

[Toby1947]

Forget it, they've got his money, and they'll make dam sure they'll keep it. Rotten to the core the lot of them 😡😡

[jcmj]

It can be a long and tedious process to go through for a friend. My partner did it for his good friend here and it was a mess from the get go. His safe was found empty the day after he passed and all of the police came to assess things. We know he had stacks of money and jewelry, but the police noted it was empty. His car was also checked out and seemed fine. Fairly new, but unfortunately someone stole his car in the next couple of days. Hmm makes me wonder. Well taught me a lesson and make sure when I pass away it is known to empty the safe and move the car before calling the police. At least the insurance company paid for the car. Safe was a he said, they said.  He owned a few condos but didn’t have his latest will finished and signed so people he hadn’t seen in 12-15 years got stuff. Anyway we did get a lawyer to sort through everything so it was legal and it was almost 2 years by the time we finally got everything done and sorted. Never again. I’ll help you get your Will done and kept with a law firm but I can’t handle going through that again. 

[crazykopite]

You have to get a lawyer who then goes to the court to make application that stipulates your name as being the deceased executer you then take the court paper to the bank concerned yes it’s a pain in the backside banks don’t like handing out money this is the only way you can get their account closed as executer you then can deduct charges against their estate so your not out of pocket  !

[RocketDog]

23 hours ago, Toby1947 said:

Forget it, they've got his money, and they'll make dam sure they'll keep it. Rotten to the core the lot of them 😡😡

Very helpful.

Comments like your are what makes AN a leading forum.

[Sparkling]

On 3/27/2025 at 2:19 PM, WDSmart said:

This is exactly why I give my Thai wife withdrawal access to my bank account. 

which way? Did you give her a written document the bank accepted,that gives her access? Or else?

[WDSmart]

43 minutes ago, Sparkling said:

On 3/27/2025 at 2:19 PM, WDSmart said:

This is exactly why I give my Thai wife withdrawal access to my bank account. 

which way? Did you give her a written document the bank accepted,that gives her access? Or else?

Most of my money is in a savings account. The account is in my name only since I use it as financial proof to secure a One-year Stay Extension. Even though the account is only in my name, my wife's signature (which is written in ink that is only visible under a light the bank uses) is on the last page of the back of the bank book (which shows all the transactions) and gives her the authority to withdraw money using the bank book (not the debit card). 

[Puccini]

On 3/27/2025 at 7:36 AM, topt said:

...or are we talking something under the table?

 

What else?

[saakura]

On 3/27/2025 at 7:07 AM, kiwijack said:

Thanks for the suggestions.  I have presented the original death certificate and will to no avail. There is no dispute by bank that funds are held. Just a matter of procedure.

I've been to the attorney general department and they have told me what needs to be done legally. This involves numerous documents that need to be notarized.. certified ..translated  from deceased home country. Then I apply to court. It takes 4 months then to get the required order.

But...I was advised by them that there may be a short cut to this approach.

This has prompted the search for a lawyer that someone  may have used for a similar situation. 

The bank account is in Bangkok

Cheers.

 

 

And why the tearing hurry to get the money? Why not follow procedures and wait 4 months?

[Packer]

On 3/27/2025 at 2:19 PM, WDSmart said:

This is exactly why I give my Thai wife withdrawal access to my bank account. 

 

Illegal to withdraw funds from a dead person's account. Enough in there to pay for her bail and legal team? 

[Packer]

7 minutes ago, saakura said:

And why the tearing hurry to get the money? Why not follow procedures and wait 4 months?

 

You think those games of Hi-Lo are waiting 4 months to start? 

[PJ71]

2 hours ago, Packer said:

 

Illegal to withdraw funds from a dead person's account. Enough in there to pay for her bail and legal team? 

But how would the bank know the person is dead?

 

Does the embassy, check all the banks in thailand to see where and if the deceased had accounts?