I don't trust anyone back where I got this passport from, and the first thing they'd do here would be to ship my corpse back to hel_l, so I'll arrange my own cremation at the time I choose, thanks for having me.

Nothing but an old motorbike and a laptop compaq to pass on, but those I can burn with me when the time arrives to depart gracefully.

The actual and obvious fact is that your Thai wife will do what she wants with your dead body. I just witnessed a friend's funeral where the wife went way 'over the top' for the funeral party.....15 monks, 7 days full options with drinking, gambling and all in black.....300 people in attendance and the poor guy only knew 10 of the attendees.

I've made it clear to my Thai wife that I DON'T WANT THAT!!, but I know she won't honor my wishes......'to save the money for the living'.

The will thing is important - if you haven't got a will in Thailand your wife will be 7th in the pecking order for any of your assets

Not really. There is a set formula for someone who dies intestate:

When a person dies, his/her estate is bequeathed to his/her heirs: (1) statutory heirs

(heirs by law), or (2) legatees (heirs by a will).

If there is no will, statutory heirs will inherit in the following order:

• children, parents and spouse of the deceased – equal shares.

• parents and spouse of the deceased – spouse receives half.

• full brothers, full sisters – spouse of the deceased receives half.

• half-brothers, half-sisters – spouse of the deceased receives two-thirds.

• grandfathers, grandmothers – spouse of the deceased receives two-thirds.

• uncles, aunts – spouse of thedeceased receives two-thirds.

• none of the above – spouse of the deceased receives all.

If an heir in a higher order exists, heirs in the lower orders have no rights at all.

http://www.tillekeandgibbins.com/Publicati..._foreigners.pdf

So, the spouse gets equal shares with parents and children, and could possibly get everything.

"If I hire a Thai lawyer to create a will for me for my Thai assets would it be executed as it would be in America?"

In theory, more or less, in practice (according to some forum members in the past) a Thai lawyer would word things so that he gets oodles of expenses. Better to have a trusted relative be the executor.

I haven't got round to it yet, but I assume I can make a "Thailand-only" will to sit alongside the UK one.

What you do is specify in the UK will that it applies to assets in all countries except Thailand. Then make a will in Thailand that only applies to assets in Thailand. In the second will, make sure they don't add the standard clause about revoking all previous wills. You can in fact specify that you already have a UK will that covers all assets outside Thailand.

Some good info on making a will and the different types of will available in Thailand is available here:

http://www.isaanlawyers.com/en/property/la...-testament.html

http://www.thailawonline.com/en/family/inheritance-and-wills

The only thing I am planning is not attending my funeral.

The only thing I am planning is not attending my funeral.

Unless you are vapourised or something, I think you'll find that you have no choice in the matter.

Piloc.

I'll be back...

I've had the opportunity to observe a couple of local funerals since I've been here and the three-day-in-a-box residence at the wat with cremation on the third day looks OK...the monks chant and the attendees pray the first day then a couple of days drinkin' an' playin' cards, etc., and the fire late on the last day...

I'll leave it up to the wife like I usually do; she usually has the best approach...as always, these rituals are for the benefit of the living...

I've thought about makin' a will but I'm hopin' to die in my bed and being able to make all the bank transfers before...if there's anything left to transfer...

one never knows, however...

Edited January 18, 201016 yr by tutsiwarrior