Buying land from abroad

My Thai wife is thinking of buying a home in Thailand. Does she have to go to the Land Office in person to register ownership of the land or can this be done by mail, through a lawyer? Also, are there any other requirements for registering land or property, and can these be handled by mail or through a lawyer?

With both of us thousands of miles away in the UK it is very difficult to schedule trips around Land Office or government requirements and travel costs are expensive. Please can you tell me what needs to done in person when buying land in Thailand?

Monday, December 5, 2005 Andrew Rhodes, UK.

“To effect a transfer of property at the Land Department neither the buyer nor the seller need appear in person at the Land Department so long as a correct power of attorney has been signed, and signed house registration, ID card or passport copies are provided to go with it.

However, in the case where a Thai citizen married to a foreigner would like to buy land, the foreign spouse must appear in person at the Land Department to sign a declaration stating that the funds used for the purchase belong to the Thai spouse from before the marriage, and the land is therefore not part of any settlement should there subsequently be a divorce. ”

Monday, December 5, 2005 Friedrich “Sam� Fauma, Senior Partner, International Law Office.

I believe we had someone post recently that they did indeed provide the foreign husband paperwork from overseas.

Interested in the comment about the foreign spouse having to appear at the land office himself if married and purchasing land.

What is the deal in Los if you are not actually married and you buy land ?

Interested in the comment about the foreign spouse having to appear at the land office himself if married and purchasing land.

What is the deal in Los if you are not actually married and you buy land ?

If the Thai lady is not married at time of purchase there is nothing to sign. The requirement is a Government means of trying to get around communal property laws for divorce. Initiating a law to negate another law. If you get married after the purchase you of course have no claim anyway, unless you have a loan agreement pre-marriage, when there is a possibility.