Do You Know What To Do If Your Wife Dies Before You?

[rgs2001uk]

Please tell me how him having paid for the house could affect anything if his wife dies. He or his son will still get the estate.

Problems start when you pay for a house and you divorce (as you signed away your rights at the land office) Sometimes though a judge favors you and you get your money back. It is known to happen.

I am only pointing out that in this case your reference about paying for the house has no relevance.

Your point on the visa is really valid. Real good point that would be a problem in my case as i have no kids with my wife plus im too young to retire. So then i have to find some other ways.. study visa / business visa ect. So you do give out good information sometimes. Just got bored of your reference to farangs who pay for houses (not in my case)

"He or his son will still get the estate."

Only if the wife has made a will, if not it gets carved up as per Thai law.

I believe its covered by section 1629 of the civil and commercial code, someone more knowledgeable than I will no doubt correct me.

[robblok]

Please tell me how him having paid for the house could affect anything if his wife dies. He or his son will still get the estate.

Problems start when you pay for a house and you divorce (as you signed away your rights at the land office) Sometimes though a judge favors you and you get your money back. It is known to happen.

I am only pointing out that in this case your reference about paying for the house has no relevance.

Your point on the visa is really valid. Real good point that would be a problem in my case as i have no kids with my wife plus im too young to retire. So then i have to find some other ways.. study visa / business visa ect. So you do give out good information sometimes. Just got bored of your reference to farangs who pay for houses (not in my case)

"He or his son will still get the estate."

Only if the wife has made a will, if not it gets carved up as per Thai law.

I believe its covered by section 1629 of the civil and commercial code, someone more knowledgeable than I will no doubt correct me.

Ok here we have a will, but i thought it was ok too without a will.

Id love to know what happens without one, in my home country husband gets it all (as far as i know)

[Beetlejuice]

Please tell me how him having paid for the house could affect anything if his wife dies. He or his son will still get the estate.

Problems start when you pay for a house and you divorce (as you signed away your rights at the land office) Sometimes though a judge favors you and you get your money back. It is known to happen.

I am only pointing out that in this case your reference about paying for the house has no relevance.

Your point on the visa is really valid. Real good point that would be a problem in my case as i have no kids with my wife plus im too young to retire. So then i have to find some other ways.. study visa / business visa ect. So you do give out good information sometimes. Just got bored of your reference to farangs who pay for houses (not in my case)

It`s goes like this:

If in the event a Thai wife of a Westerner dies in Thailand and there is real estate involved, then later her ever loving caring family start pushing the odds for a share of the estate or try to play the winner takes all game, and the real estate was not obtained strictly by Thai law on inception of purchase by the farang husband’s Thai wife, than this could cause problems for the husband if the case goes to court and the conclusion will be left at the discretion and mercy of the judge. The judge may rule that the estate must be split between several parties if this is the chance anyone is willing to take? Remembering of course that the OPs son is under the age of 20, meaning that the property would be in the child`s name only, him having no real authority over the real estate but only held in trust for the time being.

If everything is done as required by Thai law, then the husband will have a better chance of success at blocking any attempts by wife’s family or anyone else involved of gaining or benefiting from the wife’s death.

To coin a phrase that my old Dad used to say in his broad New York accent, which was; always cover ya own arss and be prepared to take on the devil when you least expect it, which is all I’m saying.

Unlike our Tommo who makes everything seem so easy, I believe that after the divorce or death of a spouse and a farang re-marries, there has to be a 12 month period into the start of a new marriage before the Immigration department officially acknowledges the new marriage as regards marriage visas and so on, but I`m not 100% sure on this? But Tommo does have a point here, if you are under the age to obtain a visa on the grounds of retirement, you could try to re-marry, do the border runs and after a year of marriage go for the non O immigrant married to a Thai visa again. I know, easier said than done, or perhaps a widower would have no wish to remarry so soon, just an option that’s all, otherwise, yes, I totally agree, your age would be a problem.

Now have I sold you on what I am saying, or do you still disagree?

Edited October 18, 2012 by Beetlejuice

[DrTuner]

The plan is for the kids to get what's left anyway. So I'd see them through to adulthood and then bugger off to some cave in Tibet.

[robblok]

Please tell me how him having paid for the house could affect anything if his wife dies. He or his son will still get the estate.

Problems start when you pay for a house and you divorce (as you signed away your rights at the land office) Sometimes though a judge favors you and you get your money back. It is known to happen.

I am only pointing out that in this case your reference about paying for the house has no relevance.

Your point on the visa is really valid. Real good point that would be a problem in my case as i have no kids with my wife plus im too young to retire. So then i have to find some other ways.. study visa / business visa ect. So you do give out good information sometimes. Just got bored of your reference to farangs who pay for houses (not in my case)

It`s goes like this:

If in the event a Thai wife of a Westerner dies in Thailand and there is real estate involved, then later her ever loving caring family start pushing the odds for a share of the estate or try to play the winner takes all game, and the real estate was not obtained strictly by Thai law on inception of purchase by the farang husband’s Thai wife, than this could cause problems for the husband if the case goes to court and the conclusion will be left at the discretion and mercy of the judge. The judge may rule that the estate must be split between several parties if this is the chance anyone is willing to take? Remembering of course that the OPs son is under the age of 20, meaning that the property would be in the child`s name only, him having no real authority over the real estate but only held in trust for the time being.

If everything is done as required by Thai law, then the husband will have a better chance of success at blocking any attempts by wife’s family or anyone else involved of gaining or benefiting from the wife’s death.

To coin a phrase that my old Dad used to say in his broad New York accent, which was; always cover ya own arss and be prepared to take on the devil when you least expect it, which is all I’m saying.

Unlike our Tommo who makes everything seem so easy, I believe that after the divorce or death of a spouse and a farang re-marries, there has to be a 12 month period into the start of a new marriage before the Immigration department officially acknowledges the new marriage as regards marriage visas and so on, but I`m not 100% sure on this? But Tommo does have a point here, if you are under the age to obtain a visa on the grounds of retirement, you could try to re-marry, do the border runs and after a year of marriage go for the non O immigrant married to a Thai visa again. I know, easier said than done, or perhaps a widower would have no wish to remarry so soon, just an option that’s all, otherwise, yes, I totally agree, your age would be a problem.

Now have I sold you on what I am saying, or do you still disagree?

Thanks, i agree with you. You just sometimes seem to rub me the wrong way. But i have been known to do that with others too.

Anyway i got a will in place at the amphur making me the only one with rights at the estate. So i don't worry that much. Of course visa might be a problem for a while but i could always study or go business visa route.

For your info i never paid the house for my wife she took a mortgage and we both paid for it in 60/40 share. If i wanted i could pay for it in full but i prefer it this way its like renting and if anything goes wrong i don't feel that bad.

I did pay a lot more then her for upgrading the house but hey sometimes you have to take some risks. Besides im enjoying living in it this way a lot more.

As for Tommo's remark, as much as its nice to have a new girl i prefer the one i have now. It was a good joke of course but i think even Tommo would mourn the loss. Unless he is a total sociopath.

[trainman34014]

The plan is for the kids to get what's left anyway. So I'd see them through to adulthood and then bugger off to some cave in Tibet.

What's wrong with the caves at Chiang Dao ?

[rgs2001uk]

Please tell me how him having paid for the house could affect anything if his wife dies. He or his son will still get the estate.

Problems start when you pay for a house and you divorce (as you signed away your rights at the land office) Sometimes though a judge favors you and you get your money back. It is known to happen.

I am only pointing out that in this case your reference about paying for the house has no relevance.

Your point on the visa is really valid. Real good point that would be a problem in my case as i have no kids with my wife plus im too young to retire. So then i have to find some other ways.. study visa / business visa ect. So you do give out good information sometimes. Just got bored of your reference to farangs who pay for houses (not in my case)

"He or his son will still get the estate."

Only if the wife has made a will, if not it gets carved up as per Thai law.

I believe its covered by section 1629 of the civil and commercial code, someone more knowledgeable than I will no doubt correct me.

Ok here we have a will, but i thought it was ok too without a will.

Id love to know what happens without one, in my home country husband gets it all (as far as i know)

The post #35 by BJ basically sums it up as per what happened to a farang I knew on Samui.

No will, farang bought and paid for everything, even car, all in wifes name.

Farang working overseas, comes back for funeral of younger wife, after funeral family move in and tell him its now ours, best bit was the boyfriend was driving around in the farangs car.

Farang consults a lawyer and was told he would basically be wasting his money.

Farang was yet another 2 week millionaire who thought he knew it all.

The best bit was, after being ripped off by the girls family, the idiot went and married her cousin and repeated the whole process.

Really, you couldnt make this shit up.

[mahtin]

I'm sure Mario can hep out.

If I were worried about this then I would see a lawyer who speaks both Thai and English. File both your wills. Have the lawyer make sure they are understood by you both. You should inherit the land etc if she were to pass away first.

Don't forget that Thai Visa has specialists in the Visas forum http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/1-thai-visas-residency-and-work-permits/

[billd766]

I am on a retirement visa so that is one probem sorted out anyway.

I had a long talk with my wife yesterday for the umpteenth time about going to the amphur and finding out exactly what they need to know and require.

My wife is good at talking about doing but not so hot at doing what she talks about and she went off this morning boot faced and with hump to do what I asked and hopefully it will relatively simple to do. I thought I heard her say something about stupid kwai farang but my hearing monitors deleted most of that bit. Sorry dear.

AFAIK we can put everything in our sons name but she told me that th people at the amphur say that it has to be in her and his name which I don't think is correct and can only be changed every 4 years.

The wills we drew up ourselves using templates from Thai lawyers and both are in English and Thai and will need to be witnessed by 2 people before they go to the amphur. We have friends that can witness the wills but the amphur may want its own witnesses.

Edited October 19, 2012 by billd766

[TommoPhysicist]

My wife is good at talking about doing but not so hot at doing what she talks about and she went off this morning boot faced and with hump to do what I asked and hopefully it will relatively simple to do.

AFAIK we can put everything in our sons name but she told me that th people at the amphur say that it has to be in her and his name which I don't think is correct and can only be changed every 4 years.

1. She doesn't want to do it ...... and probably won't.

2. She is misinforming you, or the Amphur is misinforming her.

The first rule of being in Thailand, agree with everyone, but only ever get around to actually doing what you want to do. The second rule of being in Thailand, if someone wants you to do something you don't want to do (and doesn't understand the first rule) tell them some government official says it can't be done.

Edited October 19, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[hanuman2543]

Please tell me how him having paid for the house could affect anything if his wife dies. He or his son will still get the estate.

Problems start when you pay for a house and you divorce (as you signed away your rights at the land office) Sometimes though a judge favors you and you get your money back. It is known to happen.

I am only pointing out that in this case your reference about paying for the house has no relevance.

Your point on the visa is really valid. Real good point that would be a problem in my case as i have no kids with my wife plus im too young to retire. So then i have to find some other ways.. study visa / business visa ect. So you do give out good information sometimes. Just got bored of your reference to farangs who pay for houses (not in my case)

"He or his son will still get the estate."

Only if the wife has made a will, if not it gets carved up as per Thai law.

I believe its covered by section 1629 of the civil and commercial code, someone more knowledgeable than I will no doubt correct me.

Ok here we have a will, but i thought it was ok too without a will.

Id love to know what happens without one, in my home country husband gets it all (as far as i know)

The post #35 by BJ basically sums it up as per what happened to a farang I knew on Samui.

No will, farang bought and paid for everything, even car, all in wifes name.

Farang working overseas, comes back for funeral of younger wife, after funeral family move in and tell him its now ours, best bit was the boyfriend was driving around in the farangs car.

Farang consults a lawyer and was told he would basically be wasting his money.

Farang was yet another 2 week millionaire who thought he knew it all.

The best bit was, after being ripped off by the girls family, the idiot went and married her cousin and repeated the whole process.

Really, you couldnt make this shit up.

The foreigner is stupid and his lawyer has no clue or got paid from the family . Somm nam na

Sent from my GT-S5360 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Beetlejuice]

I am on a retirement visa so that is one probem sorted out anyway.

I had a long talk with my wife yesterday for the umpteenth time about going to the amphur and finding out exactly what they need to know and require.

My wife is good at talking about doing but not so hot at doing what she talks about and she went off this morning boot faced and with hump to do what I asked and hopefully it will relatively simple to do. I thought I heard her say something about stupid kwai farang but my hearing monitors deleted most of that bit. Sorry dear.

AFAIK we can put everything in our sons name but she told me that th people at the amphur say that it has to be in her and his name which I don't think is correct and can only be changed every 4 years.

The wills we drew up ourselves using templates from Thai lawyers and both are in English and Thai and will need to be witnessed by 2 people before they go to the amphur. We have friends that can witness the wills but the amphur may want its own witnesses.

Incorrect.

The 4 year clause is for tax purposes, meaning that after a new name is transferred over to a land or property, and if the real estate is sold within and not after 4 years than there will be more tax to be paid on the transfer. After the 4 years, normal tax deductions for real estate transfers apply.

Our property is in the names of all my 3 children, all done when they were very young and finalised within a week. My wife’s name is on the paperwork only as the previous owner, not as a joint owner.

The solution is, visit the land office with your wife and start calling the shots, otherwise you’re get nowhere.

[marshbags]

Just to expand on what GT posts ( 27 )

A trusted executor is most important.

Someone you have known for a long time and who will be around hopefully for many years to oversee and carry out your wishes and keep an eye on his well being ect. for as long as it is needed.

Time and relationships are unpredictable, expecially here in Thailand so back up your wishes with a legal document and have a third party involved just in case something comes to the fore.

I personally have a trusted lawyer who has volunteered to do this for me and in actual fact we are in the process of having a legal document done and countersigned after certain ongoing legal matters are sorted out.

Good luck and thanks for starting this important thread Bild.

marshbags

P.S.

References to speaking Thai are verging on troll type comment especially as the poster keeps going on about it.

What,s his problem ?????

I,ve been here for 20 years and my ability to speak the language is at most very basic indeed ( not because I haven,t tried ), the tones are very difficult and like somone has aleady been mentioned to difficult for a lot of foreigner, especially older people like us.

It does / should not impede anyone, it certainly doesn,t in my experiences and I dare say yours among many others.

Edited October 19, 2012 by marshbags

[simple1]

I am on a retirement visa so that is one probem sorted out anyway.

I had a long talk with my wife yesterday for the umpteenth time about going to the amphur and finding out exactly what they need to know and require.

My wife is good at talking about doing but not so hot at doing what she talks about and she went off this morning boot faced and with hump to do what I asked and hopefully it will relatively simple to do. I thought I heard her say something about stupid kwai farang but my hearing monitors deleted most of that bit. Sorry dear.

AFAIK we can put everything in our sons name but she told me that th people at the amphur say that it has to be in her and his name which I don't think is correct and can only be changed every 4 years.

The wills we drew up ourselves using templates from Thai lawyers and both are in English and Thai and will need to be witnessed by 2 people before they go to the amphur. We have friends that can witness the wills but the amphur may want its own witnesses.

Just a few small points. If you have two witnesses they should sign the Wills at the Amphur whilst showing their ID. If the witnesses do not wish to travel to the Amphur, staff at the offices can witness for you and your wife. I suggest the Amphur is saying to your wife that she be named as the recipient in your Will, but in the case of your wife dying your son is the recipient. Same would apply in her Will. As I said before don't forget to have a Clause in your Wills that states the assets will belong to your son, should you both die at the same time.

Please forgive if you are already across the above...

EDIT: It sounds paranoid, but you should have the Thai translation of your Wills checked by an independent third party

Edited October 19, 2012 by simple1

[TommoPhysicist]

I,ve been here for 20 years and my ability to speak the language is at most very basic indeed ( not because I haven,t tried ), the tones are very difficult and like somone has aleady been mentioned to difficult for a lot of foreigner, especially older people like us.

You can learn to read and write Thai without bothering with tones.

Sorry, there really is no excuse.

[JimGant]

In case of her dying the house and land is automatically part of the estate and goes to the husband (or child) Not to inlaws.

Dying without a Will (intestate) in Thailand will divvy up the estate in a government mandated pie. This is the same as in the West (at least the US). Thus, best have a Will.

If someone reading this doesn't have a Will from his wife, have her write it out in her own hand, which will suffice until you formalize it (although not really completely necessary). Also, two witnesses are NOT required for a hand written Will -- but recommended you do so as added security.

Interesting, no mention in this thread about the farang leasing the land and house (or having a usafruct) to enable him to continue living on the premises upon the wife's death. So, even if the evil mother-in-law ended up owning the place, she can't legally boot you off.

And, of course, even if the wife's Will says "I leave all my possessions, including my land and house, to my husband " -- this won't fly under current law, since farangs can't own land. Best to say something like, "I leave my land, chanote numbers x,y,z, to my husband. Should the law not allow this, my husband can sell the land -- or have niece x,y, or z (or whatever she's comfortable with) take title."

Best to spell out details of "all my possessions". The Amphur will want this, including specific bank account numbers (which, however, gets problematic if you change accounts often). However, it will make it easier when the owner of a single owner account dies, as often the bank will sign over the account to the designated beneficiary based on the Amphur Will having specifically denoted it (even before it's probated).

And, of course, for land -- having the chanote info spelled out in the Will will be very helpful, as the land office will certainly be more receptive to a Will that has details of chanotes, not one saying "all my possessions." (Wills, however, do need to be probated in Thailand, and the court can help spell out what "all my possessions" entails.)

As for setting up a "trust" for the son -- unfortunately, Thailand doesn't have 'trusts' as understood by the West. It would be a lot neater and cleaner if they did -- but I've read about some of the workarounds (crude by Western standards). So, there are legal avenues for taking care of minors.

[Richard W]

What's wrong with the caves at Chiang Dao ?

Wouldn't be much of a move if you lived in the village!

[mike123ca]

As a foreign man married to a Thai woman, If she was to pass away before you then you really get the short end of the stick.

First problem, if your using a O visa based on marriage. It is now terminated, it's not even good until the end of the visa.

If you have minor children with Thai citizenship then you might be able to replace your visa. Otherwise, look for an alternative

visa.

Second problem make sure you both have wills, that way your wealth will be distributed in the desired way.

The wife can put in will that the land will go to the husband, but the Thai government will force you to sell it within a year.

There should be a way for a man married to a Thai to be able to continue his stay in the Kingdom, even after his spouse passes away.

[TommoPhysicist]

If you have an Amphur wedding, it's not a problem.

If you had a village wedding (means nothing) then you are up the creek totally paddle-less.

[marshbags]

I,ve been here for 20 years and my ability to speak the language is at most very basic indeed ( not because I haven,t tried ), the tones are very difficult and like somone has aleady been mentioned to difficult for a lot of foreigner, especially older people like us.

You can learn to read and write Thai without bothering with tones.

Sorry, there really is no excuse.

It,s not an excuse, it,s a fact and unless you can pronounce words in the correct tone it becomes a problem, especially when you consider that there are several meanings which are completey different , plus you can unintentionally be producing an offensive one.

As for reading and writing, In my case at any rate, I do not have the inclination to learn them and do not have any incentive to do so either.

I have a very busy lifestyle doing everything and nothing, as and when I like, after all that is what retiring is all about.

Choice is a down to the individual and mine happen to keep me busy 24-7 and this includes a bit of banter and the more serious debate on Thai Visa.

Enjoy yours TP and thanks for your many observations and humourus comment on the forum, I usually get a smile on my face when reading some off them, well most of them anyway.

No offence taken on this one by the way

marshbags

Edited October 20, 2012 by marshbags

[billd766]

She went off yesterday morning first to the Tessaban as it is closer and on the way.

They didn't want to know so she went on to the amphur.

This time they told her that she cannot register the land in our sons name until he is 20.

She must tell the Pu yai ban and if it is in the will it will be OK.

I suspect that it may be because nobody has come to them with this prolem before and they don't know what to do and simply don't want to do it. Very few people in the amphur actually speak any English and I think that they would go into the "I don't know enough English to explain" mode and dump it onto my wife who wouldn't be able to explain either because she can't speak English in the legalese sense.

I am ignoring the people who carp on about not speaking Thai perfectly because speaking a language is one thing but legal speaking is a different ball game.

.

I think that I need to find the releavent clauses in the Thai law both in Thai and in English then print them out with the properreferences and then go back to the land department with her and politely ask them to do their job. As we don't have a chanote, nobody does up here, that may be the problem but without reading up on it and paying a lawyer it could be difficult.

I don't have an usufruct because I love and trust my wife 100% which is more than a lot of posters seem to do and I also trust my inlaws and family.

What I am mostly concerned about is our son getting the land and property as soon as we can transfer it, then with me as his legal father ans legal guardian nobody can touch it until he becomes of age.

It looks as though I will have to do some more research before going much further.

Thank you to all of you who have offered good ideas and suggestions and added to the topic which will be of use to a lot of us in a similar position.

To those of you who only had negative, useless, off topic or no suggestions please do not try to derail this or anybody elses sensible threads as it just proves to every body else what you are.

[marshbags]

She went off yesterday morning first to the Tessaban as it is closer and on the way.

They didn't want to know so she went on to the amphur.

This time they told her that she cannot register the land in our sons name until he is 20.

She must tell the Pu yai ban and if it is in the will it will be OK.

I suspect that it may be because nobody has come to them with this prolem before and they don't know what to do and simply don't want to do it. Very few people in the amphur actually speak any English and I think that they would go into the "I don't know enough English to explain" mode and dump it onto my wife who wouldn't be able to explain either because she can't speak English in the legalese sense.

I am ignoring the people who carp on about not speaking Thai perfectly because speaking a language is one thing but legal speaking is a different ball game.

.

I think that I need to find the releavent clauses in the Thai law both in Thai and in English then print them out with the properreferences and then go back to the land department with her and politely ask them to do their job. As we don't have a chanote, nobody does up here, that may be the problem but without reading up on it and paying a lawyer it could be difficult.

I don't have an usufruct because I love and trust my wife 100% which is more than a lot of posters seem to do and I also trust my inlaws and family.

What I am mostly concerned about is our son getting the land and property as soon as we can transfer it, then with me as his legal father ans legal guardian nobody can touch it until he becomes of age.

It looks as though I will have to do some more research before going much further.

Thank you to all of you who have offered good ideas and suggestions and added to the topic which will be of use to a lot of us in a similar position.

To those of you who only had negative, useless, off topic or no suggestions please do not try to derail this or anybody elses sensible threads as it just proves to every body else what you are.

Apologies for doing the full quote for convenient reference purposes

My lawyer ( and the local land office ) said it can be done by the owner / wife gifting it to the sibling.

Without wanting to go into to much detail...

I have a similar problem and we can get around her being under 20 by it being registered in my wifes name and then she " gifts " it to my daughter after purchase.

There has to be a 10 day period between her purchasing it and then gifting it to my daughter but in your case you can maybe do it as soon as you like.

You will possibly have to pay the property tax again as I will have to when I wish to do it.

( In my case tax X 2 )

Get the wife to ask about gifting it to your son at the local land office as it may be down to the discretion of the OIC or maybe better still ask your lawyer to talk to them about the possibliity.

No tea money has been suggested by the way in our case.

marshbags

Edited October 20, 2012 by marshbags

[rattler]

The thing that stands out in this post is he is married and has has an 8 year old son and yet his Thai is limited ?

Scary indeed

maybe he doesnt learn languages easily , maybe he worked away a lot.

[Huayrat]

Yeah marry another girl

[billd766]

The thing that stands out in this post is he is married and has has an 8 year old son and yet his Thai is limited ?

Scary indeed

maybe he doesnt learn languages easily , maybe he worked away a lot.

I spent most of the first 16 years that I knew my Thai working away though. There was Qatar twice, Abu Dhabi, Dubai Kuwait and then about 3 years I spent in Thailand but on the road 5 days a week based in BKK but working in Issan. Followed by Sri Lanka, South Africa, Angola, France, Portugal, Holland twice, Belgium, France, Germany, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand

[Neeranam]

I,ve been here for 20 years and my ability to speak the language is at most very basic indeed ( not because I haven,t tried ), the tones are very difficult and like somone has aleady been mentioned to difficult for a lot of foreigner, especially older people like us.

You can learn to read and write Thai without bothering with tones.

Sorry, there really is no excuse.

Absolutely - it's amazing how anyone would have buy property here without even trying to learn to read Thai. It can be learned in a month, half an hour a day. People who don't just don't want to which is fine but just amazes me - why not learn with your kids?

[pmem]

Marry the young sister, keep it up and in the the familly, all is well.

[billd766]

It seems as though the land is Por Bor Tor 5 which has possessory rights only but the government is the real owner which we knew already.

On the good side the government is/was slowly upgrading alnd like this into Nor Sor Sam or Chanote.

The countryside is full of land like this.

[Neeranam]

It seems as though the land is Por Bor Tor 5 which has possessory rights only but the government is the real owner which we knew already.

On the good side the government is/was slowly upgrading alnd like this into Nor Sor Sam or Chanote.

The countryside is full of land like this.

Surely all your land(or your wifes) can't be PBT5 land ? This land can't really be owned, I thought - its more like squatting. Obviously if it can't be owned it can't be sold or given to your son, although the occupancy along with the tax number can be transferred. It has to be used for growing something. Also, you can't build a house on it. I wonder what happens if you do build a house on it.

Interesting topic - I hope you figure it all out Bill.

Edited October 23, 2012 by Neeranam

[marshbags]

I,ve been here for 20 years and my ability to speak the language is at most very basic indeed ( not because I haven,t tried ), the tones are very difficult and like somone has aleady been mentioned to difficult for a lot of foreigner, especially older people like us.

You can learn to read and write Thai without bothering with tones.

Sorry, there really is no excuse.

Absolutely - it's amazing how anyone would have buy property here without even trying to learn to read Thai. It can be learned in a month, half an hour a day. People who don't just don't want to which is fine but just amazes me - why not learn with your kids?

It,s a pity you did not post part of my reply to Tommo's which is applicable not only to myself but all the other

"people " who choose for whatever reasons NOT to learn Thai

Ref post number 50 in case you missed it ?????

Even IF someone has took time out and successfully managed to master it to enable them to read the details and information provided when purchasing a property this does not ensure they will not be cheated or mislead on the legalities ect..

( I read your reference to buying a property to mean the above by the way )

In both the ability to read Thai and understand all that is writtten / or supposedly translated into whatever language the purchasers mother version may be,...surely....

What all savvy people do is hire a respected lawyer of proven integrity to do them, along with sorting out all other issues pertinent to eventual legal ownership.

If you have the time, desire and required dedication and patience to do so...............no problem and good luck to you.

On the other hand many do not or wish not ot and ought to have their choices seen in a similar light also without having these boring repetative references to speaking Thai ect. ect.

Me, I can achieve and enjoy all I want out of my expat life and spend ex amount of time on lifes pleasures including that needed to learn whatever as a bonus ????

Our beloved man of the world " Tommo " is far more ellequent than me in detailing some of them

Most certainly having the ability to partake is not dependant on how you speak, nor does it enhance whatever one wishes to achieve from their dedication

Why do people who choose, have the ability and will to learn, always seemingly put down the ones who do not ??????

It depends on ones perspectives re the choice of course and how to spend / enjoy their free time.

Enjoying your life to the full is my philosophy, good health and law permitting that is.

End of my rant

marshbags

Edited October 24, 2012 by marshbags