How Do I Get Thai Passports For Abandoned Step Kids?

[BLJ]

Hiya,

Have been looking through the forum, but haven't seen this issue pop up before. Any help would be appreciated.

I have been with a Thai man for 4 years, and we've just gotten engaged. He's travelled and lived all over the world, so of course has a current passport. My question is regarding my 2 soon to be step kids.

We are looking at taking them to Australia on a one month holiday in March. So we need to get their passports, my man keeps saying no probs, you just pay the 1,000 baht etc. But I'm worried becuase the mother abandoned the kids about 3 years ago, and my partner and I have had sole custody (physically and financialy (not one baht from the mother) during that time.

Is this going to make it hard to get passports. Are we looking at having to try to hunt her down and get her permission (this would probably lead to her asking for money I'm sure).

Any advice would be greatful.

Cheers

[Boo]

Does your partner have sole custody as agreed by divorce papers at amphur or from the thai courts? If not, it has been known in case of abandonment by one thai parent that the remaining thai parent can ask the village headman or woman to verify that they have been looking after the child/ren without the missing parent for xyz period of time, this usually helps to take the situation to court to gain sole custody. Once this is in hand then the other parent is not needed to get passports etc.

[mike123ca]

Is this going to make it hard to get passports. Are we looking at having to try to hunt her down and get her permission (this would probably lead to her asking for money I'm sure).

Any advice would be greatful.

I found this to be ambiguous, I'll assume you meant to write " We are looking at having..."

She can ask for money, but this is Thailand and the laws here about divorce and child support are very different from the west.

AFAIK, there are no alimony laws concerning the support of a woman when the marriage ends in divorce.

That leaves child support and since you are raising the children, I don't see how she can make a claim.

If your husband has sole custody, then I believe its then possible for your family to make a claim for child support

from the mother of the children.

[Mario2008]

If he has sole custody, he should get a phor khor 14 form from the amphur. That confirms he has sole custody and with that he can get Thai passports for his children without any problems. If he hasn't got official sole custody, he will not be able to get a passport for the children without their mother co-signing.

Rules in English can be found here: http://www.mfa.go.th...s-Applicat.html

[BLJ]

Thank you so much for your help. They were never officially married, just an old highschool girlfriend, that went on for 10 years only seeing each other once a month or so (never actually lived together). Had the girls when they were quite young.

No offical custody rulings she just left and never came back. He stepped up to the plate and has taken care of the girls ever since.

We want to have our wedding in Australia so it's important to us for them to be there with us, they are a big part of our life as a couple, and my parents adore them and want to finally spend some time with them in Australia not just Thailand.

Mike - I only talk about money becuase it seems to be the only motivation for this woman. it never seems to be about what's right for the girls just what she can get from us. We have never stopped her from seeing her kids, and have left the door open, but she's only come back once in 3 years and that was to try and get money out of us for land, nothing to do with how her girls are doing.....

I'll get him to speak to the village cheif and see what he says.

[Mario2008]

It means he is not even the legal father of the children and has no change of getting a paspsort for the children without the mother.

He could file to be recognised as the legal father and at the same time ask to be awarded sole custody as the mother has abandont the children. That wil take time, as steps must be made to try and locate the mother. If the location of the mother is known, it will speed things up a bit. But she can still not show up and then a judge will give her a couple of other chnges to attend court and be heard, before making a ruling.

[mike123ca]

Mario is correct, not being married to the woman means your husband is not even considered to be the father legally.

I would do what other men have done and pay her to sign the children over to your husband. It may not feel right or fair, but I'm

sure the children see you and your husband as their parents. I'm sure the price being ask might be cheaper than going through courts

and also hiring a lawyer.

The way you described the ex-girlfriend, I don't really think its going to cost too much. She doesn't sound like the type that wants

be burden by raising children.

[BLJ]

Mike I think you're right. I think I'll just get the papers and get my man to contact her family (we dont know where she is), but the family still live locally. I think with an offer of money she'll just sign them. I just wanted to see if there was any other option first... I hate giving money to her for being a bad mother.

Fortunatley her kids dont seem bothered by her disapperance, and you're right we have a good relationship, they're such good little girls and it's her loss.

Thanks everyone for your advice it really did help bring me to a workable solution.

Cheers