Custody of my kids, in Thailand

[WilliamCave]

I was reading other article and do I have to register my self with the Thai govt that my children are mine? I am married for 10 years now 1 child born in Canada and 1 in Thailand both with dual citizenship and we now reside in Thailand.

I am on both birth certificates as the father.

My other question is if something ever happened to my wife god forbid who has legal custody over my kids?

In Canada the father has custody if something happens to the mother. It is not even disputed.

But in Thailand can something one from her family or friend dispute this if something happened to my wife ?

That is why I am asking about revue steering my kids with the govt that they are mine.

[sbk]

Moving to Family Forum

[itchybum]

Pretty sure because you are legally married you are recognised and have the rights and particularly if the mother died.

Gets sticky though if not married.

[boosta]

If you were LEGALLY married (Tha Bian Sam Rot) to the mother of the children at the time they were conceived then you don't need to legally register.

Having your name on the certificates doesn't do anything, just reinforcement.

If not married, then registration is required.

If relations with the mother are good this should not be a problem.

If not so good you may need to make it worth her while, very common for them to see the kids as bargaining chips to get what they want, but if she's a decent mother she'll also take the future welfare of the kids into account.

But some would prefer that the kids go stay with Yai rather than having them raised by another woman.

Getting custody against her will can be very difficult, nasty and/or expensive. If you're lucky, just expensive.

Edited June 20, 2013 by boosta

[Mario2008]

Being legally married to the mother, you have shared custody with the mohter. if one of the parent dies, the other parent will have sole custody over the children by default.

Other family members have nothing to do with that and are no party.

[boosta]

That's not true if you legally married the mother after the date of conception of the child, the child will have to be legally acknowledged as yours before you have any rights over them.

This topic may have more wiggle room when it's Thai on Thai, but if a farang is claiming custody of Thai citizen children against the wishes of other Thais involved, the law will be more strictly interpreted.

[Mario2008]

That's not true if you legally married the mother after the date of conception of the child, the child will have to be legally acknowledged as yours before you have any rights over them.

This topic may have more wiggle room when it's Thai on Thai, but if a farang is claiming custody of Thai citizen children against the wishes of other Thais involved, the law will be more strictly interpreted.

Legalization would have been automatically under Thai law at the moment they married if not married at time of birth.