Divorce - Legalised copy of passport?

[JSCM2012]

I'm from Uk and wife Thai, we've decided to get divorced in Thailand. I understand we can do this easily at the Amphur but unsure about documents, I've read various posts about the legalised copy of the passport, having to obtain it from the embassy before going to the MFA. Could anyone provide any clarity about what we need to do? If we go to Bang Rak where we were married is this copy of the passport still required?

Many thanks for any advice.

[Satcommlee]

Did you need a certified copy of the passport to get married in the first place at Ban Rak?

 

The rules vary across the country, but Ban Rak is very familiar with the registration and probably the subsequent divorce of many a Farang-Thai marriage..

 

If I was to hazard a guess - no legalization is required.

[JSCM2012]

It was 5 years ago, I remember going to get the affirmation of freedom to marry and going to the MFA but dont remember legalised copies of the passport. Ive read some posts suggesting its not required if divorce at same place as was married, it would be better for us to get divorced elsewhere as wife from Chiang Mai.

[SamBoyles]

I have exactly the same question.... I contacted Siam Translator but my email is answered by someone else, an attorney. Maybe Siam Translator near Wireless Road in Bangkok was bought out.

The attorney said that I might need to get my passport certified too. I'm from the US and I know for a fact I didn't need my passport certified when we got married. I do remember the affirmation of freedom to marry was certified in MFA.

 

We plan to get divorce in same amphur we got marry. We both US Citizen now.

 

Can someone confirm if certification of US Passport is necessary for divorce in the same amphur?

 

Thanks.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

You need your passport and the Thai marriage cert. Your friend/witness needs their passport or Thai ID.
Wife and friend/witness need their Thai ID, wife needs house book and marriage cert.
That's is. No translations required, all info for the marriage is on the Amphur computer.

BUT
You will need to have a 'friend' and witness who can speak Thai and translate for the Amphur boss.
They want to be sure you know what you are agreeing too, and won't do the divorce if the foreigner (or friend) can't speak Thai.

Head of Amphur office invites you to his desk after a bit of form filling.
Asks 3 questions to you both out loud in Thai.
1. Do you both agree to the division of marital assets and property (you both say yes).
2. Do you both agree to child care arrangements and payments (you both say yes).
3. Do you both agree to the divorce (you both say yes)
4. Divorce granted.

That's it, dead easy, of course if either reply no to any of the questions, it's refused and you need to do the divorce in court.
I've attended foreigner divorces as the Thai speaker and 'friend' of the divorcing foreigner. Edited August 9, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[SamBoyles]

You need your passport and the Thai marriage cert. Your friend/witness needs their passport or Thai ID.
Wife and friend/witness need their Thai ID, wife needs house book and marriage cert.
That's is. No translations required, all info for the marriage is on the Amphur computer.

BUT
You will need to have a 'friend' and witness who can speak Thai and translate for the Amphur boss.
They want to be sure you know what you are agreeing too, and won't do the divorce if the foreigner (or friend) can't speak Thai.


I've attended foreigner divorces as the Thai speaker and 'friend' of the divorcing foreigner.

 

Thank you.

 

We were issued 2 certificates but we can only find 1 at this moment.

What do we need to do to report 1 of them missing?

 

Again Thank you very much.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

You need your passport and the Thai marriage cert. Your friend/witness needs their passport or Thai ID.
Wife and friend/witness need their Thai ID, wife needs house book and marriage cert.
That's is. No translations required, all info for the marriage is on the Amphur computer.

BUT
You will need to have a 'friend' and witness who can speak Thai and translate for the Amphur boss.
They want to be sure you know what you are agreeing too, and won't do the divorce if the foreigner (or friend) can't speak Thai.


I've attended foreigner divorces as the Thai speaker and 'friend' of the divorcing foreigner.

 
Thank you.
 
We were issued 2 certificates but we can only find 1 at this moment.
What do we need to do to report 1 of them missing?
 
Again Thank you very much.

You just say you lost one at the divorce, they want both, but will accept one.

[SamBoyles]

 

You just say you lost one at the divorce, they want both, but will accept one.

 

 

Again, Thank you very much. I hope I didn't hijack this post.