louse1953 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Can you write your own will in Thailand avoiding the lawyer.Simple will,all left to one person.Get 2 witness's to sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isanbirder Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 It would probably work.... but a lawyer-written will costs only about B.4000, and includes all the clauses which Thai law prefers. It's worth it for the peace of mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeniau96 Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 I had a lawyer friend look over a simple one-page will I wrote up, wife gets it all, had it sealed and stamped by US Embassy with two witnesses. This was about my 5th will, starting with detailed multi page versions some 30 years ago, but they got simpler as my life simplified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyG Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Thailand accepts holographic wills. No need to get witnesses to sign if the will is handwritten and signed by you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i claudius Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Two bank accounts one in my daugters name in uk , she keeps it when i die , the wife and i have joint accounts in UK and she has pin numbers for all accounts in Thailand , hand written will leaving it all to her ,sorted . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Pinned at the top of the page: The Importance Of Preparing A Will In ThailandHTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 I had a lawyer friend look over a simple one-page will I wrote up, wife gets it all, had it sealed and stamped by US Embassy with two witnesses. This was about my 5th will, starting with detailed multi page versions some 30 years ago, but they got simpler as my life simplified. I'm curious, why did you have it "sealed and stamped" by the US Embassy? And what exactly did the embassy do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesquite Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 I had a lawyer friend look over a simple one-page will I wrote up, wife gets it all, had it sealed and stamped by US Embassy with two witnesses. This was about my 5th will, starting with detailed multi page versions some 30 years ago, but they got simpler as my life simplified. I'm curious, why did you have it "sealed and stamped" by the US Embassy? And what exactly did the embassy do? Notarized Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AhFarangJa Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 6K Baht, will drawn up in both Thai & English. Lodged with the Lawyer. Peace of mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 (edited) I had a lawyer friend look over a simple one-page will I wrote up, wife gets it all, had it sealed and stamped by US Embassy with two witnesses. This was about my 5th will, starting with detailed multi page versions some 30 years ago, but they got simpler as my life simplified. I'm curious, why did you have it "sealed and stamped" by the US Embassy? And what exactly did the embassy do? Notarized Well I guess if you don't mind spending $50, the embassy notary fee, go for it but I don't think getting a will notarized makes it any more legal particularly since one would have it witnessed. Correct me if I'm wrong. Edited November 14, 2015 by Spaniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henryford Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Ideally the will needs to be in thai. Can you write in thai? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schlog Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 Did it at the local Ampher. All done in 30 min for 300 THB. One will they keep in the Ampher and one you take with you. Very pleasant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacky54 Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 i was told it was 20 baht to lodge a will at the amphur, if they will do it, some will not, and some charge 300 baht! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schlog Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 i was told it was 20 baht to lodge a will at the amphur, if they will do it, some will not, and some charge 300 baht! 20 baht might be correct. I don't remember exactly but i had no witnesses so i rounded it up on 300 baht for all incl. tip for the witnesses. Fair for me and them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobin Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 I believe for any will to be valid the testator (will maker) must have some legal standing in the local place. If you are in T'land on a visitor's visa, essentially you have no standing. Quite likely a one year retirement extension, or marriage extension, will be enough to give you a legal toehold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 Ideally the will needs to be in thai. Can you write in thai? Not necessary, the Will must be translated into Thai prior to probate but it should actually be written in the persons native language, otherwise it's assumed they don't know what has been written. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 I believe for any will to be valid the testator (will maker) must have some legal standing in the local place. If you are in T'land on a visitor's visa, essentially you have no standing. Quite likely a one year retirement extension, or marriage extension, will be enough to give you a legal toehold. Not necessary either, the only thing that is important is that the will writer has assets in this country otherwise a Thai will becomes pointless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 i was told it was 20 baht to lodge a will at the amphur, if they will do it, some will not, and some charge 300 baht! An Amphur will is cheap way out for wills that involve few assets and are unlikely to be contested. An Amphur will of any size will need to go through Probate which requires, inescapably, a Thai lawyer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 There's a lot of 'Bloke in a Pub' nonsense in this thread guys; If you pay peanuts you'll get... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jip99 Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 (edited) Ideally the will needs to be in thai. Can you write in thai? Not necessary, the Will must be translated into Thai prior to probate but it should actually be written in the persons native language, otherwise it's assumed they don't know what has been written. I would tend to disagree with that. Amphur Wills are in Thai. I have now written my Will in Thai and attached the old version as a 'translation for information'. The court (if necessary) will not be interested in that, they will simply act on the Thai version. My intention is actually to try and ensure that there are not enough assets that courts/lawyers need to be involved. I will certainly adopt the ATM card and PIN strategy along with online banking codes held by trusted friends. Edited November 15, 2015 by Jip99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 It's all been covered fairly extensively, every angle, again, in this thread: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/618983-the-importance-of-preparing-a-will-in-thailand/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 (edited) Ideally the will needs to be in thai. Can you write in thai? Not necessary, the Will must be translated into Thai prior to probate but it should actually be written in the persons native language, otherwise it's assumed they don't know what has been written. I would tend to disagree with that. Amphur Wills are in Thai. I have now written my Will in Thai and attached the old version as a 'translation for information'. The court (if necessary) will not be interested in that, they will simply act on the Thai version. My intention is actually to try and ensure that there are not enough assets that courts/lawyers need to be involved. I will certainly adopt the ATM card and PIN strategy along with online banking codes held by trusted friends. The problem with that Jip is that if a foreigner writes an amphur will in Thai and it has to go to probate because of the extent of his assets, the language issue makes it easy to challenge by an ex-spouse etc. There is also the aspect of language precedent, the Probate Court will only act on a Thai version but that version needs to be derived from a native language version in order to be sound. This and other aspects were debated at length in the link I just posted so worth a read perhaps. Edited November 15, 2015 by chiang mai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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