Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Outline Advice on marriage in Thailand

AT THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE

Both partners must be able to understand some Thai and English. By law, they must have a translator to assist them when dealing with the marriage office.  Our law firm  can arrange this for the couple.

Both partners need to provide the Registrar with:

1) An official letter from their respective Embassies to state they have no problem with getting married in Thailand i.e., they are not legally married elsewhere in the world.  This is easily obtained from the local Embassy in Bangkok.

2) A translation into English is required if the original letter of permission is not in English.  Our law firm can supply this for the couple.

3) These documents must translated into Thai and be certified by the Thai Foreign Ministry; this may be arranged by our Bangkok lawyer within 4 to 5 days.

If one or both of the partners were married previously, the original copy of their divorce decree will be required by your Embassy. Please check with your law firm  to make sure you have all the necessary and original paper work before you go to the Embassy.

When the traditional Thai wedding ceremony is finished and the Thai paper work is done, a permanent legal record is made of the wedding. Our law firm in Bangkok can supply the couple with an English language translation of the marriage certificate.

The couple may choose to notify their respective Embassy after the marriage is completed to register it officially with their home government, but most countries do not insist on this.

Marriage in Thailand

In Thailand it is legal for foreigners to marry either Thai citizens or other foreign nationals. The process is generally fairly straightforward. Certain paperwork is required, all of which must be translated into the Thai language and legalized pursuant to Thai law. In addition, certain considerations, such as prenuptial agreements should be considered when marrying in Thailand, as special rules apply.

Marriages can be performed at a local district office known as an 'amphur' or 'khet'. In order for foreigners to get married in Thailand they must have clearance from their embassy. Embassies of different countries have different procedures for providing this clearance. In general, the Thai district offices that perform marriages require affidavits that assert the name of the foreigner, as well as personal details such as confirmed citizenship of that country and legal freedom to marry. Once those foreign affidavits are obtained, they must be translated into Thai and legalized pursuant to Thai law. At that point parties must proceed to the necessary district office for an administrative marriage. 

A marriage in Thailand is a legal marriage pursuant to Thai law and is normally recognized throughout the world. This allows for certain benefits to marrying in Thailand. For individuals with trans-national issues, where one or more spouse is from a different country, Thailand is a very convenient location in which to marry.

Another advantage of getting married in Thailand is the variety of picturesque locations, such as world class beach resorts, where a formal or religious ceremony can be performed following the legal administrative marriage.

So how long does an administrative marriage in Thailand take? Including the time involved in procuring affidavits from an embassy, having those documents translated and legalized, and having the marriage performed at a local amphur, the process can be completed in as little as 3 - 4 days. Sometimes, if there are complications, such as back-ups in paperwork at an embassy, or different requirements for certain nations' embassies, the process can take longer.

It is helpful to retain the services of a lawyer to supervise the marriage. A law office can help co-ordinate the procurement of official documents from the embassy and have them translated and legalized quickly with minimum problems. Familiarity with the formalities of a Thai marriage, access to qualified translators, and an understanding of the legalization process reduces the likelihood of delay or complication.

Prenuptial agreements are allowed in Thailand provided they meet the procedural requirements of Thai law. Generally, it is advisable to have a law office assist you with the preparation of a prenuptial agreement and the translation and legalization of such an agreement pursuant to Thai law. These prenuptial agreements are generally considered valid legal agreements in jurisdictions outside of Thailand. Although, litigation can be an unpredictable process and the laws of different countries may vary, it is always safer for persons with assets or significant property to have a prenuptial agreement.


Let's expert family lawyer in Thailand  help you by calling at (66)2 693-2036 or send us enquiry