Category: Civil and Commercial Law
Acquiring Land in Thailand with a Foreign Spouse
At this time, Thailand does not prohibit its citizens who are married to (or cohabiting with) foreign spouses from acquiring land. Nevertheless, the acquisition of land by Thai nationals who are married to foreign spouses is extensively covered by government regulation and it is conditioned on the legal principle that any land owned by the […]
Shareholders’ Right of Inspection
Under Thai law, the shareholders of a limited company are its legal owners and are entitled to certain rights according to the Civil and Commercial Code. Nevertheless, due to the nature of a limited company, the ownership rights of shareholders are not absolute and, for example, are not the same as those of the partners […]
Agency Law in International Commerce in Thailand
An important consideration when conducting an international commerce business in Thailand is the issue of agency relationships between a distributor and the overseas supplier or manufacturer. Where an agency agreement has been created, the general rule of law is that principals are held liable to third parties, such as purchasers, for the authorized actions of […]
Betrothal Agreements under Thai Law
Under Thai law, a promise to marry creates a legally binding agreement if the groom transfers property called the khongman (a “reverse dowry” or “bride price”) to the bride after the betrothal has taken place. Therefore, as a legal contract, a betrothal gives rise to legal ramifications. According to Sections 1439 and 1440 of the […]
Disinheritance from a Will
The Civil and Commercial Code generally provides two categories whereby a testator may disinherit one of his or her statutory heirs from a will. According to Section 1608, the testator “may disinherit any of his statutory heirs only by an express declaration of intention… by will” or “by writing deposited with the competent official.” Furthermore, […]
Domestic Violence Law in Thailand
Domestic violence is not only a crime, but a serious social problem that is inadequately addressed by normal civil and criminal laws. For example, in a case involving child abuse, criminal law would only allow for the imprisonment of the offending parent for assault, without any consideration for the effects to the overall family unit. […]
Proposed Debt Collection Act
Just mid last year, the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand voted to accept, in principle, the terms of the Debt Collection Act. Drawing inspiration from analogous laws in the United States and Australia, this new legislation will act as a consumer protection law protecting consumers from abusive practices on the part of debt collectors. The […]
New Mortgage Foreclosure Law in Thailand
The new amendments made to the Civil and Commercial Code announced on November 13, 2014 has made significant changes to mortgage foreclosure rules. In addition to the changes to Section 728 of the Civil and Commercial Code regarding enforcement of a mortgage debt, the amendments have also made major changes to Section 729 regarding foreclosure […]
New Mortgage Law in Thailand
A major problem with the Civil and Commercial Code was that it did not contain specific clauses that protected the rights of “indirect” debtors, such as guarantors or mortgagors who mortgaged their property to guarantee the debt of another. The new amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code announced on November 13, 2014 are designed […]
Right of Rescission under Thai Law
Under Thai law, in what situations are you allowed to rescind contract? In other words, when are you allowed to terminate a legal agreement without being held to be in breach? The Civil and Commercial Code has certain rules regarding when you are allowed to exercise the right of rescission: First of all, you are […]
