Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English)

Inheritance, probate & family pension reference — 42 answers

Compiled from the Civil & Commercial Code Book VI (succession, §1629 and §1655-1672), the Inheritance Tax Act B.E. 2558, Revenue Code §42(27)(28) and §48(4), Land Code §93, Condominium Act §19, the Child Adoption Act B.E. 2522 with the Hague 1993 Convention, and the Social Security Act B.E. 2533, as cited on each service page. Court fees, publication costs and government charges are official rates passed through at cost; stated durations are estimates that depend on court and registry queues.

• Q16085. What is Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English) and what does NYC Legal handle?

  NYC Legal drafts bilingual Thai/English wills under Civil & Commercial Code §1655-1672 (five recognized forms). Coverage: Thai-situs assets with non-revocation clauses for foreign wills covering offshore assets. quoted on request. 3-7 business days.

• Q16086. How much does Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English) cost and how long does it take?

  Attorney fee quoted on request; typical duration 3-7 business days. Court filing fees and newspaper publication costs are official rates passed through at cost, and durations are estimates that depend on court and registry queues.

• Q16087. Who is Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English) suitable for?

  Bilingual will drafting under Civil & Commercial Code — Bilingual TH/EN wills covering Thai-situs + offshore assets. Civil & Commercial Code §1655-1672. 5 forms recognized. quoted on request.

• Q16088. 5 Will Forms Recognized Under Thai Law (Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English))

  Per Civil & Commercial Code §§1656-1672, a binding will must follow one of five forms: (1) Ordinary will with two witnesses signing in the presence of the testator (§1656); (2) Holographic will written entirely in the testator's own hand, no witnesses required (§1657); (3) Public document will executed before a District Officer (§1658); (4) Secret document will, sealed and submitted to the District Officer (§1660); (5) Oral will, limited to emergency/disaster situations and valid for one month only (§1663). NYC Legal recommends the ordinary form for most clients and the public document form for high-value estates, providing maximum evidentiary strength.

• Q16089. Why Use a Bilingual TH/EN Will (Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English))

  For clients with both Thai-situs and offshore assets, a bilingual will allows Thai courts to interpret intent accurately while foreign executors understand the Thai estate scope. NYC Legal uses Lawyers Council-approved formats: Thai as the operative original with certified English translation alongside. Each will includes an explicit non-revocation clause confirming it does not override the client's home-country will covering offshore assets — this is critical to avoid parallel-probate conflicts.

• Q16090. Assets to Include in a Thai Will (Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English))

  (1) Thai-situs real estate (land, houses, condominiums) — identified by Chanote/NS.3 title or unit number; (2) Thai bank deposits — by bank name and account number; (3) Shares in Thai companies — by company name and share count; (4) Personal property in Thailand (vehicles, gold, jewelry, antiques); (5) Provident fund and Thai life-insurance benefits. Offshore assets should NOT be included in the Thai will to avoid cross-jurisdictional interpretation conflicts; cover those in a separately drafted home-country will.

• Q16091. NYC Legal's Drafting Process (Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English))

  Step 1: Free 30-minute attorney consultation (LINE/Zoom) — asset inventory, heir mapping, intent capture; Step 2: Our team drafts the bilingual will in 3-5 business days for client review; Step 3: Signing session with two witnesses at our Bangkok HQ (Asoke) or client-preferred location; Step 4: Original is stored in our office vault with documented chain-of-custody; client receives 3 certified copies; Step 5: Complimentary annual will review for the first 5 years.

• Q16092. Can a Thai will be used overseas?

  Yes, via three-tier certification: (1) Thai Notary Public; (2) MFA Consular Department legalization; (3) Apostille (for Hague Convention states — Thailand joined effective 28 February 2027) OR destination embassy attestation (for non-Hague states). NYC Legal handles all tiers as one workflow.

• Q16093. What does the price include?

  THB 8,500 (standard will) covers: 2-hour attorney consultation, bilingual TH/EN drafting, two attorney-witness signatures, original storage in office vault (5 years free), 3 certified copies, and complimentary annual review for the first 5 years.

• Q16094. Can spouses make a joint will?

  No — under §1655 a will is a personal declaration that must be executed individually. We do offer a spousal package (both wills drafted in tandem) at THB 15,000, saving THB 2,000 vs. two separate wills.

• Q16095. How do I include children living abroad?

  Specify full name, date of birth, nationality, and foreign ID number (Passport/SSN), and attach apostilled birth certificates so the Thai court can verify heirship without delay.

• Q16096. How many times can a will be amended?

  Unlimited. Each amendment is either a Codicil (THB 3,500) or a fresh will replacing the prior one (THB 6,500 for returning clients).

• Q16097. Which sources back the Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English) page?

  Cited sources: Civil & Commercial Code §1655-1672 (Wills) (https://www.krisdika.go.th) · Lawyers Council of Thailand (https://www.lawyerscouncil.or.th)

• Q16098. Does the Hague Apostille change Bilingual Will Drafting (Thai/English) paperwork?

  Not yet. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026 and the Hague Apostille Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until then, foreign wills, death certificates and probate orders still need MFA Department of Consular Affairs legalisation plus embassy authentication.

• Q966002. What are the end-to-end steps for will drafting?

  We start with a document and fact review, prepare and verify the file, submit to the courts and the relevant Land Office, follow up on any queries raised by officials, and hand over the completed result with a full copy set. For will drafting a case manager tracks every stage and reports status. Call +66 83-249-4999 · LINE @NYCLI · nyclegal@ilc.ltd

• Q966004. Which documents are required for will drafting?

  The baseline set is the applicant's ID or passport, the original documents relating to will drafting, proof of connection (house registration, company affidavit or the underlying contract) and a power of attorney if a representative attends. The exact list follows the courts and the relevant Land Office requirements on the filing date; we send a case-specific checklist before your appointment.

• Q966006. How long does will drafting take?

  Timing depends on the courts and the relevant Land Office queue, how complete your file is, and public holidays. Our own preparation usually takes a few business days; the official stage is an estimate that can shift. We give you a realistic will drafting timeline before starting and update you as it progresses.

• Q966008. What costs are involved in will drafting and how are they calculated?

  There are two components: official government fees passed through at the published rate, and our professional fee, which depends on scope, document volume and urgency of will drafting. Fees are quoted case by case based on complexity and document volume — ask our team before work starts. You always receive a written breakdown before work begins — no hidden charges.

• Q966010. Can will drafting be handled if I live upcountry or overseas?

  Yes. Send photos of your documents via LINE for a feasibility check, then we proceed under a power of attorney, or you sign at a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate where you live and courier the originals back. For will drafting we map out the fastest and safest option before you commit.

• Q966012. What are the most common mistakes in will drafting and how do we prevent them?

  The usual causes of rejection are name spellings that differ between documents, documents that expire before the filing date, uncertified copies, and translations that do not match the original. the courts and the relevant Land Office returns files for exactly these reasons, so we cross-check names, dates and seals across every page before submitting will drafting.

• Q966014. Which laws or regulations govern will drafting?

  The framework is set by Book VI of the Civil and Commercial Code and the Inheritance Tax Act B.E. 2558, together with the regulations and notifications issued by the courts and the relevant Land Office, which are revised from time to time. Before advising on will drafting we verify the version in force on the filing date and rely on official sources rather than second-hand summaries.

• Q966016. What happens if will drafting is rejected or returned for correction?

  First we obtain the written reason from the courts and the relevant Land Office, then separate formal defects (fixable and quickly refiled) from substantive or eligibility issues (which need a change of approach). Where the error is ours, we redo will drafting at no extra professional fee and coordinate until the matter is resolved.

• Q966018. Who is will drafting for, and what are the eligibility conditions?

  It suits anyone who must present the result of will drafting to a government body, bank, educational institution or overseas counterparty. Applicant eligibility and supporting documents follow the courts and the relevant Land Office rules; some cases require the document holder in person or a properly executed power of attorney. We screen eligibility free of charge before accepting the case.

• Q966020. How long does the result of will drafting stay valid?

  Certified documents rarely carry an expiry date themselves, but most receiving authorities require issuance within 3–6 months of submission, and some are stricter. Check the destination's rule before starting will drafting so nothing has to be redone; we plan the sequence around your filing deadline.

• Q966022. Does will drafting also need an English or target-language translation?

  If the receiving body is overseas, a certified translation is normally required, and many countries insist on their own official language rather than English. We confirm the destination rule first, then produce a translation aligned with will drafting and certify it in the same workflow to avoid extra rounds.

• Q966024. Should I handle will drafting myself or use a service provider?

  Doing it yourself saves the professional fee but leaves you carrying the risk on document format, queueing and travel time, plus shifting the courts and the relevant Land Office practice. A provider reduces rejection loops and gives you someone accountable for follow-up. For will drafting we are happy to give initial guidance even if you proceed on your own.

• Q966026. Is there an express option for will drafting?

  We can prioritise our own preparation subject to capacity, but any stage controlled by the courts and the relevant Land Office follows official procedure and cannot be guaranteed to a fixed date. We tell you plainly what the fastest realistic will drafting window is and offer alternatives if your deadline is too tight.

• Q966028. How is my data protected when you handle will drafting?

  We process personal data under Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (PDPA), use it only to carry out will drafting as instructed, restrict access to the assigned team, and return or destroy originals on your instruction. You may exercise access or deletion rights at any time.

• Q966030. What happens after will drafting is completed?

  Check names, dates and seals as soon as you receive the result of will drafting, keep at least one digital copy, and submit to the receiving authority within its validity window. If the destination requires further legalisation — for example the Department of Consular Affairs or an embassy — we continue the chain in the same engagement.

• Q966032. What risks should I know before starting will drafting?

  The main risks are destination rules changing mid-process, historic documents that no longer match current facts, and deadlines so tight that no correction round is left. We confirm requirements with the courts and the relevant Land Office or the receiving body before filing will drafting and build correction time into the plan.