Marriage in Thailand
Our
lawyers specialize in Thailand marriage law and arranging legal administrative
marriages for foreigners in Thailand.
Marrying
in Thailand can be a wonderful and memorable experience. Many visiting
foreigners choose to marry in Thailand because of its abundance
of romantic islands and upcountry resorts. For others, it is a matter
of practicality. Marriages between residing expatriates and their
Thai fiancés are also quite common. For some foreign individuals
who have difficulties marrying in the country where they reside,
Thailand offers a quick and convenient location to marry.
Marriage FAQs:
How is the marriage process in Thailand carried out?
Why is Thailand a good place to get married
for an individual with a foreign spouse?
Are there other advantages to marry in
Thailand?
How long does an administrative marriage
in Thailand take?
Why should I hire a law firm to help with
my marriage registration?
Can’t we do the paperwork ourselves?
How is the marriage process in Thailand carried out?
The marriage process in Thailand is fairly
straightforward. For foreigners to get married in Thailand, they
must first obtain clearance from their respective embassies. However,
do note that different embassies have different procedures for providing
this clearance. With the clearance, a foreigner can obtain an affidavit
which states the name of the foreigner as well as personal details
such as citizenship and legal freedom to marry. This affidavit will
have to be translated into Thai and legalized pursuant to Thai law.
When all the documents are in place, the administrative marriage
can then be performed at the Thai district offices known as ‘amphur’
or ‘khet’.
Why is Thailand a good place to get married for an individual with
a foreign spouse?
In Thailand, it is legal for foreigners to
marry either Thai citizens or other foreign nationals provided that
requirements are met. A marriage in Thailand is a legal marriage
pursuant to Thai law and is normally recognized throughout the world.
For individuals with transnational issues, where one or both spouses
are from different countries, Thailand is a very convenient location
to register a marriage. 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.
Are there other advantages to marry in Thailand?
For persons interested in prenuptial agreements,
Thailand’s legal system is generally “friendlier”
towards prenuptial agreements than would other western countries.
(see prenuptial
agreement page)
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 short as 3-4 days. If there are complications
such as back-ups in paperwork at an embassy, or different requirements
for certain nations' embassies, the process could be prolonged.
Why should I hire a law firm to help with my marriage registration?
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 reduce the likelihood
of delays or complications. For a US national with a Thai spouse,
a good law firm with an expertise in Thai-USA law issues can even
help you to secure a marriage
visa to bring your Thai
spouse back to the United States for marriage.
Can’t we do the paperwork ourselves?
Yes,
you can do the paperwork yourselves but it may be a very time-consuming
process. There is a lot of legwork involved such as running from
one government office to another, and many of these government offices
are located in different parts of Bangkok. For persons seeking to
enjoy a holiday in Thailand while having the marriage registered,
going through this tedious administrative marriage process could
turn your holiday into a working holiday instead. In the case where
a prenuptial agreement is sought, the agreement should be done by
a qualified law firm to ensure its validity. A prenuptial agreement
drafted by an inexperienced lawyer may run the risks of not being
legally pursuant to Thailand law or the law of the other country
involved.
Related
Topic
Prenuptial Agreement |
