Lawyer recommendation for will

[Cat Woman]

Hi, i would like to get a Thai will drawn up specifically to cover our house, does anyone have any experience of getting this done or recommendations? TIA

[Top Croc]

I have just completed house purchase and subsequent lease.

Used CHAVALIT FINCH and Partners.

Efficient, I believe reasonable cost and quick.

19/51 Hua Hin soi 19 (Wat Klaikangwan) off Petchkasem Road.
They are off soi 19 down a little road bout 100 mtr. Sign board on fence indicating location.
Looks like a row of old condo's. The law office is at the end of the row which is a dead end.
finch@chavalitfinchlaw.com
0892079390 is the number of Jim Finch

[London Boy]

I used these as well for the house and our will's.
Very satisfied, ask for Jane

[buksida]

Out of curiosity what is the cost of getting a will made up? (not that I have anything to put in one).

[Spitfire]

Sorry, wrong thread.

[Cat Woman]

Thanks very much. I've contacted them for an appointment.

[Super Joe]

I have just completed house purchase and subsequent lease. Used CHAVALIT FINCH and Partners. Efficient, I believe reasonable cost and quick. 19/51 Hua Hin soi 19 (Wat Klaikangwan) off Petchkasem Road. finch@chavalitfinchlaw.com
0892079390 is the number of Jim Finch

Out of curiosity what is the cost of getting a will made up? (not that I have anything to put in one).

We've used Jane there a lot, English lady who works for Jim, and have found her's and the firms' service to be extremely good. Their fees aren't cheap compared to others in town, but IMO are of a higher standard and give you better protection, so could prove invaluable if ever needed. Our Wills were 24k in total, but that was for 3no., 1xThailand for wife, 1xThailand for me, and 1xUK for me, which they get a solicitor back in the UK to have legalized there. You can certainly get them cheaper in town and they may be just as good, but they can prove to be extremely important document for protecting our kids future inheritance.

It was far more complex than I expected because of how to best protect the children in the event that both Mum and Dad check out either, suddenely at the same time, or both before the children have reached the age where they do not require legal guardians.
You have options like:
a) You want the kids to go live with family back in your home country, as we would with my sister, then a whole set of issues arise. And what if the in-laws sweep the little'un off to deepest Buleelam and start 'looking after' any assets before my sister even lands in Bangkok. Will my sister stick around for umpteen court appearances, spread several months apart for next year or more
b) You want the kids adopted/cared for by trusted friends here, the above 'in-laws' scenario could still apply. What if friends separate or run into financial difficulties?
c) You want the in-laws to look after them, how do you ensure finances are spent in their best interests. What happens when in-laws get too old.

It's made harder because 'Trusts' are not recognised under Thai law, see below, so you should appoint a controller. In the end we came to the conclusion that the best solution would be to not die at all.
Section 1686: - Trusts created, directly or indirectly, by will or any juristic act producing effect during the lifetime or after death, shall have no effect whatever.
Section 1687: - If the testator desires to dispose of his property in favour of a minor, or person adjudged incompetent or quasi-incompetent or a person admitted into a hospital for unsoundness of mind, but wishes to entrust the custody & management thereof to a person other than the parents, guardian, custodian or curator, he must appoint a controller of property by will.

SJ

[buksida]

24k sounds a bit strong, is this another 'Hua Hin surcharge'?, ie. can it be done cheaper in Bangkok?

Also the trusts thing is worrying, sounds like Thai wills are not worth the paper they're written on ... just as well I don't own anything really.

[Super Joe]

Yeah, they're not the cheapest firm around, but that was for 3 Wils, so presumably 2 Thai Wills would be 16k, 8k each. You can find them as low as 5k each on the websites of the bigger Bangkok firms, but then you got the travelling expenses etc.

There's less expensive places in Hua Hin, but after experiencing their contracts and translations first hand, I'd have trouble trusting them. Most of the translated Thai versions of English contracts barely make any sense, let alone represent what was intended. Think the problem is a lot to do with understanding technical or legal wording, and also the context, and just end up typing whatever they think sounds closest!! They may be excellent with 'everyday' Engrish.

Don't blame me if you get left the 'cat', while the Auntie gets the 'car'

SJ

[buksida]

Don't blame me if you get left the 'cat', while the Auntie gets the 'car'

good point, translation is pretty important when it comes to a will.

Will try a few companies and get a few quotes.