Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Re: Marriage and protecting UK Assets
Hi,
I'm planning to marry a Thai lady. We have been together for about a year. I don't have any assets in Thailand, but I have a property in the UK and a couple of modest pensions from UK institutions. We both live in Hua Hin.
If the marriage doesn't work out, are my UK assets at risk? From my research it seems only assets acquired in Thailand during the marriage would be at risk. In four or five years I may want to build a house for her in Issan. If we divorced soon after this was completed, would all be lost? I know this board has a wealth of personal experience and I'm interested to hear of any pitfalls should my marriage not work out. Cheers Robin
I'm planning to marry a Thai lady. We have been together for about a year. I don't have any assets in Thailand, but I have a property in the UK and a couple of modest pensions from UK institutions. We both live in Hua Hin.
If the marriage doesn't work out, are my UK assets at risk? From my research it seems only assets acquired in Thailand during the marriage would be at risk. In four or five years I may want to build a house for her in Issan. If we divorced soon after this was completed, would all be lost? I know this board has a wealth of personal experience and I'm interested to hear of any pitfalls should my marriage not work out. Cheers Robin
Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Contrary to popular belief, upon divorce assets acquired during the marriage are divided equally between both partners. As a farang can't legally own land in Thailand, the value of the property is divided. That means that when the property is sold, the value of the sale is shared equally.
The Thai courts don't have any power over assets in the UK and any claim has to be applied through the UK courts.
Been there, done that!
The Thai courts don't have any power over assets in the UK and any claim has to be applied through the UK courts.
Been there, done that!
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Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
A. "upon divorce assets acquired during the marriage are divided equally between both partners"HHTel wrote:Contrary to popular belief, upon divorce assets acquired during the marriage are divided equally between both partners. As a farang can't legally own land in Thailand, the value of the property is divided. That means that when the property is sold, the value of the sale is shared equally.
The Thai courts don't have any power over assets in the UK and any claim has to be applied through the UK courts.
Been there, done that!
Or did you mean...
B. Upon divorce ONLY assets acquired during the marriage........
Because if its A. then that could mean that she's entitled to other assets too, but just half the Thai ones since marriage
Thanks
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Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Absolutely not at risk.
Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Not quite sure what difference the word 'only' makes. Assets acquired during the marriage by either partner is equally divided. Regarding the UK, the Thai courts don't have that jurisdiction so the divorce would have to go through the UK courts separately regarding any assets in the UK. Noted that the rules in the UK is not limited to assets acquired during the marriage.
Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Regardless of what the "law" says, it all comes down to the discrepancy of the Thai judge and how good the lawyers are if a property dispute goes to court. Married or not, you can still lose the lot in Thailand, I know a few that have found that out the hard way.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Hear, Hear!
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
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Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
What isnt?Benroon wrote:Absolutely not at risk.
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Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Just to balance things up, my brother in law who wasn’t married but put his property in his partners name, managed to get possession back going through the courts. It took a long time and lawyers fees, but still ended up with about 90% of what he had paid for the property.
Re: Marriage and protecting UK Assets
Having read the posts on this thread, and listened to chaps who have lived in Thailand for years, I would say that co-habitation is safer from a financial point of view.Robinhood wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 7:39 pm Hi,
I'm planning to marry a Thai lady. We have been together for about a year. I don't have any assets in Thailand, but I have a property in the UK and a couple of modest pensions from UK institutions. We both live in Hua Hin.
If the marriage doesn't work out, are my UK assets at risk? From my research it seems only assets acquired in Thailand during the marriage would be at risk. In four or five years I may want to build a house for her in Issan. If we divorced soon after this was completed, would all be lost? I know this board has a wealth of personal experience and I'm interested to hear of any pitfalls should my marriage not work out. Cheers Robin
Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Hi, some advice re a Thai Lady friend , her partner a Norwegian died suddenly, they had a new Ford Ranger which was put in her name, does she legally own the vehicle?
Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
As his spouse, she is the first beneficiary of his assets in Thailand. The same goes the other way round except that the surviving foreigner has 365 days to 'sell' the property as the law does not permit him/her to own it indefinitely.
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Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
As the registered keeper I’m sure she does.Highflyer wrote:Hi, some advice re a Thai Lady friend , her partner a Norwegian died suddenly, they had a new Ford Ranger which was put in her name, does she legally own the vehicle?
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Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
Not really. Unlike a divorce where acquired assets are equally divided, should the relationship be ended, then assets remain belonging to the current owner. In the case of land where it was probably bought in the Thai partner's name, then he/she remains the owner and the foreigner has no claim on it.Having read the posts on this thread, and listened to chaps who have lived in Thailand for years, I would say that co-habitation is safer from a financial point of view.
Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady
There is no 'registered keeper' in Thailand. She is the owner as it is in her name.Dannie Boy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 6:30 pmAs the registered keeper I’m sure she does.Highflyer wrote:Hi, some advice re a Thai Lady friend , her partner a Norwegian died suddenly, they had a new Ford Ranger which was put in her name, does she legally own the vehicle?
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