Glossary of terms used on this site

A person, on completion of twenty years of age ceases to be a minor and becomes a person who is capable of managing one's own affairs and who has all the rights and is not under the power of another.

This is a certificate for ownership of land (and unit in a condominium) issued by the Thailand Land Department. In essence it is the only true freehold ownership title deed and contains the name of the owner (including previous owners if any), location of the land (floor of the condo), an area map showing the boundaries on all four sides (or condo) and on the backside an index of registration.

Thai legal term (legal custody) which is used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and a child

Codified system of private law, body of laws primariy dealing with the relationships between natural and juristic persons, civil law as the written source of law as opposed to (common law) judge made law, finding its origin in ancient Rome.

A marriage not formalized in the customary manner as prescribed by law but recognized as a valid marriage after a period of time in which a man and a woman have cohabited and presented themselves as husband and wife. 

The competent government official or person appointed by law with the power to perform a designated function.

a multi unit residential building where persons are able to hold personal freehold ownership of the unit and joint ownership in common areas of the building. What defines a condominium, as opposed to general multi unit apartment buildings, is the form of  ownership.

laws and jurisprudence that govern agreements which is systematically codified and structured in the civil and commercial code of Thailand and further specified by court decisions giving the meaning and interpretation of words and sections of written laws.

Basically referring to the permission to reproduce photographs, text and other copyright protected material

Codified system of law, or body of laws, penal laws, dealing with the punishment of offenders prescribing offense against 'the public' or against another persona and prescribing a penalty for one who violates it.

a parent with the legal right to make decisions about the child's upbringing (parentage sections 1536 to 1584 civil code)