The act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering, while it is a subject of ethical and legal debate in many countries, active euthanasia is not permitted under Thai law.

Executor (ผู้จัดการมรดก), in relation to inheritance and wills, means the person or institution named in the Will to carry out the terms of a Will. The executor (or when appointed by the court the estate 'administrator') is responsible for paying any debts and distributing the remaining assets in accordance with the testator’s wishes or, where no will exists, under Thailand’s inheritance and succession laws.

The area of law that deals with family relationships, rights, duties (particularly marriage, adoption, divorce, custody, maintenance), or more general, laws dealing with matters of impact on family relationships. 

The official statement by a licensed financial institution in Thailand (Thai bank) to report the remittance and exchange of foreign currencies into Thai baht under reporting requirements of the Bank of Thailand. Source: samuiforsale

Term in contract law, refraining from doing something that one has a legal right to do, giving of further time for repayment of an obligation or agreement (not to enforce a claim at its due date).

Standard legal language (French) referring to an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond control of parties. The risks beyond the reasonable control of a party such as war and natural disasters (act of god) that could not be evaded through the exercise of due care and which is not a product or result of the negligence or malfeasance. In the Thailand Civil and Commercial Code it is described as 'any event the happening or pernicious result of which could not be prevented even though a person against whom it happened or threatened to happen were to take such appropriate care as might be expected from him in his situation and in such condition' (section 8).

Foreign nationals and foreign companies are restricted or prohibited from operating businesses in Thailand primarily in the Foreign Business act, for certain categories foreigners/ foreign companies may be granted a foreign business licence or may be granted an exemption based on a treaty or specific act (like the Investment Promotion Act).

official lawyer appointment form issued by the Courts of Justice of Thailand, used to formally appoint a Thai lawyer to act on behalf of a party in a court case.

As a legal term (in for example use and fruits as in usufruct or marital property in section 1474) it can refer to natural fruits such as natural production, offspring obtained from a thing and as a legal definition 'civil fruits' such as interest (rent) obtained periodically by the owner from another person for the use of the thing.

Under Thai law, a gift is a contract whereby a person (the donor) voluntarily transfers ownership of property to another person (the donee) without receiving compensation, and the donee accepts it (Section 521). A gift may also take the form of releasing a debt or performing an obligation owed by the donee (Section 522).

(ศีลธรรมอันดี) under Thai law refers to generally accepted standards of morality, fairness, and ethical conduct in society. In Thai law the concept is commonly used together with “public order” as a general legal limitation on contractual freedom and juristic acts. Contracts or clauses considered abusive, exploitative, or contrary to these principles may be void or unenforceable under Thai law.

a person who is entrusted by law and who has the legal right and responsibility of taking care of someone who cannot take care of him or herself (such as a child who has no parents or parents deprived of their parental powers may be provided with a guardian). Guardianship is in Thailand governed by sections 1585 to 1598/18 civil code.

Right of Habitation (อาศัย arsai) as a legal term refers to the rights granted under sections 1402 to 1409 of the Civil and Commercial Code governing this personal real right of dwelling gratuitously in a house of another person

a person authorized to make medical decisions on behalf of someone who is unable to communicate or decide for themselves, a living will can name such a person to help ensure that the individual's end-of-life wishes are understood and respected.

the Immigration Act determines among others whether a person is a foreigner (non-Thai), and associated legal rights, duties, and obligations of foreigners in Thailand. It also provides rules for entering and departing Thailand and rules by which foreigners can enter Thailand to take residence in the Kingdom.

Thailand’s inheritance tax: payable only on the portion above THB 100m; 5% for ascendants/descendants, 10% for others; spouse exempt.

A legal entity that is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties other than a natural person (human being).  In Thailand a juristic person can come into existence only by virtue of the civil and commercial code or other laws (section 65 civil and commercial code).

a payment to the lessor required from a new tenant (or existing tenant who wants to renew the lease) of a commercial property in Thailand (not common in residential leases). It is not always clear what key-money means in Thailand and it could be simply part of the total rental (as an advance payment for a lower monthly rental during the term of the lease and outside the books non-taxable income for the lessor).

Under Thai law property given by a man to his fiancée as evidence that the marriage shall take place. An engagement (betrothal) is not valid without such property given (section 1437).

Standard marriage‑application form that must be filled out and signed before a Thai district registrar (Amphur/Khet) or Royal Thai embassy/consulate in order to have a marriage legally recorded under Thai law.

Khor Ror 7 (คร.7) is the official Thai divorce certificate issued by the local District Office (Amphur or Khet) when a marriage is legally dissolved. At the time of registration, the divorce is first recorded on the Khor Ror 6 register (the divorce registration record), after which each party is provided with a Khor Ror 7 document as proof of the divorce.

The official Thai Marriage Certificate issued by an Amphur (district office) under Thailand’s Civil and Commercial Code. It confirms that a marriage has been legally registered and serves as primary legal proof of marriage in Thailand and abroad.

Kor Ror 6 is the Thai Divorce Application Form (แบบคำขอจดทะเบียนหย่า), the official form under Thailand’s Civil and Commercial Code to apply for a mutual consent divorce at ht Amphur.

Kor Ror 22 is a Thai civil registration form used to record a marriage that took place outside Thailand in the Thai civil registry. It is issued by the District Office (Amphur) and serves as official Thai proof that the foreign marriage is legally recognized in Thailand. The document is commonly used for legal and administrative purposes, including immigration matters and divorce proceedings in Thailand.

Kratom is the common name for Mitragyna speciosa, a plant native to Thailand and neighboring countries. In Thai legal contexts, “kratom” matters because Thailand shifted it from a narcotics approach to a regulated plant approach.

The Land & Building Tax Act B.E. 2562, effective 1 January 2020, replaced the previous Act. Maximum tax rates are agricultural ≤ 0.15%, residential ≤ 0.30%, commercial/industrial ≤ 1.20%, and vacant ≤ 1.20%. The owner as of 1 January each year must pay the tax to the local administrative organization (Municipality or Subdistrict Office).

the government department where they register the ownership, possession or other rights in property (real estate) in Thailand

A Last Will or Last Will and Testament is a legal document that states how a person’s property and assets will be distributed after death and can also appoint an executor to manage the estate. For foreigners with assets in Thailand, a Thai will can be especially important to ensure that property in Thailand is dealt with according to their wishes and in line with Thai succession law. In Thailand, wills are governed by the Civil and Commercial Code, and certain legal formalities must be followed for a will to be valid and enforceable.

is a contract whereby a person, called the letter (lessor), agrees to let another person, called the tenant (lessee), have the use or benefit of a property for a limited period of time and rental payments are made periodically by the tenant (section 537 civil and commercial code)

Leasehold in Thai property law refers to the right to use land or real estate under a lease agreement. Under Section 540 of the Civil and Commercial Code, the maximum lease term is 30 years, with renewals possible but never guaranteed beyond another 30 years. Marketing claims of '30+30+30' leases or automatic renewals have no legal basis, are not legally enforceable, and will be rejected by the Land Office.

lèse-majesté (French language) in legal terms term meaning in Thailand a crime, insult, offence against the dignity of the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent punishable with imprisonment of three to fifteen years pursuant to the Thailand Penal Code.

Thai English language document required and supplied by the Land Department in Thailand for a land purchase by a Thai national married to a foreigner specifying the source of the funds for the acquisition (หนังสือรับรองว่าเงินที่ใช้เป็นสินส่วนตัว) are personal to the Thai spouse, this way ensuring that the Thai spouse takes sole ownership.

A living will in Thailand is a Section 12 National Health Act (2007) directive letting you refuse life-prolonging treatment if incapacitated. Passive euthanasia (withholding/withdrawing treatment) is allowed; active euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal. Often paired with a medical power of attorney.

contract between a borrower and a lender of money detailing the conditions for a loan

Maintenance under Thai law generally refers to financial support after separation or divorce. It includes both spousal maintenance (also known as alimony or spousal support) and child maintenance (child support). Thai courts may order one spouse or parent to provide maintenance based on need, ability to pay, and the best interests of the child, in accordance with the Civil and Commercial Code.

generally in relation to section 18 of the Thailand condominium act referring to contributions to the juristic person for repair and operations fees paid by the unit owners for the upkeep and running of the building and common areas of the condominium

The legally recognized registered relationship of a man and a woman having mutually given consent to marriage and to live together in the relationship of husband and wife and legal registration being made in the marriage register.

in Thai ใบสำคัญการสมรส or Bai Samkhan Kan Somrot, a certificate issued by a Thai district office (Amphur), this official document confirms the legal registration of a marriage under Thai law.

A Thai marriage visa refers to a Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O” issued to foreign nationals who are legally married to a Thai citizen. In addition to meeting financial requirements, such as showing sufficient funds in a Thai bank account or proof of monthly income, the applicant must also provide a valid marriage certificate, proof of cohabitation, and other supporting documents. This visa allows long-term stay in Thailand and can be extended annually at the local immigration office.

Marriage Visa Guide 2025

For answers to real legal questions about living in Thailand as a foreign spouse, see our Thai marriage visa Q&A guide for foreigners .

Court-run civil mediation under the Civil Procedure Code (sections 20 bis & 20 ter). Pre-filing has no court fee; if settled, the judge can issue a consent judgment; if not, the limitation period may be extended 60 days.

Section 702 of the Thai Civil and Commercial code describes a mortgage is a contract whereby a person, called the mortgagor, assigns a property to another person, called the mortgagee, as security for the performance of an obligation, without delivering the property to the mortgagee. The mortgagee is entitled to be paid out of the mortgaged property in preference to ordinary creditors regardless as to whether or not the ownership of the property has been transferred to a third person.
Explore more of 'Mortgage' in the Civil and Commercial Code