Two legal pathways to divorce in Thailand
(and their variants)
- Mutual-consent (administrative), register at Amphur/Khet or certain Thai embassies/consulates. Variants: same registrar or “different-office” divorce. Requires written terms (property/children/support), two witnesses, and in-person appearance.
- Court judgment, requires grounds under Civil and Commercial Code section 1516. May be contested or end by a consent judgment if the parties settle (often via court mediation under Civil Procedure Code section 20 bis / section 20 ter).
Tip: If you both agree and can attend a registrar, the administrative route is fastest. If you need a judicial order or can’t agree, use the court path, mediation can still convert it into a quick consent judgment.
| Item | Administrative (Amphur) | Court Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement required | Total agreement on all issues | Not required (judge decides), or converts to consent judgment |
| Attendance | Both spouses in person | Plaintiff must appear; defendant served or appears |
| Speed / cost | Same day / lowest cost | Weeks–months / higher costs (filing + lawyer + evidence) |
| Orders on children/support | By written agreement, registrar records it | Court can order custody/child support/spousal support |
| Best when | Full cooperation & simple assets | Dispute, absent spouse, complex assets, enforcement needed |
Make Your Divorce Easy:
Download our Thai–English Divorce Agreement and follow the Amphur Divorce Procedure checklist to register a mutual-consent divorce in one visit.
Download our Thai–English Divorce Agreement and follow the Amphur Divorce Procedure checklist to register a mutual-consent divorce in one visit.
FAQs
Are there only two types of divorce in Thailand?
Yes—but with nuance. Thai law provides two legal pathways:
- Mutual-consent divorce (administrative), registered at the district office (Amphur/Khet) or certain Thai embassies/consulates, with a written, witnessed agreement and both spouses appearing in person. See Civil and Commercial Code section 1514. Variants include a different-office divorce where spouses appear at two registrars.
- Court divorce (by judgment), based on statutory grounds under Civil and Commercial Code section 1516. A case can be contested or conclude quickly by a judge’s consent judgment if the spouses settle, often via court mediation (CPC section 20 bis during a case; CPC section 20 ter pre-filing).
What is divorce in Thailand?
Divorce is the legal termination of a registered marriage under the Civil & Commercial Code. It occurs either by
mutual consent (written, witnessed, and registered at the district office) or by
judgment of the court.
A mutual-consent divorce is effective upon registration and each spouse receives a
Kor Ror 7 divorce certificate; a court divorce takes effect when the judgment is final and is then registered to update the civil register.
Typical terms address sin somros (marital property), parental power & child support, and (where applicable) spousal maintenance.
Disclaimer.Prepared by the ThailandLawOnline Editorial Team and reviewed by our Legal Review Team (Thai-licensed). This article is general information for foreigners in Thailand and is not a substitute for legal advice.
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ข้อสงวนสิทธิ์. บทความนี้จัดทำโดยทีมบรรณาธิการ ThailandLawOnline และผ่านการทบทวนโดยทีมกฎหมาย (ทนายความไทย) มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อให้ข้อมูลทั่วไปเท่านั้น ไม่ใช่คำแนะนำทางกฎหมาย