Wills & Inheritance in Thailand

[Super Joe]

been looking into this and some of it is scary if you have a Thai spouse:
not sure how many of you already know or whether its been posted on here before, but well worth putting up again:

If you have not made a legal will:
Thai law states that where a person dies without having made a will, the whole of the marital estate shall be distributed 'in proportion' among the statutory heirs

Statutory right of inheritance is as follows:
1. Direct descendents ‘children’, even children by wife from another relationship - (at the same % share as each surviving child)
2. Parents - (50%)
3. Brothers and Sisters of ‘full’ blood - (50%)
4. Brothers and Sisters of ‘half’ blood - (75%)
5. Grandparent - (75%)
6. Uncles and Aunts - (75%)

Then comes the Husband or Wife!! If any member of classes 1-6 is surviving the spouse only gets a proportionate share. Only if clases 1-6 no longer exist will the spouse get 100% of the estate

Also, if your spouse has a Thai child from an earlier marriage/union it is also part of the family. If the child is son, the child may inherit and the child's other parent can make a claim

It's not just about protecting yourself but your wife and Luk-Krueng too
.