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HomeLegalInheritance Law
How We Help
Inheritance Law
and Tax in Thailand
Thai inheritance tax advice, cross-border estate administration, asset tracing and contested will representation — handled by specialist lawyers.
How We Help
What happens when you contact us
Four steps from establishing the legal position to a fully administered and distributed estate.
1
We Establish the Full Legal Position
Which assets exist, which country's law governs each one, whether a valid will is in place, and what the Thai inheritance tax position is — assessed at the outset before any administration begins.
2
We Identify Every Thai Asset
Land Office searches, Revenue Department checks, bank enquiries — we identify registered Thai assets, including property or accounts the deceased may not have disclosed. Your executor should not be guessing.
3
We Handle the Legal Administration
Probate petition, court hearings, tax clearance, property transfer, bank release — we represent the estate through every Thai legal step. Where a home-country element exists, we co-ordinate with your overseas advisers.
4
We Resolve Disputes Before They Reach Court — or Fight Them If They Do
We advise on the legal merits of any challenge, represent the estate in negotiation and, where unavoidable, litigate. Most disputes are resolved faster when the legal position is stated clearly at the start.
What We Do For Our Clients
The full scope of what we handle
Inheritance law in Thailand is not self-contained — it crosses tax authorities, courts, land offices and banks, often across more than one country. Here is the scope of what we handle.
Inheritance Tax Analysis and Planning
We confirm your Thai inheritance tax position — which assets are in scope, applicable thresholds, rates by relationship, and what can be structured to reduce exposure lawfully. We provide a clear written position, not a verbal estimate.
Q
Does my family pay Thai inheritance tax?
Thai inheritance tax applies at 10% on assets exceeding THB 100 million received by non-descendants, and 5% for direct descendants above the same threshold. Most foreign estates in Thailand fall well below this — but we confirm your position at the outset so your family is not planning around an assumption.
Cross-Border Estate Co-ordination
Where the estate spans Thailand and another country, we advise on the Thai component directly and co-ordinate with home-country advisers on the rest — so the two processes do not conflict and neither jurisdiction creates unexpected obligations for the other.
Q
Can you advise on both Thai and UK inheritance at the same time?
We advise on the Thai legal position directly. For home-country tax and succession law, we work alongside your existing solicitors or accountants — or recommend contacts where you don't have them. We co-ordinate so neither side creates problems for the other.
Asset Tracing and Verification
We conduct formal searches at the Land Office, Revenue Department and relevant financial institutions to identify all Thai-registered assets. Executors and beneficiaries regularly discover assets — and debts — that were not known during the deceased's lifetime.
Q
Can you trace assets the deceased held in Thailand?
Yes. We carry out Land Office searches, Revenue Department checks and bank enquiries to identify Thai-registered assets. This is often necessary when the deceased held property or accounts that were not disclosed to family during their lifetime.
Contested Wills and Inheritance Disputes
We advise on the legal strength of a challenge before proceedings are issued. Where negotiation fails, we represent the estate or a beneficiary in Thai court proceedings — and we tell you plainly if the legal position does not support the outcome you are seeking.
Q
What if the will is being contested by another family member?
We advise on the legal merits before any proceedings begin. Many disputes are resolved without court action once the legal position is understood. Where litigation is unavoidable, we represent the estate — or the contesting party, depending on who instructs us.
Intestate Estate Administration
Where there is no valid will, we apply for court-appointed administration and administer the estate under Thai succession law. We identify the statutory heirs, their entitlements, and manage distribution accordingly.
Property and Asset Transfer
Transferring Thai property — condominium or lawfully held land — through inheritance requires a Land Office process separate from probate. We handle due diligence, transfer documentation and registration so title passes cleanly to the correct beneficiary.
Our Commitment To You
What you can hold us to
We Give You the Tax Position in Writing
Inheritance tax advice should not be verbal. We provide a written analysis of the Thai tax position covering which assets are in scope, the applicable thresholds and rates, and any planning steps that are appropriate. You have a document to keep.
Q
Does my family pay Thai inheritance tax?
Thai inheritance tax applies at 10% on assets exceeding THB 100 million received by non-descendants, and 5% for direct descendants above the same threshold. Most foreign estates in Thailand fall well below this — but we confirm your position at the outset so your family is not planning around an assumption.
Honest Assessment of Disputed Estates
If a will challenge has poor legal prospects, we say so before you commit to proceedings. Thai litigation is slow and expensive. We will not encourage a contested case we do not believe has merit — and we will not encourage a settlement that gives away more than the legal position requires.
Q
How long does a contested estate take to resolve in Thailand?
A straightforward dispute resolved through negotiation or a clear legal position can be concluded in weeks. Thai court proceedings for contested probate typically take one to three years depending on complexity. We give you a realistic assessment — not an optimistic one — after reviewing the facts.
One Lawyer. Not a Rotating Team.
The lawyer who assesses the estate is the lawyer who handles it. You have a direct line throughout administration, negotiation and any litigation. There is no handover to a junior when the file becomes difficult.
Fees Paid from the Estate — Agreed Before We Begin
Our fees and all government or court charges are set out before we start. Administration fees are normally a properly incurred estate liability and paid from estate funds before distribution — not invoiced separately to grieving beneficiaries.
Q
Who pays your fees — the estate or the beneficiaries?
Legal fees for estate administration are normally paid from the estate before distribution, as a properly incurred estate liability. In contested matters, this depends on how the dispute is structured. We set out the fee arrangement clearly at the outset.
Who You'll Work With
Real people, not a case number
Kanokpich Ukritdutsadee (Lawyer Pook)
Managing Director & Lead Barrister
Leads all inheritance law and estate litigation matters handled by the firm. Personally responsible for the legal strategy on each contested or complex estate and for the inheritance tax advice provided to clients.
Brian Ramsden
General Manager of Foreign Affairs
Your first contact and ongoing liaison. Brian co-ordinates communication between family members, the legal team, overseas advisers and every Thai authority involved — ensuring the process stays clear throughout.
Related Resources
Inheritance law and tax, in full detail
For the full guide on Thai succession law, tax thresholds, what forms part of an estate and the common inheritance planning mistakes, see our guide pages.
Inheritance Law & Tax Guide
→Thai succession law, tax thresholds, what forms part of an estate and common inheritance mistakes
Death in Thailand Guide
→Practical steps, probate process, repatriation and authorities
Wills and Estate Planning
→Thai will drafting, dual-country co-ordination, executor appointment
Death in Thailand Legal Support
→Probate, estate administration, property transfer and authority liaison
Legal Services
→All legal services for expats and foreign families in Thailand
Lawyers for Expats Thailand, 2026. The content of this page is general legal information and does not constitute legal advice for any specific matter. Please contact us for advice on your individual circumstances.