In order to legally marry in Thailand, you must first obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry. This can be obtained at your local embassy or consulate in Thailand. You should bring your passport and a copy of your divorce or death certificate in case you are a foreigner who has previously been married.
Then, you will need to translate the Affirmation of Freedom to Marry into Thai and have it signed by a consular official in the Legalization Division of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Affairs Department. This will then be taken to the Registrar at your local District Office where it will be verified.
A pre-nuptial agreement can be a very important part of the process as it lists out the financial assets and property that each party will own during the marriage. This can help prevent any disputes that may arise later on in the event of a divorce.
Getting married in Thailand is relatively easy but there are some things that you need to know before starting the process. This is because there are many different rules that apply to each nationality and you should be aware of what you need to do and what you can and cannot do in order to legally marry.
One of the main requirements for marriage is that you should be at least seventeen years old or above based on your country of citizenship. If you are under the age of seventeen, you must have the approval of your parents or legal guardian before obtaining a Marriage Certificate in Thailand.
You will also need to have a letter of no impediment from the embassy in Thailand which confirms that you are single and legally able to marry. This letter is a must for anyone who is planning to get married in Thailand, but it is not required for those who are already married.
The next step in the registration process is to take the original documents that have been translated and authenticated into Thai to a local district office. At this location, a Registrar will meet the couple and register the marriage in Thai according to law.
There is a fee for this service. It is 400 Baht.
Once the couple has registered their marriage, they will receive a copy of the Marriage Registration Certificate which is required for their records. It can be used as evidence in the event of a dispute over the ownership of any assets during the marriage or in the event of a divorce.
Child Custody Rights in Thailand
Under the Thai Family Code, both legitimate parents are entitled to full custody of their children. However, this can be altered if the spouses divorce or a court order is made for one of the parties to take custody of the child.
This is done either through a simple divorce procedure at the local municipality (uncontested divorce), or in case the spouses cannot agree on the terms of the divorce, this can be contested by a judge in a court where a judge will decide who will be awarded custody and the distribution of property between the couples. This can be a complicated procedure so it is best to use an attorney for this process.