Prenuptial agreement Thailand

What you need to know about making a Thai prenup

A prenuptial agreement is a document, a legal contract, that spouses sign before entering a marriage. It's also called an antenuptial or premarital agreement. The opposite is a postnuptial contract, which is a contract made between husband and wife after their marriage.

Normally, prenuptial agreements provide a financial plan which can be managed through the course of marriage or upon the break-up of the marriage (example: divorce). For people with substantial assets and properties and wish to control the division of the assets upon divorce, this legal document is very useful.

Under Thai law, prenuptial and a postnuptial agreements are 2 types of agreements that can be made in relation of the assets between a husband and a wife. You should know that a postnuptial agreement under Thai Law is not very strong, because of clause 1469 of the Thai Civil Code.

A "Buddhist marriage" is not considered a legal marriage in Thailand. A legal marriage is a public act, it is official and registered at a local office. Because a marriage is a public act, the reason why we must register prenuptial agreements in Thailand is to announce to the third parties about the how the relationship of the spouses will be governed.

A Thai prenuptial agreement is an agreement concerning of the assets between a husband and a wife made and governed by Thai law only. Thai Law is limiting prenuptial agreements and you must follow Thai rules in order to have a valid contract. A valid and enforceable Thai prenuptial agreement requires by Law that:

• It needs to be in writing on the same date of marriage registration, or;
• It has to be a written agreement signed by both parties.
• Two witnesses are required.
• The agreement should be attached with the marriage certificate where the marriage is registered.

Video about prenuptial agreements in Thailand

A Thai prenuptial agreement is concerning only the assets management of a husband and a wife during their marriage. The prenuptial agreement will be considered void, if; for example:

• The prenuptial agreement specified that if a husband goes out with another lady, a wife can file a divorce. This clause is considered void because it is an agreement contrary to public order or good morals according to section 1465 paragraph 2 and section 150 of the Thai Commercial and Civil Code.
• A male who used to pay alimony to his mother every month before marriage. If the prenuptial agreement specified that all his salary will be given to his wife even his mother’s alimony. It is considered that void because it is an agreement contrary to public or good morals.

In addition, if a clause specified that it is governed by foreign law, should normally be considered void under Thai Law. Another example would be a clause specified that in case that a husband and a wife live separately, all assets acquired during separation are considered private property. Even though this clause is from the provisions of California State, it shall be valid there but not in Thailand.

The agreement is unenforceable if specified that the debt of a couple; for example, the education’s debt will be personal debt of a husband or the debt arising from business of both will be personal debt of wife.

In case of a minor wishing to get married and make a prenuptial agreement, a minor must get consent from parents, adoptive parent or legal representative of marriage and make an agreement. (Majority is 20 years-old in Thailand).

If you need a Law firm to draft you a prenuptial agreement, you can ask for a quote by sending an email to Isaan Lawyers.

More information and Links:

• Family Law in Thailand (Wimolsiri Jamnarnwej)
• Marriage (Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand - Book V, Title 1)
• The Hague Convention on Matrimonial Property Regimes
• Laws and clauses related to a Thai prenup