Section 1564 — Parents' duty to maintain and educate their children
Statutory text (Thai original)
บิดามารดาจำต้องอุปการะเลี้ยงดูและให้การศึกษาตามสมควรแก่บุตรในระหว่างที่เป็นผู้เยาว์ บิดามารดาจำต้องอุปการะเลี้ยงดูบุตรซึ่งบรรลุนิติภาวะแล้ว แต่เฉพาะผู้ทุพพลภาพและหาเลี้ยงตนเองมิได้
Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State
English translation
The parents are bound to maintain their children and to provide proper education for them during their minority. They are bound to maintain their children of full age only when such children are disabled and unable to earn their own living.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 1564 is the source of court-ordered child-maintenance in divorce and paternity actions. Three nuances dominate practice: (1) the duty is on both parents jointly; the court can apportion the contribution by means; (2) 'maintenance' includes food, shelter, healthcare, and 'education' includes higher education when the parents' means reasonably allow; (3) the duty survives a divorce decree — courts will routinely award monthly maintenance until the child turns 20 (Thai age of majority) and longer where the child is studying full-time.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
- 1218/2567 (2024) ★ Child Support Order Can Be Modified When the Child Permanently Moves to the Other Parent
- 5123/2556 (2013) ★ Voluntary Income Reduction Does Not Reduce Support
- 3810/2552 (2009) ★ Thai Court Jurisdiction Over Absent Foreign Parent
- 3290/2545 (2002) ★ Paternity and Maintenance in Single Action
- 3076/2559 (2016) Private Child Support Agreement Requires Court Approval
- 6656/2548 (2005) Foreign Father's Immediate Support Duty
- 1413/2547 (2004) Lump-Sum Education Support Order
Showing decisions in our database that cite this section. The list updates automatically when new decisions are added.