Section 191 — Filing a small claims case
Statutory text (Thai original)
วิธีฟ้องคดีมโนสาเร่นั้น โจทก์อาจยื่นคำฟ้องเป็นหนังสือหรือมาแถลงข้อหาด้วยวาจาต่อศาลก็ได้
ในกรณีที่โจทก์ยื่นคำฟ้องเป็นหนังสือ หากศาลเห็นว่าคำฟ้องดังกล่าวไม่ถูกต้อง หรือขาดสาระสำคัญบางเรื่อง ศาลอาจมีคำสั่งให้โจทก์แก้ไขคำฟ้องในส่วนนั้นให้ถูกต้องหรือชัดเจนขึ้นก็ได้
ถ้าโจทก์มาแถลงข้อหาด้วยวาจาดังกล่าวแล้ว ให้ศาลบันทึกรายการแห่งข้อหาเหล่านั้นไว้ อ่านให้โจทก์ฟัง แล้วให้โจทก์ลงลายมือชื่อไว้เป็นสำคัญ
English translation
The method of filing a small claims case: the plaintiff may submit a written complaint or come and state the claim orally to the court.
Where the plaintiff submits a written complaint, if the court considers that the complaint is incorrect or lacks certain essential particulars, the court may order the plaintiff to correct or clarify that part of the complaint.
If the plaintiff states the claim orally as aforesaid, the court shall record the particulars of the claim, read them to the plaintiff, and have the plaintiff sign them as evidence.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 191 makes filing a small claim deliberately easy, reflecting the chapter's access-to-justice purpose. A plaintiff need not draft a formal written complaint: an oral statement of claim to the court is enough, and the court records it. Paragraph two gives the court a discretionary power to have a written complaint corrected or clarified where it is defective, rather than rejecting it outright. This lenient, court-assisted approach is a special procedure of small claims cases, distinct from the stricter treatment of pleadings in ordinary procedure. It is also applied by reference in later provisions, such as section 193 paragraph three for a written defense.
Why this matters in practice
This is one of the friendliest filing routes in Thai civil procedure: you can walk into court and state your claim, and the court will help by ordering corrections rather than dismissing a rough complaint. It is well suited to unpaid debts and small disputes. Even so, a clearly framed claim speeds things up. If the amount owed is modest, consider our debt collection service before filing.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2472/2554 (2011)
Under section 191 paragraph two, where a written small claims complaint is incorrect or lacks essential particulars, the court has discretion to order the plaintiff to correct or clarify it; this is a special procedure for small claims cases.
The appeal court remanded the case for the first-instance court to act under section 191 paragraph two; the Supreme Court confirmed that ordering correction of a defective small claims complaint is a discretionary power special to small claims cases.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
How do I file a small claims case in Thailand?
Under section 191 you may submit a written complaint or come to court and state your claim orally; if you state it orally, the court records it and has you sign.
What if my written complaint has mistakes?
Section 191 paragraph two lets the court order you to correct or clarify a defective written complaint rather than dismissing it, at the court's discretion.