Section 193 ter — Taking evidence in small claims
Statutory text (Thai original)
เมื่อศาลได้รับคำให้การของจำเลยตามมาตรา ๑๙๓ วรรคสาม หรือศาลมีคำสั่งให้สืบพยานตามมาตรา ๑๙๓ วรรคสี่ หรือมาตรา ๑๙๓ ทวิ วรรคสอง ให้ศาลดำเนินการพิจารณาคดีต่อไปโดยเร็ว และให้ศาลสอบถามคู่ความฝ่ายที่จะต้องนำพยานเข้าสืบว่าประสงค์จะอ้างอิงพยานหลักฐานใดแล้วบันทึกไว้ หรือสั่งให้คู่ความจัดทำบัญชีระบุพยานยื่นต่อศาลภายในระยะเวลาตามที่เห็นสมควร โดยในกรณีที่มิใช่การพิจารณาคดีฝ่ายเดียว ศาลจะกำหนดให้คู่ความฝ่ายใดนำพยานหลักฐานมาสืบก่อนหรือหลังก็ได้
English translation
When the court has received the defendant's defense under section 193 paragraph three, or the court has ordered the taking of evidence under section 193 paragraph four or section 193 bis paragraph two, the court shall proceed with the case without delay, and shall inquire of the party who is to adduce evidence as to which evidence that party wishes to rely on and record it, or order the parties to prepare a list of witnesses and submit it to the court within a period as it thinks fit. In a case that is not tried ex parte, the court may direct which party is to adduce evidence first or later.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 193/3 governs how evidence is organised once a small claims case reaches the evidentiary stage, whether triggered by a defense under section 193 paragraph three or by an order to take evidence under section 193 paragraph four or section 193/2 paragraph two. It keeps the procedure light: the court may simply ask and record what evidence a party relies on, or require a witness list within a period it sets, and it controls the order of proof in a contested (non-ex-parte) case. This flexibility, court-managed rather than driven by rigid pre-trial disclosure, is characteristic of the small claims chapter and links directly to the taking of evidence under sections 193 quater and 193 quinque.
Why this matters in practice
In a small claim you may not get the formal witness-list deadlines of an ordinary case; the court can simply ask on the day what evidence you rely on and note it down. Come to the hearing with your documents and witnesses ready, because the court moves fast and may set the order of proof on the spot. For an overview of the courtroom stage, see our guide on going to court in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 13666/2558 (2015)
Section 193/3 requires the court, on receiving the defense or ordering the taking of evidence, to proceed without delay and to ascertain and record which evidence the party to adduce it wishes to rely on, or to order the parties to file a list of witnesses.
The appeal court set out the text of section 193/3, describing the court's duty in a small claims case to proceed promptly and to ascertain or require a list of the evidence each party intends to adduce.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file a witness list in a small claims case?
Under section 193/3 the court may simply ask and record which evidence you rely on, or it may order you to file a list of witnesses within a period it fixes.
Who presents evidence first in a small claims case?
In a case that is not tried ex parte, section 193/3 lets the court direct which party adduces evidence first or later.