Section 194 — Oral judgment in small claims
Statutory text (Thai original)
คดีมโนสาเร่นั้น ให้ศาลมีอำนาจออกคำสั่งหรือคำพิพากษาด้วยวาจาดังที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๑๔๑
English translation
In a small claims case, the court has the power to issue an order or a judgment orally, as provided in Section 141.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 194 opens Chapter 1 on small claims procedure by giving the court an express power to render its order or judgment orally, incorporating the abbreviated judgment mechanism of Section 141. It is a speed-and-cost device: because the value in dispute is small, the law spares the court from producing a full written decision with detailed reasoning. The oral judgment still binds and is later recorded; its substantive content need only order the defendant to perform and to bear costs. This power carries over to uncomplicated ordinary cases through Section 196.
Why this matters in practice
For a claimant, oral judgment means a small claim can be decided quickly and cheaply, often at the first hearing. Do not expect a lengthy written opinion: the recorded judgment may simply direct payment plus costs, so keep your own note of what the court ordered on interest and dates. If you are pursuing a modest sum, this streamlined route is why small claims are attractive for debt collection.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1524/2548 (2005)
In a small claims case the court may render judgment orally under Section 141 last paragraph together with Sections 194 and 196, so the judgment's content need only order the defendant to pay and to bear costs and need not set out detailed reasoning on matters such as interest.
The trial court had rendered an oral judgment ordering the defendant to pay, and the interest figure recorded did not exactly match the plaintiff's prayer. Because the case was a small claim decided by oral judgment under Section 141 last paragraph with Sections 194 and 196, the judgment's content was properly limited to ordering payment and costs, and the plaintiff had proved the claim as pleaded.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Thai court give judgment orally in a small claims case?
Yes. Section 194 expressly allows the court to issue its order or judgment orally in a small claims case, using the abbreviated judgment form permitted by Section 141.
Does an oral judgment still have to be recorded?
Yes. Although delivered orally, the judgment is entered in the record. Its content in a small claim is usually limited to ordering payment of the debt and the costs of the case.