Section 56 — Cross-locality service of summons
Statutory text (Thai original)
เมื่อบุคคลที่รับหมายเรียกอยู่ต่างท้องที่กับท้องที่ซึ่งออกหมาย เป็นหมายศาลก็ให้ส่งไปศาล เป็นหมายพนักงานฝ่ายปกครองหรือตำรวจให้ส่งยังพนักงานฝ่ายปกครองหรือตำรวจที่มีอำนาจออกหมายเรียกซึ่งผู้ถูกเรียกอยู่ในท้องที่ เมื่อศาลหรือพนักงานฝ่ายปกครองหรือตำรวจได้รับหมายเช่นนั้นแล้ว ก็ให้สลักหลังหมายแล้วจัดการส่งแก่ผู้รับต่อไป
English translation
When the person who is to receive a summons is in a locality different from the locality that issued the summons, then: if it is a court summons, it shall be sent to the court; if it is a summons of an administrative or police official, it shall be sent to the administrative or police official who has power to issue summonses and in whose locality the person to be summoned resides. When the court or the administrative or police official has received such a summons, it shall endorse the back of the summons and then proceed to serve it on the recipient.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This provision, within the Chapter on summons, establishes the mechanism for serving a summons across territorial boundaries. It distinguishes court summonses, which are forwarded to the court, from summonses issued by administrative or police officials, which are forwarded to the competent official in the recipient's locality. The receiving authority endorses the summons before effecting service, creating a record of the chain of handling. The provision ensures that a summons issued in one area can be validly served on a person residing elsewhere without the issuing authority acting outside its territory.
Why this matters in practice
In practice this means a summons can reach you even if you live far from the court or station that issued it, so relocating within Thailand does not defeat service. If you receive a summons that has been endorsed by a local court or station, treat it as effective and act on the return date. When you are unsure whether a summons was validly routed and served, it is worth taking advice, and you can book a consultation with a Thai lawyer to review it.
Frequently asked questions
How is a summons served if I live in a different province from the court?
Under Section 56, the summons is sent to the court or to the competent administrative or police official in your locality, who endorses it and then serves it on you.
Does moving to another area stop a summons from being served?
No. Section 56 allows the summons to be routed to the authority in your new area, so a valid summons can still reach you after relocating.