Reviewed by Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556, for ThaiLawOnline, a Thai law firm acting for foreigners since 2006.
Update log
- 2 November 2026: Added the statute box with Thai, English and French text and checked the page against the official text
Download the free sample: bilingual English-Thai Thai will template (PDF, 9 pages) and the signing guide for Last Wills and Living Wills (PDF, English then Thai). No email address required.
The sample is marked sample only, not for signature. It shows you the exact structure of the wills our lawyers draft, filled in with a fictional testator. Use it to understand the document before you decide how to make your own.
A template only helps once you know who your statutory heirs are, which is covered in our guide to Thai inheritance law. Our full guide: last will in Thailand.
Table of Contents
This page explains what a Thai will template must contain to be valid, walks through every clause of the sample above, and is honest about the point where a template stops being enough. It is written by the lawyers who draft these documents, not by a template shop.
The full legal background sits on our main guide: making a will in Thailand.
What a Thai Will Template Must Contain
Thai law is not fussy about wording. It is extremely fussy about form. A will can be beautifully drafted and still be void because of how it was signed. Under the Civil and Commercial Code, an ordinary written will needs all of the following:
- Writing. It must be a written document. Thai law does not recognise a video will or an audio recording as an ordinary will.
- A date. The date of making must appear on the document (Section 1656). An undated will invites an argument about which of two wills came last.
- The testator’s signature. Yours, on the document.
- Two witnesses, present at the same time. You sign in front of both of them, and both then sign to certify your signature. All three signatures belong to one sitting, in one place. A will signed in instalments is void and cannot be rescued afterwards (Section 1705). Any later erasure, addition or other change is ineffective unless it is made with the same formalities.
- Witnesses who are allowed to witness. Not a minor, not a person of unsound mind or adjudged quasi-incompetent, and not a person who is deaf, dumb or blind in both eyes (Section 1670).
- Witnesses who are not inheriting. A gift to a witness, or to the spouse of a witness, is void, and so is a gift to the person who wrote out the will for you or to that person’s spouse (Section 1653). The rest of the will survives, but that gift dies. This is the single most common defect in wills that expats prepare themselves.
- A testator aged 15 or over. A will made by a person who has not completed their fifteenth year is void (Section 1703). For a foreigner, capacity follows the law of their nationality at the time of making the will (Conflict of Laws Act section 39).
Notice what is not on that list: a notary, a lawyer, a stamp, and registration at the district office. None of them is required for an ordinary Thai will. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.
The law behind this page
English
Section 1656
An ordinary written will must be dated when made and signed by the testator before at least two witnesses present together, who sign at that time to certify the signature. Alterations must follow the same form.
Full text
A will may be made in the following form, namely: it must be made in writing and dated at the time of its making, and the testator must sign it before at least two witnesses present at the same time, who must then and there sign their names certifying the signature of the testator. No erasure, omission, addition or other alteration to such a will is valid unless it is made in the same form as is required by this section for the making of the will.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1653
A person who writes a will, or who witnesses it, cannot take a benefit under that will, and the same bar applies to that person's spouse. Where a will is made orally under Section 1663, the competent official who records what the witnesses declare counts as the writer for this purpose. This is the rule most often overlooked when a family member writes out or witnesses a will: doing so defeats the gift intended for them or for their spouse.
Full text
The writer of a will, or a witness to it, cannot be a beneficiary under that will. The preceding paragraph applies equally to the spouse of the writer of, or a witness to, the will. The competent official who records the terms of a will notified to him by witnesses under Section 1663 is deemed to be the writer of the will for the purposes of this Section.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1670
A will witness must have reached legal majority and must not fall within the mental-capacity or sensory exclusions listed in section 1670. The restriction on benefits to witnesses and their spouses is separate, under section 1653.
Full text
The following persons cannot be witnesses to the making of a will: (1) a person who has not yet attained majority; (2) a person of unsound mind, or a person whom the court has ordered to be quasi-incompetent; (3) a person who is deaf, mute or blind in both eyes.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1705
A will, or any clause in it, is void if it contravenes Section 1652, 1653, 1656, 1657, 1658, 1660, 1661 or 1663. The list is closed and covers the bar on a ward making a will in favour of the guardian or the guardian's close relatives before the guardianship account is rendered (Section 1652), the bar on the writer, the witnesses and their spouses taking a benefit (Section 1653), and the formal requirements for each type of will. Because the section applies to a clause as well as to a whole will, a single offending gift can fail while the rest of the will stands.
Full text
A will or a testamentary disposition made contrary to the provisions of section 1652, 1653, 1656, 1657, 1658, 1660, 1661 or 1663 is void.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1703
A will made by a person who has not completed his fifteenth year of age is void. Fifteen is therefore the age of testamentary capacity in Thai law, and it is lower than the age of majority: a person aged fifteen or over may make a valid will even though still a minor.
Full text
A will made by a person who has not yet reached fifteen full years of age is void.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1713
An heir, an interested person or the public prosecutor may apply to the court to appoint an administrator where a statutory heir or legatee has disappeared, is outside the Kingdom or is a minor; where the administrator or an heir is unable or unwilling to act, or there is an impediment to administering or distributing the estate; or where the clause of the will appointing an administrator cannot take effect.
Full text
An heir, an interested person, or the public prosecutor may apply to the court for the appointment of an administrator of the estate in the following cases: (1) where, on the death of the deceased, a statutory heir or a beneficiary under the will has disappeared, is outside the Kingdom, or is a minor; (2) where the administrator of the estate or an heir is unable or unwilling to administer the estate, or where there is an impediment to its administration or distribution; (3) where a provision of the will appointing an administrator of the estate is for any reason unenforceable. As to the appointment, if the will contains a provision on the point the court appoints in accordance with it; if it does not, the court appoints such person as it thinks fit for the benefit of the estate in the circumstances, having regard to the intention of the deceased.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1698
Full text
A testamentary disposition lapses: (1) when the legatee dies before the testator; (2) when the testamentary disposition takes effect only on the fulfilment of a condition and the legatee dies before the condition is fulfilled, or it has become certain that the condition cannot be fulfilled; (3) when the legatee renounces the will; (4) when the whole of the property given is lost, or destroyed without the intention of the testator, during the lifetime of the testator, and the testator has not acquired a substitute or a right to compensation for the loss of that property.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 38 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481
Full text
As regards movable property, succession by statutory right or by will is governed by the law of the domicile of the deceased at the time of death.
ThaiLawOnline translation
ไทย
มาตรา 1656
ข้อความเต็ม
พินัยกรรมนั้น จะทำตามแบบดังนี้ก็ได้ กล่าวคือต้องทำเป็นหนังสือลงวัน เดือน ปี ในขณะที่ทำขึ้น และผู้ทำพินัยกรรมต้องลงลายมือชื่อไว้ต่อหน้าพยานอย่างน้อยสองคนพร้อมกัน ซึ่งพยานสองคนนั้นต้องลงลายมือชื่อรับรองลายมือชื่อของผู้ทำพินัยกรรมไว้ในขณะนั้น การขูดลบ ตก เติม หรือการแก้ไขเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างอื่นซึ่งพินัยกรรมนั้นย่อมไม่สมบูรณ์ เว้นแต่จะได้ปฏิบัติตามแบบอย่างเดียวกับการทำพินัยกรรมตามมาตรานี้
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1653
ข้อความเต็ม
ผู้เขียน หรือพยานในพินัยกรรมจะเป็นผู้รับทรัพย์ตามพินัยกรรมนั้นไม่ได้ ให้ใช้บทบัญญัติในวรรคก่อนบังคับแก่คู่สมรสของผู้เขียนหรือพยานในพินัยกรรมด้วย พนักงานเจ้าหน้าที่ซึ่งได้จดข้อความแห่งพินัยกรรมที่พยานนำมาแจ้งตามมาตรา ๑๖๖๓ ให้ถือว่าเป็นผู้เขียนพินัยกรรมตามความหมายแห่งมาตรานี้
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1670
ข้อความเต็ม
บุคคลต่อไปนี้จะเป็นพยานในการทำพินัยกรรมไม่ได้ (๑) ผู้ซึ่งยังไม่บรรลุนิติภาวะ (๒) บุคคลวิกลจริตหรือบุคคลซึ่งศาลสั่งให้เป็นผู้เสมือนไร้ความสามารถ (๓) บุคคลที่หูหนวก เป็นใบ้ หรือจักษุบอดทั้งสองข้าง
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1705
ข้อความเต็ม
พินัยกรรมหรือข้อกำหนดพินัยกรรมนั้น ถ้าได้ทำขึ้นขัดต่อบทบัญญัติแห่งมาตรา ๑๖๕๒ ๑๖๕๓ ๑๖๕๖ ๑๖๕๗ ๑๖๕๘ ๑๖๖๐ ๑๖๖๑ หรือ ๑๖๖๓ ย่อมเป็นโมฆะ
ข้อความจากฐานข้อมูลประมวลกฎหมายของเรา โปรดตรวจสอบกับข้อความทางการ (Thai text from our annotated code. Check it against the official text.)
มาตรา 1703
ข้อความเต็ม
พินัยกรรมซึ่งบุคคลที่มีอายุยังไม่ครบสิบห้าปีบริบูรณ์ทำขึ้นนั้น เป็นโมฆะ
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1713
ข้อความเต็ม
ทายาทหรือผู้มีส่วนได้เสียหรือพนักงานอัยการจะร้องต่อศาลขอให้ตั้งผู้จัดการมรดกก็ได้ ในกรณีดังต่อไปนี้ (๑) เมื่อเจ้ามรดกตาย ทายาทโดยธรรมหรือผู้รับพินัยกรรมได้สูญหายไป หรืออยู่นอกราชอาณาเขต หรือเป็นผู้เยาว์ (๒) เมื่อผู้จัดการมรดกหรือทายาทไม่สามารถ หรือไม่เต็มใจที่จะจัดการ หรือมีเหตุขัดข้องในการจัดการ หรือในการแบ่งปันมรดก (๓) เมื่อข้อกำหนดพินัยกรรมซึ่งตั้งผู้จัดการมรดกไว้ไม่มีผลบังคับได้ด้วยประการใด ๆ การตั้งผู้จัดการมรดกนั้น ถ้ามีข้อกำหนดพินัยกรรมก็ให้ศาลตั้งตามข้อกำหนดพินัยกรรม และถ้าไม่มีข้อกำหนดพินัยกรรม ก็ให้ศาลตั้งเพื่อประโยชน์แก่กองมรดกตามพฤติการณ์ และโดยคำนึงถึงเจตนาของเจ้ามรดก แล้วแต่ศาลจะเห็นสมควร
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1698
ข้อความเต็ม
ข้อกำหนดพินัยกรรมนั้น ย่อมตกไป(๑) เมื่อผู้รับพินัยกรรมตายก่อนผู้ทำพินัยกรรม(๒) เมื่อข้อกำหนดพินัยกรรมเป็นผลใช้ได้ต่อเมื่อเงื่อนไขอย่างใดอย่างหนึ่งสำเร็จลง และผู้รับพินัยกรรมตายเสียก่อนเงื่อนไขสำเร็จ หรือปรากฏเป็นที่แน่นอนอยู่แล้วว่าเงื่อนไขนั้นไม่อาจจะสำเร็จได้(๓) เมื่อผู้รับพินัยกรรมบอกสละพินัยกรรม(๔) เมื่อทรัพย์สินทั้งหมดที่ยกให้สูญหาย หรือถูกทำลายโดยผู้ทำพินัยกรรมมิได้ตั้งใจในระหว่างที่ผู้ทำพินัยกรรมยังมีชีวิตอยู่ และผู้ทำพินัยกรรมมิได้ได้มาซึ่งของแทน หรือซึ่งสิทธิที่จะเรียกค่าทดแทนในการที่ทรัพย์สินนั้นสูญหายไป
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 38 พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการขัดกันแห่งกฎหมาย พุทธศักราช 2481
ข้อความเต็ม
ในส่วนที่เกี่ยวกับสังหาริมทรัพย์ มรดกโดยสิทธิโดยธรรม หรือโดยพินัยกรรม ให้เป็นไปตามกฎหมายภูมิลำเนาของเจ้ามรดกในขณะที่เจ้ามรดกถึงแก่ความตาย
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
Français
Article 1656
Le testament peut être fait dans la forme suivante, à savoir : il doit être fait par écrit et daté du jour, du mois et de l'année au moment de sa confection, et le testateur doit le signer devant au moins deux témoins présents simultanément, lesquels doivent alors, au même moment, apposer leur signature pour attester la signature du testateur. Tout grattage, omission, ajout ou autre modification apporté à ce testament est sans effet, à moins d'avoir été fait dans la même forme que celle prescrite par le présent article pour la confection du testament.
résumé non officiel
Article 1653
Le rédacteur ou un témoin du testament, ainsi que leur conjoint, ne peuvent en être bénéficiaires. L'agent qui a consigné les dispositions rapportées par les témoins selon l'article 1663 est réputé rédacteur.
résumé non officiel
Article 1670
Ne peuvent être témoins lors de la confection d'un testament les personnes suivantes : (1) la personne qui n'a pas encore atteint la majorité ; (2) la personne aliénée, ou la personne que le tribunal a déclarée quasi incapable ; (3) la personne sourde, muette ou aveugle des deux yeux.
résumé non officiel
Article 1705
Le testament ou la disposition testamentaire fait en violation des articles 1652, 1653, 1656, 1657, 1658, 1660, 1661 ou 1663 est nul.
résumé non officiel
Article 1703
Le testament fait par une personne n'ayant pas quinze ans révolus est nul.
résumé non officiel
Article 1713
Un héritier, une personne intéressée ou le ministère public peut demander au tribunal la nomination d'un administrateur de la succession dans les cas suivants : (1) lorsque, au décès du de cujus, un héritier légal ou un légataire a disparu, se trouve hors du Royaume ou est mineur ; (2) lorsque l'administrateur de la succession ou un héritier ne peut pas ou ne veut pas administrer, ou qu'un empêchement fait obstacle à l'administration ou au partage de la succession ; (3) lorsque la disposition testamentaire désignant un administrateur de la succession est, pour quelque cause que ce soit, dépourvue d'effet. Pour la nomination de l'administrateur de la succession, s'il existe une disposition testamentaire, le tribunal nomme conformément à celle-ci ; à défaut, le tribunal nomme, dans l'intérêt de la succession, selon les circonstances et en tenant compte de l'intention du de cujus, comme il le juge approprié.
résumé non officiel
Article 1698
La disposition testamentaire devient caduque si le légataire meurt avant le testateur, ou avant la réalisation de la condition, si celle-ci devient certainement impossible, s'il y renonce, ou si tout le bien est perdu ou détruit involontairement du vivant du testateur, sans remplacement ni droit à indemnité.
résumé non officiel
Article 38 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481
Pour les meubles, la succession légale ou testamentaire est régie par la loi du domicile du défunt au moment du décès.
résumé non officiel
Supreme Court decisions
- 7199/2552 (2009): A Will Granting 'Right of Habitation and Usufruct for Life' Gives Only Usufructuary Rights, Not Ownership
Sources
- Civil and Commercial Code, Office of the Council of State, retrieved 31 October 2026
- Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481, retrieved 31 October 2026
- deka.supremecourt.or.th, Supreme Court of Thailand decisions database (copy held in our library), retrieved 19 February 2026
The Sample Template, Clause by Clause
The sample PDF above has twelve numbered clauses. Here is what each one is doing and why it is there.
- Testator. Identifies you: name, nationality, date of birth, passport or Thai ID number, and address. Precision matters because the Land Office and the banks will compare this against your documents years later.
- Declaration of intention. States that this document is your last will and revokes earlier ones. Read the Thai will and foreign will guide before you use a broad revocation clause: it can accidentally cancel a will in another country.
- Administration of my estate. Names your estate administrator and sets out their powers, including paying debts, funeral costs and taxes from the estate. The person you name holds the office under the will itself (Sections 1711 and 1712). Banks and the Land Office usually still ask for a court order, and the court then appoints the person the will names unless that person is disqualified, for example as a minor or a bankrupt (Sections 1713 and 1718).
- Legatee. Who receives what. In the sample, the whole estate passes to one person; real wills often split it, and each share needs to be unambiguous.
- Keeper of the will. Who holds the original. There is no national will registry in Thailand, so a will that cannot be produced is a will that does not exist.
- Surviving of legatees. What happens if a beneficiary dies before you. Without this clause, that share falls into intestacy and Thai statutory succession decides it instead of you.
- Severability. If one clause is struck down, the rest of the will stands.
- No contest provision. Discourages heirs from challenging the will.
- Omitted. Confirms that anyone not named was left out deliberately, not by oversight. This closes off a common line of attack.
- Insufficient estate. How gifts are reduced if the estate cannot cover them all.
- Interpretation. Singular includes plural, and which language prevails. In a bilingual will this clause is not decorative: Thai courts work in Thai.
- Capacity of the testator. Your declaration that you are of sound mind and acting freely.
After the clauses comes the part that decides whether any of it works: the signature page and the witness attestation, where both witnesses write their own name, address and contact details in their own handwriting. That is not a formality. Years later, a court may need to trace and question those witnesses, and their own handwriting is what makes them traceable.
When a Template Is Enough, and When It Is Not
A template is genuinely enough when your situation is simple: you are leaving everything to one or two adult people, your assets are a Thai bank account, a condominium and a vehicle, nobody in your family disputes anything, and you have no minor children.
A template is not enough, and will cost your family far more than a lawyer would have, when any of these is true:
- You own land through a Thai company or a nominee structure. The shares, not the land, are what passes, and the will has to say so correctly.
- You have minor children. Guardianship and a trust arrangement to a set age need real drafting.
- You have a will in another country. The two documents must be scoped so they do not revoke each other. See the conflict of law guide.
- Your family is likely to fight. A previous marriage, an unrecognised partner, estranged children: these are the wills that end up in court, and they are the ones that must be drafted to survive an attack.
- You want to leave Thai land to a foreigner. A foreign heir can inherit land but generally cannot keep it, and must dispose of it. The will should deal with that explicitly. See can a foreigner inherit land in Thailand.
Three Ways to Get Your Thai Will
| Free sample template | Online Will Maker | Lawyer-drafted will | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | The 9-page bilingual sample above, marked sample only, plus the signing checklist | A full personalised bilingual will from a guided wizard, using our own clause library | Custom drafting: company shares, guardianship, multiple jurisdictions, contested families |
| Price | Free | Included with Gold membership, 5,800 THB per year, all document templates | Fixed 3,900 THB bilingual, or 5,000 THB with a Living Will |
| Start here | Download the sample | Try the Document Maker | Order a lawyer-drafted will |
Our fixed fee is 3,900 THB for a bilingual will. Many Thai firms still charge 10,000 to 20,000 THB for the same document. The full fee list is on the cost section of our main guide.
Last reviewed: 28 September 2026. Read in Thai: Civil and Commercial Code sections 1653, 1656, 1657, 1658, 1660, 1663, 1670, 1698, 1699, 1703, 1705 and 1711 to 1713 and 1718, and the Ministerial Regulation on Wills B.E. 2569 (clause 4). The land rules for a foreign heir and the clause-by-clause drafting notes are practice, not statute, and were not re-checked.
What a will can do, and the mistakes to avoid
A well-written will can speed up the probate process and settle your estate with fewer delays. Hiring a good law firm can help you create a will that shows your wishes and meets Thai laws.
A Last Will and Testament in Thailand can do many things for you: ·
- Gives you peace of mind and protection
- Divides the Estate (specifically) or gives all your assets to someone (general)
- Appoints Administrator of your Estate (Executors)
- Makes gifts of money (pecuniary legacies) or items (chattels)
- Includes specific people (i.e. step-children)
- Excludes specific people (i.e. spouse/partner, family members)
- Protects loved ones inheritance
- Elects Guardians for underage Children (Section 1586 CCC)
Key Requirements for a Valid Last Will in Thailand?
In Thailand, a valid will must be in writing. It should also be dated and signed by the testator. The signing must happen in front of witnesses. Most law firms will use the presence of two witnesses who also sign their names.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making a Last Will in Thailand
Many people make mistakes when writing a last will in Thailand. These mistakes can cause disputes or even make the will invalid. One common issue is not following Thai legal requirements. This includes not signing the will in front of two witnesses who are not beneficiaries.
Another mistake is using unclear wording, which can cause confusion and legal battles. Many people also forget to update their will after major life changes like marriage, divorce, or acquiring new assets. Some expats assume foreign inheritance laws apply, but Thai law governs land and other immovable property in Thailand, while movable property follows the law of the deceased’s domicile at death.
Another error is not appointing a reliable executor, which can lead to delays or complications. Lastly, skipping legal advice can result in a poorly drafted will that does not meet Thai legal standards. Avoiding these mistakes ensures your assets are properly managed and your wishes are followed.
An oral will expires, and this is the part people miss. Under Section 1664 it ceases to be valid one month after the testator again becomes able to make a will in one of the other forms. So if you recover, the oral will lapses a month later and you must make a proper one inside that window.
Additional Provisions to Consider in a Last Will in Thailand. Do note that society and law evolve and using old templates might not serve you well. For a very low price, you can have a Last Will in Thailand adapted to your situation. It can include:
- Digital Assets. In the modern age, it’s increasingly important to include clauses related to digital assets. Also social media accounts, digital currencies, and online accounts.
- Healthcare Directive. This is what we called a Living Will in Thailand. This is not typically included in a Last will in Thailand. Indicating a separate healthcare directive or living will document could be helpful information for the executor and family members.
- Guardianship: If there are minor children or dependents involved, specifying guardianship preferences is crucial.
- Pet Care: For many, pets are considered part of the family. Specifying arrangements for the care of pets can be an important addition.
- Memorial Instructions: These wishes are not legally binding. However, they can help guide family members during a tough time.
- Severability Clause: This clause means that if one part of the will is invalid, the rest still works.
Signed a will years ago? Read when and how to update your will in Thailand, and why a will should never be changed by hand.
Thai Will Template: FAQ
Is the Thai will template really free?
Yes. The bilingual sample and the signing checklist download directly from this page with no email address and no payment. The sample is watermarked as a sample and is not meant to be signed as it stands, because it is filled in with a fictional testator and fictional assets.
Can I just fill in a will template myself and sign it?
Legally, nothing stops you. A will you write and sign correctly in front of two qualified, non-beneficiary witnesses is valid under Section 1656 whatever document you started from. The risk is not the form, it is the content: ambiguous gift wording, a beneficiary used as a witness, no substitute heir, and assets described so loosely that a bank or the Land Office refuses to act on them.
Does a Thai will have to be written in Thai?
No, a will in English is valid. But probate happens in a Thai court, in Thai, so an English-only will has to be translated and the translation itself can be disputed. A bilingual document drafted with both languages side by side removes that argument, which is why every will we draft is bilingual.
Who can witness my Thai will?
Two adults who are sui juris, of sound mind, and not deaf, dumb or blind (Section 1670), and who inherit nothing under the will. A gift to a witness or to a witness’s spouse is void under Section 1653. Neighbours, colleagues and friends who receive nothing are ideal. Your spouse, if they inherit, is not.
Do I have to register my will at the amphur?
No. Registration at the district office produces a different form of will, the public document will under Section 1658, and it is optional. An ordinary written will with two witnesses is fully valid without any registration. Since 24 March 2026, the Ministerial Regulation on Wills B.E. 2569 does allow a public will to be registered at any amphur in Thailand rather than only your local one.
Where should I keep the original?
Somewhere your executor can actually reach it, and tell them where it is. Thailand has no national will registry, so an original locked in a safe deposit box nobody knows about is worse than useless. We store originals indefinitely for 1,000 THB.
What are the essential steps in drafting a last will in Thailand?
Creating a last will in Thailand involves a few important steps. First, identify your assets. Next, decide who will be your beneficiaries. Then, appoint an executor to manage your estate. Finally, make sure the will follows Thai law, including section 1656 of the civil code. Consulting with property lawyers or a law firm like ThaiLawOnline can provide guidance.
Why is it important to have a Thailand last will and testament?
Having a will in Thailand is important. It helps distribute your estate as you want. It provides legal clarity and helps prevent disputes among heirs over property in Thailand.
How can ThaiLawOnline assist in drafting a Thailand last will and testament?
ThaiLawOnline offers comprehensive services for drafting a last will in Thailand. They provide expert advice, ensuring the document is legally sound and meets all requirements under Thai law.
What common mistakes should be avoided when making a last will in Thailand?
Common mistakes include not updating the will, leaving out assets, and not following legal rules. This includes the testator’s signature and others.
For the full legal background, the five forms of will recognised in Thailand, statutory heirs, probate and 2026 fees, read our complete guide to making a will in Thailand.
Written by Mr. Sébastien Brousseau, LL.B., B.Sc., editor of ThaiLawOnline, working in Thai law since 2006. This is general legal information, not advice on your situation.
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