Thoughtful guidance through probate and estate administration

Probate is the formal court procedure through which a will is recognised by the Thai courts and an executor is authorised to administer the estate. Where there is no will, a similar application is made for letters of administration. In Thailand, probate is generally required before banks, land offices, and other asset holders will release assets to the family. The requirement applies to most estates that include property or registered accounts in the deceased's name.

The timeline depends on whether the application is unopposed and on the court's current schedule. A straightforward, unopposed application at the Bangkok Civil Court commonly takes between three and six months from lodging to the grant of probate. Where the estate is more complex or if there are queries from the registry, the period may extend. We provide a written estimate at the outset based on the documents available, and we report in writing as each court milestone is reached.

A foreign national named as executor in a will may in principle apply to the Thai court to be formally appointed. In practice, the executor's physical presence in Thailand is required at certain steps in the process — particularly at the initial court hearing. We advise on the practical arrangements at the first consultation, so the executor can plan accordingly.

The starting documents are the original will (if one exists), the deceased's Thai identification or passport, the death certificate, and, where available, a current list of assets and liabilities. Additional documents — such as title deeds, bank statements, or share certificates — are gathered as the compilation work proceeds. We provide a written checklist at the outset so the family knows what to look for at home before any formal work begins.

The stated service fees cover the legal and administrative work carried out by Ayutthaya Counsel. They do not include court filing fees, official stamp duties, or government registry charges, which are set by the Thai authorities and paid directly to them. We provide a written estimate of anticipated disbursements at the start of each instruction, so the family has a complete picture of the likely total cost before the work begins.

All information shared with us is treated as confidential. We do not share client details with third parties except where required to process the application — for example, correspondence with the court or with asset-holding institutions. Our data handling practices are described in our Privacy Policy, available on this site.