Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #720502 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 470 pages

Customer Reviews

Not much Law
This book tells you all you everything and nothing about Thai Law.

Let me explain.

After a brief run through the history of Thailand and its kings the constitution is set out as is the legislative, executive and judicial structure. Fair enough. Then the fun starts
"What to do and where to go in Court."
"Unless you are a court officer or work in the legal profession, you don't want to go to court in Thailand...... Thais consider going to Court bad luck....."

This is probably sound advice given that the 149 substantive pages include two narratives of going to Court ( John was escorted into the courtroom by a policeman he was barefoot and chained at the ankles....).

There are interesting snippets scattered around in the English language section such as the differences in bail rates for government officials and ordinary people for various offences.

But let's get to the nitti gritty here. I do not buy a book about Thai law to be told how to receive money Western Union or that some banks might like to see my passport before opening an account others might not. That rents will be more expensive downtown than in the suburbs is not news to me and the advice not to leave my ipod unsecured and cash laying about in my apartment because I may be burgled is sound but hardly legal.

What does this book tell us?

Tax: You pay it on earnings in Thailand there is a lot of paperwork to deal with and all the documents are in Thai.

Parking: Restrictions may apply they are written in Thai.

Wills. It is important you make one to dispose of your property etc in Thailand and to avoid disputes amongst heirs and beneficiaries. The disposition of the the will is governed by the Civil and Commercial Code. But whilst Thai Courts are not bound by ite ( the will )....it is your best opportunity to explain your desires and intents. I am confused. Is my will binding or subject to challenge?

Marriage and Divorce. The procedures are set out but the interesting stuff like who gets what on divorce is glossed over " it is complicated you will need to hire a lawyer..."

Amongst the reference section are translations of a house rental agreement ( interesting ) a translation of a subpoena ( not particularly useful as the book keeps telling us to hire a lawyer), a list of Celebration days and the last 24 prime ministers( interesting but nothing to do with the law and ) and charts listing the ranks of army, navy, airforce and police officers. I presume that that these charts will be helpful after a trafic accident ( " the procedures will be slightly differnt to those you are used to in your home country" ) and I find I have dented the fender of a Police General.

To summarize

" Don't ever get into a road rage incident practice your meditation instead"

Thai Lawyers are governed by a ethical code found in S 51 of the Lawyers act 1951 and one of the stipulations for example is that he cannot "claim that he has more knowledge than other lawyers" or "decieves a client that he would win a case whilst knowing he would lose." but "individual lawyers may or may not follow the code"

Conclusion.

Dear Foreigner . You are a foreigner. Pay a lawyer. "You get what you pay for". "Photocopy everything you give your lawyer and keep copies". You are a "guest" here and "you will be treated as a guest forever no matter how long you live in Thailand ". Remember "it's unlucky to go to Court."

From the authors.

"There may be minor discrepancies in numbers,names, or details in this book, since different sources use different descriptions. However, we used the data from the most credible sources we could find ... we appologise if some of the information in this book is inconsistent; this will be improved in our next addition."


ps you can divorce your wife if she commits adultery but she can only divorce you if you have treated or honored another woman as your wife. Same same but different it seems.