Prenuptial Agreements in Thailand

What to know about how to make a Thai prenup

A prenuptial agreement is a document, a legal contract, that spouses sign before entering a marriage. It's also called an antenuptial or premarital agreement. The opposite is a postnuptial contract, which is a contract made between husband and wife after their marriage.
Prenuptial agreements provide a financial plan which can be managed through the course of marriage or upon the break-up of the marriage (example: divorce). For people with substantial assets and properties and wish to control the division of the assets upon divorce, this legal document is very useful.

Under Thai law, prenuptial and a postnuptial agreements are 2 types of agreements that can be made in relation of the assets between a husband and a wife.

A Thai prenuptial agreement is an agreement concerning of the assets between a husband and a wife made and governed by Thai law only. Thai Law is limiting prenuptial agreements and you must follow Thai rules in order to have a valid contract. A valid and enforceable Thai prenuptial agreement requires by Law that:

-It needs to be in writing on the same date of marriage registration, or;
-It has to be a written agreement signed by both parties.
-Two witnesses are required.

The agreement should be attached with the marriage certificate where the marriage is registered.

A "Buddha marriage" is not considered a legal marriage in Thailand. A legal marriage is a public act, it is official and registered at a local office. Because a marriage is a public act, the reason why we must register prenuptial agreements in Thailand is to announce to the third parties about the how the relationship of the spouses will be governed.

A Thai prenuptial agreement is concerning only the assets management of a husband and a wife during their marriage. The prenuptial agreement will be considered void, if; for example:
The prenuptial agreement specified that if a husband goes out with other lady, a wife can file a divorce. This clause is considered void because it is an agreement contrary to public order or good morals according to section 1465 paragraph 2 and section 150 of the Thai Commercial and
Civil Code.

A male who used to pay alimony to his mother every month before marriage. If the prenuptial agreement specified that all his salary will be given to his wife even his mother’s alimony. It is considered that void because it is an agreement contrary to public or good morals.

In addition, if the clause specified that it is governed by foreign law, it is considered void. In contrary, it specified that in case that a husband and a wife live separately, all assets acquired during separation are considered private property. Even though this clause is from the provisions of California State, it shall be valid.

The agreement is unenforceable if specified that the debt of a couple; for example, the education’s debt will be personal debt of a husband or the debt arising from business of both will be personal debt of wife.The altered or cancelled of prenuptial agreement must apply to the court for authorization in order to protect their interest, influences over the other party or force to alter or cancel the prenuptial agreement.In case of a minor wishing to get married and make a prenuptial agreement, a minor must get consent from parents, adoptive parent or legal representative of marriage and make an agreement. (Majority is 20 years-old in Thailand).

If you need a Law firm to draft you a prenuptial agreement, you can ask for a quote by sending an email to Isaan Lawyers.

Related Law

Commercial and Civil Code of Thailand:

Section 1465 Where the husband and wife have not, previous to their marriage, concluded a special agreement concerning their properties, the relations between them as regards their properties shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter.

Section 1466 The prenuptial agreement is void if not entered with the Marriage Register at the time of marriage registration terms of the prenuptial; or if not made in writing and signed by both parties and by at least two witnesses and entered with the Marriage Register at the time of marriage registration stating that the prenuptial is there to annexed.

Section 1467 After marriage the prenuptial agreement cannot be altered except by authorization of the court. When there is final order of the court to effect the alteration of cancellation of the prenuptial agreement, the court shall notify the Marriage Registrar of the matter in order to have it entered with the Marriage Register.

Section 1468 Clauses in the prenuptial agreement shall have no effect as regards the rights of third persons acting in good faith irrespective of whether they be altered or cancelled by the order of the Court.


A Conflict of Laws Act:
Section 22 As regards the property of husband and wife, if there is no ante-nuptial agreement, the law of nationality shall govern. If the husband and the wife have different nationalities, the property of husband and wife shall be governed by the law of nationality of the husband. However, as regards immovable property, the law of the place where such property is situated shall govern.

Section 23 The effects of marriage as governed by the two foregoing sections shall not be affected if, after marriage, either or both spouses acquire a nationality different from the nationality possessed or acquired at the time of marriage.

Section 24 As regards the property of husband and wife, if an ante-nuptial agreement is made, the capacity for making such agreement shall be governed by the law of nationality of each party.

Section 25 If the parties have the same nationality, the essential elements and effects of an ante-nuptial agreement shall be governed by the law of common nationality of the parties. If they have different nationalities, such essential elements and effects shall be governed by the law under which the parties intended or may be presumed to have intended to submit themselves; in the absence of such intention, the law of the first matrimonial domicile shall govern. However, as regards immovable property, the law of the place where such property is situated shall govern.

You will find more information about prenuptial agreements in Thailand at http://www.thailawonline.com/en/thailand/prenuptial-agreements