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03 · Expertise

Family & Succession

Marriage, children, wills and estates — for Thai families and for families that exist across two legal systems at once.

Services

What we handle in this area

01

Marriage & Divorce

Prenuptial agreements, divorce by agreement or by court, property division.

Learn more 02

Child Custody

Child custody and family matters — parental power, support, contact and relocation.

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Wills & Estate Planning

Thai-law wills, including for foreign nationals holding assets in Thailand.

Learn more 04

Probate & Estate Administration

Appointment of an estate administrator and distribution of the estate.

Learn more 05

Cross-Border Family & Succession

Cross-border family and succession — estates and families spanning two legal systems.

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Lawyers for this matter

Lawyers in this practice

Generation 1 Chanin Taongern

Founding Partner

Chanin Taongern

40+ years of courtroom and advisory experience

LitigationBusiness advisoryEmployment lawCivil and criminal matters
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Generation 2 Pongsanan Taongern

Partner

Pongsanan Taongern

Modern legal practice, business advisory and international client support

Corporate advisoryEmployment lawCross-border family lawInternational client servicesLegal workshops
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Related reading

Reading on this area

Family & Succession 2026-08-066 min read

Can a foreign father obtain custody in Thailand?

Being named on the birth certificate is not the same as being the legal father. What an unmarried foreign father has to establish first, and what follows.
Family & Succession 2026-08-065 min read

What rights does an unmarried father have?

A short answer to a question we are asked more than any other — and the three routes to changing the answer.
Family & Succession 2026-08-066 min read

How is child support calculated in Thailand?

There is no fixed formula. What the court actually weighs, and the evidence that moves the number.

Common questions

Questions we are asked

For a child born outside marriage, the mother generally holds parental power initially. That is a starting point, not a final answer — a father who legitimates can apply.
The court can take an older child’s wishes into account, weighted against age and maturity.
Joint arrangements are possible, and are more likely to be workable where the parents can present an agreed plan.
By the child’s reasonable needs measured against each parent’s ability to pay. There is no fixed formula, which makes evidence of both sides important.
Yes, though enforcement is the harder part. We advise on realistic prospects before you spend money on the claim.
Generally until the child reaches majority, with limited exceptions. CURRENT_AGE_RULE_NOTE
Being named is not the same as being the legal father. For unmarried fathers in Thailand, legal parental status generally requires legitimation by registration or court order.
The court route remains available. The child’s welfare is the governing test, and DNA evidence is commonly used.

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Legal problems are easier to manage when addressed early.

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