Thai law, explained in plain English

Thailand’s legal system is a civil-law system with its own codes, courts and customs — and most of it is documented only in Thai. Thai Law Online publishes independent, plain-English guides to how it actually works, so you can walk into a lawyer’s office (or a government office) knowing what to expect.

We cover the big structural questions — how the courts work, who can practise law, what a lawsuit actually looks like — alongside the everyday problems that bring most people into contact with Thai law for the first time: a rental deposit dispute, an unpaid wage claim, a road accident, an online scam. Each guide stands on its own and links to the related guides you are likely to need next, so you can follow a problem from “what just happened” to “what do I actually do.”

Whether you are a foreigner buying a first condo, a Thai small-business owner navigating a new regulation, or simply someone who wants to understand a summons that just arrived, the goal is the same: give you accurate, jargon-free grounding before you spend money on a lawyer’s time — or so that time is used efficiently once you do.

Start with the big picture

• The Thai legal system

  Civil law, the court hierarchy, and why there are no juries.

• Hiring a lawyer in Thailand

  Who can practise, how fees work, and the questions to ask first.

• Courts & civil procedure

  What suing someone in Thailand actually looks like, step by step.

• Free & low-cost legal help

  Legal aid, court-appointed counsel and complaint centres.

Guides by topic

• Property & land

  What foreigners can and cannot own, leases, condos and due diligence.

• Marriage, divorce & family

  Registering a marriage, prenups, divorce routes and custody.

• Inheritance & wills

  Statutory heirs, making a Thai will, and probate.

• Business & companies

  Company limited basics, restricted businesses and work permits.

• The criminal process

  Arrest to appeal — and the laws that surprise foreigners.

• Debt, loans & enforcement

  Interest limits, lawsuits over debt and how judgments are enforced.

• Visas & immigration basics

  Overstay consequences, 90-day reports and where law meets immigration.

• Documents & translation

  Certified translations, notarial services and legalisation chains.

Everyday legal problems

Not every legal question is a lawsuit waiting to happen. These guides cover the disputes and paperwork most people actually run into — many of which have a free or low-cost complaint route before a courtroom ever enters the picture.

• Consumer protection & scams

  Faulty goods, unfair contracts and what to do about an online scam.

• Employment & labour law

  Wages, dismissal, severance and the free Labour Court.

• Traffic & driving law

  Licensing, insurance and what happens after an accident.

• Personal injury & accidents

  Insurance, negligence claims and compensation.

• Tenancy & rental disputes

  Leases, deposits and landlord-tenant complaints.

• Small claims

  The simplified, faster court track for smaller disputes.

• Notarisation & legalisation

  Getting documents recognised across borders.

New to all this? Start with the Thai legal system for the lay of the land, then jump to whichever topic guide matches what is actually happening to you.

Find help in your province

We publish companion guides for the lower-northeast (Isaan) provinces, each covering the local courts and where to find help: Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima), Roi Et and Buriram. For deeper, nationwide guides across every area of Thai law, see our companion site Anglo Siam Law.