Retaining the services of a solicitor in Thailand can be difficult as foreigners are not allowed by Thai law to practice. Unlike Singapore or Hong Kong where foreign solicitors may register and practice, Thai law does not make for this provision. This does give rise to a situation where you never know who you are dealing with. The person you visit might suggest or even state that he or she is a solicitor but without registration requirements, your guess is as good as mine as to the authenticity of the person. The sure way of finding out is to find out the persons qualifications, area of practice and the last solicitors firm they worked for in the UK. With this information you can verify that the person was a solicitor in the UK.

As expats in Thailand are not viewed as solicitors, they are called consultants and have no standing in Thai courts. Always verify that the person you meet or consult is a solicitor and one which allows you to check his background. Now you might wonder why this is important. Would you take legal advice from your dentist or even the postman? Well if you would not do it at home, then don't do it in Thailand.

Even though many may appear 'cheap' it is never cheap in the long run. Lets say that you decide to get married in Thailand and need your marriage registered in Thailand. That is simple enough, however what if you wish to have a prenup drafted before you get married or are palnning to also do a fiancee visa or a spouse visa for your wife or girlfriend. This complicates matters as the person drafting your prenup would have to know the relevent UK laws. Looking for cheap at the end of the day will be very costly if or when you decide to obtain a divorce either in Thailand or in the UK. The law is complicated and best done by those who are trained and registered to do this.

The same goes for UK fiancee visas . There are many agents around who can give you advice on a fiancee visa application, however taking legal advice with regards to prenups should always be done by a solicitor.

Speak to a solicitor in Bangkok today!