Last Will and Testament in Thailand

In my experience with dealing with a lot of the expat community in Thailand, the task of obtaining and making a last will and testament seems to be a subject they do not wish to talk about, or is put at the bottom of their list of priorities. Would you leave your assets to chance in your own home country?

Coming to Pattaya and enjoying the sunshine and wonderful lifestyle can make the best of us forget what things are important. It is so easy to put important tasks to the back of our mind and think, “I’ll do that job tomorrow.” Don’t make this mistake. In my professional opinion, protecting your assets in Thailand and abroad should be a very strong priority for you, your Thai partner, and your overseas beneficiaries.

Your home, car, motorbike and Thai bank account needs protection for your beneficiaries, be they your family in your home country or your Thai partner over here. It doesn’t matter if you are married or unmarried – you need to make sure your property both real and liquid go where you want.
For a small expense you can safeguard your hard work and possessions – Don’t put off an easy job because of perceived unpleasantness.

What you need to know about making a will in Thailand

IF I DON’T HAVE A WILL WHAT HAPPENS TO MY ASSETS?

If you have not got a last will and testament in place it is a horrendous task for your Thai partner to claim the right to your assets if you are not married. I myself have had one friend who unfortunately died in Thailand and even more unfortunately did not prepare a last will and testament. One year later and his family was still going through the Thai judicial system to claim his assets which are trapped in probate. All of this can be avoided by making a quick visit to the Key Visa Co office. If you have a Thai partner and you are not married then your partner has no claim over your assets whatsoever, leaving them in a very vulnerable position.

If you wish your family to receive your assets then they have the arduous task of coming to Thailand and proving they are next of kin. They then have to employ a Thai lawyer to undertake your case which can be a lengthy process – anything from 18 months or even longer.

During these 18 months there will be numerous visits to the courthouse, incurring large legal fees. In some instances the legal fees have totaled 50% of the estate’s value. This massive stress your beneficiaries have to endure can be even more costly.

An even more harrowing prospect is the possibility of the court not accepting your beneficiaries’ petition. This will result in your assets being lost. All because you did not want to write a will.

DOES MY THAI PARTNER NEED A LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT?

In my professional opinion the answer is yes. You may ask why? Taking into consideration the other side of the coin, if your Thai partner is the owner of your assets e.g. home, car, motorbike and has these in their name, or you are married and you are entitled to a 50/50 share, what would happen if your Thai partner should unfortunately die?

In my past experience I have witnessed the Thai partner’s next of kin claim the right to the assets of their deceased family member. The foreign partner who had paid for everything was left with nothing. This included having their home and car, where they once lived happily, taken away from them because they had no Last will and testament arranged which, believe it or not, is a sadly common occurrence.

It is difficult to deal with losing a loved one, but to lose your assets in Thailand at the same time would be an unbearable kick while you’re down.

Preemption is the best policy and my advice is take just a small piece of your time to arrange a Last Will and Testament for your own piece of mind. You can then carry on with your quality of life knowing your assets are secure.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN ADD TO MY WILL?

One of the main problems I have seen is that when a foreigner dies in Thailand there can be a conflict between the family in their home country and their Thai partner. This is often due to the Thai partner wanting a Buddhist cremation ceremony and the family wishing the body to be sent to the home country. This can be a very awkward situation for the foreigner’s embassy to deal with. So, in the last will and testament, the foreigner can state in which way they wish to be laid to rest.

HOW DO I ARRANGE A LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

If you wish to arrange a last will and testament at Key Visa Company we make the whole process a hassle free experience for the client. We do understand that this type of consultation is difficult for the customer, so we make it as easy for you as possible. We start by consulting with the client and asking them to produce information on their assets and who the named beneficiaries will be.

The client then returns with the information and we prepare their last will and testament. The format we use is both in Thai and English and can be translated into any language.

The whole process, from receipt of information to document delivery, is three to four days from start to finish.

CAN I/WE CHANGE THE WILL AT ANY TIME?

The will can be altered at any time by the client. If there are two parties involved in the will, both parties have to produce the signature on the paperwork and their original identification before the lawyer will proceed with any changes. The cost for changing the will can vary on the level of changes needed but will be fair and good value for money as with all of our services.

During your time as an expat in Thailand if you are receiving a private or state pension, you may be asked to prove that you are still alive by having a responsible person sign a document affirming this fact. If at any time you require a proof of life document, you can contact Key Visa for help.

WHAT IF I HAVE A WILL IN MY OWN COUNTRY?

If you have a will in your own home country it will not be sufficient to protect your assets in Thailand. My advice is to arrange a last will and testament in Thailand to protect your assets here.

We at Key Visa Company feel very strongly about advising the expat community, no matter how difficult the consultation, to preempt a more difficult situation later by taking the proper precautions now.

The cost of making a Last Will And Testament at Key Visa Company is only 12,000 Thai baht. For this fee we produce four original copies of the last will. You keep an original, your beneficiary keeps an original, and we keep two copies safe. We are always ready to give the beneficiary all the help needed to sort any legal proceeding out, but this is not included in the above cost.

If you wish to have a consultation regarding a Last Will And Testament then please email [email protected] or call the office on 038 422 131 for further details and we will make it as painless as possible.

Great sevice very professional would highly recomend them to anyone
5 / 5 stars
Kevin Isaac

I have used Key Visa for 8 years for all my visa needs and made my last will and testament with them – highly recommended!
5 / 5 stars
Geoffrey Forster

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    GB
    GB
    04:16 09 Mar 24
    Dolby D
    Dolby D
    10:51 04 Mar 24
    The best place for anything visa related , dealt with them for a good few years now and cannot fault the service !! Truly exceptional company xx malc
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    K C
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    05:51 06 Feb 24
    Darren was so easy to work with and made everything simple to do for us this is the second time …
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    Ray Z.
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    09:08 18 Dec 23
    Key Visa is the best. I couldn't ask for better service in regard to renewing my U.S. Passport. Imagine an Embassy where they don't want their citizens appearing in person? Key Visa helped to alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety regarding this matter. I paid the fee, gave them the photos and some information....and they did the rest. My renewed passport was back in less than 6 weeks and now, all the stress is gone. I cannot thank Key Visa service enough. Nice staff as well. Ray Zimmerman U.S.A.
    N L.
    N L.
    13:47 08 Dec 23
    I have used this service for obtaining a second UK passport. Excellent service where I obtained my passport hassle free. Just doing the same again. Highly recommend you use. Darren sadly passed away and his wife continues the business. I was able to get my second British passport renewed with excellent service a few days ago.
    Ray N.
    Ray N.
    04:06 01 Dec 23
    If you are considering to get married to your thai partnerThen I recommend key visaIt was a stress free procedure thanks to kook who was very professional, and arranged everything for us in a very short time periodMany thanks Ray and kai
    Chris S.
    Chris S.
    04:03 23 Nov 23
    Good visa agent. Ann is Thai but succeeded the business from her falang husband who recently passed to the best of my knowledge. She is efficient and knowledgeable and my visa process was less expensive than my experience in Phuket as well. I would recommend Key Visa to future Visa seekers.
    Jeffrey W.
    Jeffrey W.
    02:55 16 Nov 23
    Super easy process. I got everything I needed done. It was taken care of quickly after the first session which included getting a Thai bank account and my O retirement visa. Very professional service
    Anthony P.
    Anthony P.
    04:45 11 Nov 23
    This has been my "go to" visa/passport agency for the last 10 years. They have always been friendly and professional..........have never let me down. Recommended by me 100%.
    garry B.
    garry B.
    08:28 07 Nov 23
    It took about 3 weeks for the UK to process my daughter's passport. We had to send better quality pictures and documents, which caused a slight delay beforhand, but overall, their service was excellent. I'm grateful to the Key Visa staff for their help in renewing my daughter's passport, and I would definitely use their services again.
    Oi Y.
    Oi Y.
    06:39 06 Nov 23
    This is the 2nd time I have used Key Visa and the service they provide is fantastic the 1st was with Darren was just so good he told me every step of the process and what I needed to do and bring in with me he made sure I understood how and what would be the process of applying for my Visa to stay in Thailand. And with the passing of Darren his wife Ann has kept the business running which I am so grateful for as they in my opinion are the best service you can get. We have now engaged them to do a visa for my Thai partner for a visit to Australia to see and spend time with my Aussie family and see some of Australia as she so wants to see snow. Once again I thank you Ann and all her staff for their help and support
    t4toph
    t4toph
    11:39 16 Oct 23
    Today was my worst nightmare .. dealing with a problem ... I can't commend enough how GREAT k Aun & the staff of Key Visa went above & beyond to help me .. I have used their service for several years & wouldn't hesitate to to use professional agents .. that guarantee their work ... I am eternally grateful.. best wishes ... toph ...
    Alan J.
    Alan J.
    01:24 13 Oct 23
    Non imm "O" extension quick efficient no hassles service.
    Birol O.
    Birol O.
    00:30 15 Sep 23
    Very knowledgeable and excellent customer service. Best visa agent ever.
    Pou K.
    Pou K.
    14:08 05 Sep 23
    Great Visa Company Located in Pattaya Thailand which offers reasonable prices and noteworthy services
    Clive B.
    Clive B.
    06:23 25 Aug 23
    UK passport renewed in just over 3 weeks, very professional staff, can’t thank them enough, highly recommended
    Strawman C.
    Strawman C.
    10:13 21 Aug 23
    Excellent.
    D S.
    D S.
    14:09 18 Aug 23
    Good and reliable service
    David G.
    David G.
    06:52 01 Aug 23
    Steve T.
    Steve T.
    04:30 30 Jul 23
    Always excellent service for this retired American.
    Stephen L.
    Stephen L.
    04:22 27 Jul 23
    Excellent service. I got my retirement visa here it was quick and painless.
    J T.
    J T.
    13:29 21 Jul 23
    So far so good. If you want to make some money in Thailand, don't open a bar, get into opening a visa consultant agency.However this agency has been good so far on a small matter l used them for.I definitely recommend them.
    Michael M.
    Michael M.
    08:53 15 Jul 23
    We have been trying for a long time to get an Australian tourist visa for our Thai friend. We applied in the past using an Australian immigration lawyer based in Australia and the application (which was expensive and time consuming) was rejected for lack of evidence (intention to return to Thailand etc). Second time round we used Gemma from Key Visa and were successful. Unlike our first agent/lawyer, Gemma examined our evidence in detail and gave suggestions as to where it could be improved. It's clearly beneficial to use an agent who is familiar with this specific visa stream (ie someone in Thailand familiar with getting Thai people into Australia) and the "no win, no professional fee" clearly incentivizes them to help as much as possible. As always in Thailand the service is not perfect and there are some communication gaps etc, but we are very happy with the outcome and would recommend these guys 100%.
    gary K.
    gary K.
    14:41 14 Jul 23
    Andy W.
    Andy W.
    11:20 12 Jul 23
    Once again i would like to thank the staff at keyvisa for there service .
    The P.
    The P.
    06:10 06 Jul 23
    Excellent, professional, trustable Agency. The best Visa Agency services I've been use in many years here in Thailand. A little issue... They told that my passport will back in 30 days. Actually 33 days..
    Tim M.
    Tim M.
    14:53 27 Jun 23
    Got my first retirement visa with these. Great service. Everything sorted by them.
    Charles Robert H.
    Charles Robert H.
    00:53 16 Jun 23
    Very helpful. The place to go if you want solutions to your visa problems.
    Robert P.
    Robert P.
    00:40 05 Jun 23
    Very fast, simple smooth, efficient service.
    Lewi L.
    Lewi L.
    03:04 21 May 23
    If you need assistance with any visa related this is the place in Pattaya.
    Stephen A.
    Stephen A.
    07:41 05 Mar 23
    Key visa was the best. Sadly the owner, Darren, past away December 22.
    danny W.
    danny W.
    03:43 13 Feb 23
    Absolutely fantastic service great staff totally stress free and professional services I highly recommend.
    Bob C.
    Bob C.
    11:33 09 Feb 23
    Dave C.
    Dave C.
    14:30 08 Feb 23
    been using this company for years, great service.
    Keith J.
    Keith J.
    04:01 26 Jan 23
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    Tom A.
    23:04 21 Jan 23
    kook A.
    kook A.
    10:17 18 Jan 23
    DAVID C.
    DAVID C.
    06:47 17 Jan 23
    Recently obtained a visa for myself and British passport for my partner..No hassle no immigration queueing. Great staff great service thank you Key Visa Thailand…..
    Frank J.
    Frank J.
    10:43 01 Jan 23
    Very helful and efficient.
    Francisco M.
    Francisco M.
    08:20 31 Dec 22
    I went to key visa company for a consultation about marriage visa. it turned out they don't do that type of visa but there was another option and the lady was professional and courteous. but since my visa is not finalized I can't honestly give a full report on visa company.
    tony L.
    tony L.
    01:17 30 Dec 22
    The service and support I received from Darren & his Team in relation to a recent Passport Application for my son was exemplary.The service & professional way in which they expedited the application & explained clearly each step of the process's involved, was faultless.All of which resulted in a speedy & positive result.Darren & TeamThank you very much & I wish you all,A Very Happy & Prosperous New Year 2023 ( post Covid)Tony
    Kristijan C.
    Kristijan C.
    16:48 22 Dec 22
    Great helpful staff
    Sean T.
    Sean T.
    11:39 21 Dec 22
    Job done, Thank you team and sorry to hear of the passing of Darren 🙏
    Thomas K.
    Thomas K.
    14:21 13 Dec 22
    Thank you for your reply, but there is no ringtone or pickup when ringing your office and none of my mails and messages have been answered.
    Michael S.
    Michael S.
    15:42 10 Dec 22
    I read today that Darren suddenly has passed away - far too early in his life.It's never too late to write a review and his services on his company - named Key Visa Co. - so I will use this review to say that I have always been satisfied helping me by his large knowledge about the visa system in Thailand.Every time I met him I was surpriced to noticed his honest and friendly commitment, and over the years I was always convinced that he was not only helpful but also indicated in his way of recognizing his customers. You could always count on him and I was never disappointed.It pains me that he has passed away at such an early age, but I believe that his customers will always remember him as a businessman who only wanted to give his customers the best possible experience and service.He will be missed!R.I.P. Darren.
    C B
    C B
    15:54 09 Dec 22
    Seems to know about visas in Thailand
    Peter W.
    Peter W.
    07:23 08 Dec 22
    The Key visa team led by Darren have 18 years of experience navigating the visa minefield.I am just one of Darren’s satisfied clients.
    Chris T
    Chris T
    13:24 03 Dec 22
    Fast and friendly
    Ross C.
    Ross C.
    16:28 30 Nov 22
    Fantastic company. Darren & his team couldn’t of been better! Polite, responsive, knowledgeable and most importantly they know what they’re doing & get the job done!! Very pleased with the entire process start to finish, me & my GF will be using the company for all of our visa needs moving forward! Thank you Darren & the team!!UK tourist visa application for Thai national.
    Leo T.
    Leo T.
    09:53 25 Nov 22
    Fantastic service
    Christopher W.
    Christopher W.
    08:01 25 Nov 22
    key Visa has a proven track record. They have got me a retirement visa for years and renewed my passport without me having to go to Bangkok. They also got my daughter, born in Thailand, an English passport.Use Key Visa to sort out your retirement visa problems and for getting passports renewed or being obtained for citizens of dual nationalityExceptionally efficient
    finlay S.
    finlay S.
    10:06 24 Nov 22
    Had to renew my uk passport and chose key visa to deal with my application as I am up country in Chaiyaphum province.Great service from Darren and staff always quick and friendly replies to emails.Passport back in 11 weeks time it takes for uk to process.Collected by Key visa and posted by ems to me with old passport and letter to transfer visa stamps to new passport.Great service.
    Michael H.
    Michael H.
    07:31 20 Nov 22
    Michael “Mick” N.
    Michael “Mick” N.
    11:05 19 Nov 22
    Polsky E.
    Polsky E.
    01:56 11 Nov 22
    After attempting for 2 days to get a retirement visa myself with my Thai girlfriends help to no avail and being left totally frustrated I eventually gave up and contacted Darren. After consultation with Darren he calmly brought me back down to earth, reassuring me that the visa would be procured with little effort by myself. I left feeling very confident and reassured at what Darren had said. Yesterday I collected my passport with said visa for 15 months. Many thanks to Darren and team, Key Visa did a great job.
    Bryan P.
    Bryan P.
    02:53 06 Nov 22
    Very pleased with the service I received here. Darren was very knowledgeable. Now my retirement Visa has been issued. I am delighted with Key Visa. Fantastic service. I am very grateful.
    Tim M.
    Tim M.
    08:08 30 Oct 22
    No wasting time
    Martin William B.
    Martin William B.
    09:43 27 Oct 22
    Only go to the best !!!
    Joe on the Go !
    Joe on the Go !
    02:44 24 Oct 22
    Maurice P.
    Maurice P.
    10:51 21 Oct 22
    Having had a difficult time renewing my UK passport I have to thank Key Visa service for their excellent help in difficult times in successfully getting my updated passport. Covid has played a big part in delays from the passport office along with increased demand and the Ukraine conflict but for those non UK residents this has caused many delays. Darren and his staff have been most helpful in ensuring this was completed as quickly as possible and I thoroughly recommend their service to anyone who are looking for this type of service. Many thanks for a five star service.
    berny P.
    berny P.
    06:23 20 Oct 22
    Australian friend having problems with thai wife spouse visa, agency are being very helpful with a excellent customer service
    Christopher B.
    Christopher B.
    15:21 18 Oct 22
    As always absolutely top class advise and speedy response - these guys have been looking after us for around twenty years and in my opinion the very best.
    Jim T.
    Jim T.
    07:55 15 Sep 22
    Thanks to Darren and his team for renewing my retirement visa and re-entry permit! I got it back in ONE DAY! Awesome service. I highly recommend Key Visa and will definitely be using them again in the future!
    Brenda B.
    Brenda B.
    03:16 12 Sep 22
    Friendly and efficient service ...
    Nicholas D.
    Nicholas D.
    22:35 19 Aug 22
    In difficult times they got the job done. UK passport renewal in 2022. My only gripe is my emails and phone calls went unanswered during the process. I was rude to the lady in the office. Sorry about that. When we asked for my (old) passport to be sent back on short notice for the 90 day renewal they sent it back immediately. Thanks guys. Sorry for the trouble
    Steve H.
    Steve H.
    06:47 12 Aug 22
    Darren and his staff are friendly, helpful and most of all very knowledgeable. If you need real and accurate advice then look no further.
    Ian L.
    Ian L.
    04:53 08 Jul 22
    Darren and his team are truly excellent offering an exemplary service. Was updated regularly as visa was processed and everything went smoothly. Darren took time to explain the process and was always available to answer questions. Highly recommended. Thank you
    Wayne C
    Wayne C
    01:52 07 Jul 22
    Great service from Darren and his Team, highly recommended! They get the job done courteously and professionally every time.
    Chris H.
    Chris H.
    04:22 06 Jul 22
    Passport renewal
    Travelling O.
    Travelling O.
    01:43 05 Jul 22
    Good and quick service, reliable staff that can handle all visa issues within reason.
    Jason M.
    Jason M.
    15:16 02 Jul 22
    Great staff very helpful. Highly recommend Key Visa.
    Nicholas W.
    Nicholas W.
    00:38 02 Jul 22
    Key Visa fantastic helpful staff you want your loved ones to go home with you this is the place that will make it happen.
    William F.
    William F.
    12:03 01 Jul 22
    I received the answers I wanted. Quickly and easily
    Brian C.
    Brian C.
    03:58 15 Jun 22
    I have used Key Visa since moving to Thailand over 3 years ago. Darren quickly helped sort out my VISA, back then and arranged for me to open a Bank Account with Bangkok Bank which is invaluable and a must for any long term stay or ex pat. Also directed me to some one who helped me get Motorbike and Driving Licence. 3 years later and on this occasion I asked them to arrange a new 50 page UK passport along with renew VISA etc. Highly recommend Darren and his staff of front office ladies to get you sorted. Thanks
    Tim F
    Tim F
    07:59 01 Jun 22
    A big thank you to Darren and the staff at Key Visa. I received prompt, courteous and professional communications and service for the annual renewal of my extention of stay and multiple reentry permit. I will be back once again this time next year. Great job!
    David H.
    David H.
    01:04 31 May 22
    T A.
    T A.
    06:30 27 May 22
    Great staff and excellent service.Both polite and prompt.
    H A
    H A
    12:05 24 May 22
    Professional and honest man, he extended my tourist visa in one day and at a reasonable price, definitely recommend this office.Hassan,
    andy W.
    andy W.
    03:21 24 May 22
    well Darren it had been 2 years since i last saw you ,i would like to thank you and your staff for an excellent service for my visa. I can highly recommend key visa for all services and i have used them for many years .Dont go anywhere else use Key Visa
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