Paternity Thailand

In Thailand, paternity rights are established either by marriage to the mother, through court action or government registration. In this regard, a man may be the biological father and have established a relationship with his child, but if the necessary legal requirements are not satisfied, then he may lack any legal rights to his child.

Paternity Law in Thailand

The rights and responsibilities of the father are set out in BOOK V: Family, Title II: Parent and Child of the Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand. A child born to parents that are married is considered the legitimate child of the husband. A child born out of wedlock is normally only considered the legitimate child of the mother. Accordingly, a biological mother's legal rights are automatic but the father's rights are not. A common misconception is that a father's name on a birth certificate establishes paternal rights, but this claim is incorrect.

Rights of a Foreign Father in Thailand

The law for foreign fathers is summarily the same as the paternity rights of a Thai father. In order to have rights to his child, the father must either be married to the mother or file for paternity rights in the Thai courts. One important issue will be establishing citizenship rights of the child in the foreign spouse's home country.

Proving Paternity in Thailand

Establishing paternity outside of marriage involves a specific court and registration process in Thailand. For establishing rights of the foreign father, each Embassy will have its own procedures. Evidence required includes the submission of specific legal documents; DNA tests and Thailand court orders are also frequently required