If you are wondering about the cost of a divorce in Thailand then this is going to depend on if there is an agreement or not. If it is a contested divorce which involves children the the costs can run very high and as the family courts are full it will take a while to settle such a divorce. If you can agree on all the issues then you can do an administrative divorce with a divorce agreement which is done at the local district office and does not cost as much as a court application.
Cost of Divorce in Thailand
Registering a divorce by mutual consent
Divorce by mutual consent basically means that both spouses have agreed and sought dissolution of the marriage, both the husband and wife ended the marriage willingly. For this type of divorce, the couple needs to register the divorce at the district office where the marriage registration was done or at least at the province where the Thai national lives.
The applicants need to present their marriage certificate, Thai national ID, house registration certificate and passport for both the foreigner. Marriage settlements can also be registered at the local district office at the time of the registration of the divorce.
Court approved settlement
For couples who agree to divorce but have existing issues concerning division of marital assets, child custody, visitation rights, child and spousal support should be settled in court, wherein the judge will decide and enforce a settlement.
Filing a divorce at the Thai Family Court
In cases of Contested Divorce, wherein one party does not approve to end the marriage, court proceedings will occur and the court shall decide whether to grant or deny the application for divorce. The decision will be based on the proof to support the claim on the grounds for divorce in Thailand.
Intercultural Marriage
Divorce between two Thai nationals would be very easy especially when having an uncontested divorce. Also for intercultural marriages registered in Thailand, the conditions and requirements are similar and should be filed at the local district office. The applicant will be required to present their marriage certificate in Thai, Thai national ID and house registration.
Couples married abroad
For couples who have been married overseas where one of the parties is a Thai national, the marriage should be checked if it was reported at the district office where the Thai party lives. If the marriage was indeed reported, provided that the divorce is uncontested, the couple could proceed directly to the district office to file a divorce.
For couples who have been married overseas without reporting the marriage in Thailand, the marriage must be reported first to the local district office in Thailand. The marriage certificate should be translated in Thai if it is issued in another language, with the translation certified at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is recommended to consult a divorce lawyer in Thailand if you have any family law issues in Thailand as well as the cost of divorce in Thailand.