Child support in Thailand can become an issue. Under the Thai family law, both parents are obliged to support the financial maintenance of their child or children until they get to the legal age of 20. Issues in child support often come up when the child’s parents are separated or undergoing a divorce, and also when a child is born outside of a legal marriage. Child support in Thailand can be decided by mutual agreement of both parents or by court decision.

Child support in ThailandChild Support in Thailand

Issues concerning child support can be arranged by the parents in the divorce agreement. This could include the amount of child support and the method of payment which could be set according to what the parents have agreed. After the divorce agreement containing the provisions for the child has been signed in the presence of two witnesses, it will then be registered with the local district office at the time of registering the divorce. Failure to pay the child support as agreed could result to having the custodial parent file a petition to the court for further enforcement.

For those divorcing parents who are having unsettled issues regarding child support, court intervention is sometimes necessary. The court may order the noncustodial parent to pay the custodial parent a set amount as financial support and maintenance for the child. Child support may also be imposed to be paid by one parent to another in cases where both parents have joint custody of the child or share the responsibilities of raising the child. The court is authorized to set the amount of child support to be paid by evaluating the condition of the child as well as the capability of the parent who is obliged to pay for the support. Take advice from a lawyer in Thailand for assistance.

For illegitimate children, in general, the biological father of the child is not obliged to pay for the child support. However, the father is not deprived of the right to enter into an agreement regarding child support payment with the mother of the child. As for children born outside of a marriage, the biological father of the child is not bound by Thai law to pay child support unless the legitimation of a child is brought to court.

In addition, child support in Thailand payments should not be used for the custodial parent’s personal expenses, but only for the child’s needs including food, clothing, shelter, medical and educational needs.

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