This is about child support in Thailand. It is the responsibility of the parents to support their dependents or children financially until they reach of legal age. Accordingly to the Thai Family law, legal age of children will be at 20, and it is not an issue of the children who live with their parents. But, conflicts start regarding child support when parents are divorcing or on separation stage. It is common that child custody in Thailand, or child support be agreed upon mutually or by court order.
Child Support in Thailand
It will be for the child’s advantage when there will be financial support to be used for necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, education and medical expenses, should the need arises. Going through a separation or Thailand divorce process has always leaded to conflicts and issues on child support. And your options are through settling mutually with the other party, or end up filing it on court.
If child support of child alimony is agreed upon by both parents, it will be a hassle free arrangement, and must be put into writing. Details of child custody and child support will be sated specifically in the divorce agreement. The said agreement must also be signed by two witnesses and registered at the local district office upon divorce registration. If conditions in the agreement are not followed, as to instances when the non-custodial parent fails to provide and pay child support, then, the parent having custodial right may file a petition in court for the implementation of such as agreed.
When situations that it could not be settled by an agreement between parties, most cases, the court would order the non-custodial parent in paying a fixed amount for financial support to the parent having custodial rights for the child. Even among parents having shared custody over the child may still have an imposed payment set by the court from one parent to another.
There are also cases wherein the child is born out of wedlock which under the Thai law, the biological father is not obliged to pay for child support.With this, the mother must complete the father legitimation process prior to be able child support. The issue of child support is then brought to court and the court will decide on the issues of legitimation, child custody and child support.
It is the Juvenile Family court who has been given the authority to make decisions with the amount of child support to be settled or paid by the parents. This of course would also depend on the conditions of the child, as well as financial capability of the parent who has to pay for the child support. Speak to a family lawyer in Thailand for more information about your child support in Thailand.