Our Firm
Inheritance Law as It Should Be — Steady, Clear, and Respectful
Garuda Law was built around one idea: that families navigating estate matters deserve counsel that is both legally sound and genuinely human.
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Founded on the Belief That Families Deserve Better
Garuda Law was established in Bangkok in 2011 by a small group of Thai lawyers who had seen too many families left adrift during estate proceedings — waiting months without updates, receiving documents they couldn't read, and feeling the process was happening to them rather than for them.
The firm takes its name from the Garuda — a figure from Thai tradition associated with protection and integrity — and those qualities shape how we work. Our practice is limited to inheritance and estate matters, which means every lawyer here has developed a genuine depth of knowledge in Thai succession law, court procedures, and the administrative path that estate work follows.
Over the years we have helped clients plan thoughtfully for the future, guided executors through complex documentation, and represented families in contested proceedings where relationships needed protecting as much as legal rights. We remain a focused, unhurried practice — and we prefer it that way.
Mission & Values
What Guides Our Practice
Clarity Before Complexity
We spend time explaining the law in ordinary language, because informed clients make better decisions and experience far less anxiety.
Honest Assessment
We tell clients what we genuinely think — including when a matter is straightforward, when it is not, and what pursuing a particular path is likely to involve.
Respect for Relationships
Inheritance matters touch family bonds. We approach every situation with that in mind, looking for paths that preserve rather than strain relationships where possible.
A Patient Pace
Estate work rarely benefits from being rushed. We move deliberately, keep clients informed, and allow adequate time for decisions to be made thoughtfully.
The Team
The People Behind the Practice
A small team with a long and focused record in Thai inheritance and estate law.
Pratheep Wattanakul
Founding Partner · Inheritance Law
Called to the Thai Bar in 1998, Pratheep has practised exclusively in estate and succession matters for over two decades. He leads the firm's contested representation work and advises on complex multi-jurisdictional estates.
Nattida Somporn
Senior Associate · Documentation & Filing
Nattida manages the firm's documentation and filing practice, coordinating with the Thai courts and Land Department. She has overseen estate administration for more than 300 families since joining Garuda Law in 2015.
Krit Charoenwong
Associate · Estate Planning
Krit conducts estate planning sessions and assists clients in preparing wills and related documents that align with both Thai law and personal wishes. He brings particular experience advising foreign nationals on Thai asset arrangements.
Standards
Professional Standards We Uphold
Thai Bar Association Membership
All practising lawyers are fully licensed and current members of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, subject to professional conduct requirements and continuing education obligations.
Client Confidentiality
Estate matters are inherently private. We maintain strict confidentiality protocols and do not discuss client matters outside the professional requirements of the work.
Document Security
Original documents are stored securely, copies are provided to clients at each stage, and digital records follow responsible retention practices in line with Thailand's PDPA.
Fee Transparency
Fees are agreed in writing before work begins. Where a matter may extend beyond the standard scope, we discuss this with clients in advance and do not proceed without clear agreement.
Regular Client Communication
Clients are updated at each meaningful stage of their matter. We do not leave families waiting without explanation — a standard we hold ourselves to even when progress is slower than hoped.
Continuing Professional Development
Thai succession law evolves. Our lawyers attend relevant training and monitor legislative changes that may affect clients, particularly in areas touching land title, foreign ownership, and cross-border estates.
Expertise
Inheritance Law in Thailand — What We Know and How We Work
Thai inheritance law is governed principally by the Civil and Commercial Code, Books V and VI, which set out the rules of intestate succession, the formal requirements for valid wills, and the procedures by which an estate is administered through the courts. Navigating this framework requires familiarity not only with the legislation itself but with how Bangkok's civil courts, the Land Department, the Revenue Department, and provincial offices interpret and apply it in practice.
Garuda Law's focus on estate and succession matters means that this is where our knowledge is concentrated. We follow developments in Thai case law and administrative procedure, attend bar association seminars on succession topics, and draw on more than a decade of practical experience across a range of estate types — from small family estates to those involving business interests, properties in multiple provinces, and beneficiaries residing abroad.
For families navigating these matters, we find that the most effective approach is one that begins with a thorough understanding of what the estate contains, what the deceased's wishes were (whether expressed formally or not), and what each party's legal position actually is. From there, we can offer realistic and considered advice rather than assumptions drawn from incomplete information.
Our work extends to the practical dimensions of estate administration: preparing and filing the petition for estate administration, liaising with the courts regarding the appointment of an administrator, coordinating the transfer of land title, and ensuring that documentation meets the requirements of the relevant offices. For clients unfamiliar with Thai administrative processes, we provide clear explanations at each step so that nothing proceeds without their understanding and agreement.
Speak with Our Team
Whether you are planning ahead or dealing with an estate now, we are glad to have a conversation. There is no obligation, and the first step is simply getting in touch.
Arrange a Consultation