Interfaith Marriages not Recognized in Indonesia Claim Petitioners

According to The Jakarta Post, a legal challenge was filed against Indonesia’s Marriage Law by five law school graduates on the grounds that the law is unconstitutional because it violates freedom of religion.

In the claim filed in the Constitutional Court, the five students argued that Article 2.1 of the Marriage Law forces couples to conduct a marriage according to only one religion’s traditions and also “forces everyone to apply religious teachings in order to get married.”

Chaninat and Leeds’ Thai divorce lawyers specialize in Thai and international cases with decades of experience in Thailand’s family courts.

Anbar Jayadi, one of the students, said, “We just find that this law has the potential to violate people’s rights to adhere to their chosen religion and to bypass religious wedding rituals.”

Read the full story here.

Millionaire asked ex-wife to stay on as maid

A UK ex-wife of a millionaire was asked to stay on as a maid in the home she shares with her ex-husband for over twenty years after their divorce, reports TheTelegraph. Since the ex-husband is moving in his new partner, he had thought the arrangement would be ideal for all. Understandably, the ex-wife was upset as she found the request insulting. The unnamed couple, who was married in the 70’s, but divorce later continued to live together as “usual” in the marital home for over twenty years. A high court judge in the UK has determined that she was entitled to half of her husband’s total net worth.

This is a perculiar case since the couple continued to live together for so long after a divorce was already granted. The main issue that most attorneys reading this would struggle with, in cases arising over 20 years prior to origination is the statute of limitations, or the prescription period is the length of time that had passed. In Thailand, similar to mother other nations, the prescription period for various cases could be found in the Thailand Civil and Commercial Code. According to Thai Attorneys, a case like this, concerning statutes of limitations, would generally be difficult to litigate, after such a long period of time. 

For the full story, click here

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International Prenuptial Agreements

Many of these couples sign prenuptial agreements while in foreign countries (international prenuptial agreement). Often, couples believe that once the agreement is signed and the couple is married, that the agreement will be effective and valid within any country.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. For example, a Thailand prenuptial agreement is invalid unless it is officially registered in Thailand before the marriage. This is not the case as with the US and the UK.

This video prepared by Thailand Attorneys Chaninat & Leeds explains more:

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Divorce and Marriage in Thailand

In marriage in Thailand a dream or a nightmare for expats? For many the marriage is a dream, for others the dream turns into a nightmare.

Sometimes a fatal nightmare.

Thailand Family Attorneys 

Chaninat &Leeds specialize in Thai and international family law  

Britain Ian Beeston came to Asia, fell in love, bought a dream home and imagined spending the rest of his days there with his new wife.  A retired design engineer, he left the UK to find a new existence in Thailand. He met a young woman named Wacheerawan at a beer bar in the seaside resort of Pattaya and, despite the age difference, they married.

Tragically for Beeston, he didn’t enjoy his new life for long. His wife plotted to have him stabbed to death so she could enjoy his money with her secret boyfriend.

Very sadly, Beeston is not the only one to find his Thai dream turn into a nightmare. 

Read our full article here. 

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International Divorce Cases and Prenuptial Agreements

Protection Of Assets In a Divorce

Some couples choose the option of drafting a prenuptial agreement prior to marriage in order to safeguard their independent assets. On the other hand, those without a prenuptial agreement in place may face a struggle to entitlement of mutual assets at the time of divorce. Protecting yourself from financial harm and being financially independent are key factors that one should take into great consideration when going through a divorce situation.

If you have an instinct that the divorce will be a long drawn out battle, there are steps which you can take action before the formal process of a divorce. Generally, in a Thailand divorce situation, the assets that were acquired prior to the marriage will belong to the original spouse. In this video, managing partner Joe Leeds of Chaninat & Leeds Law Firm discusses in brief how different types of assets can potentially be harmed and provides an approach in safeguarding assets.  

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Flicker photo credit - dno1967b

Top 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces

It was announced last week that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have decided to separate after more than 10 years of marriage. If they decide to make things more permanent and divorce, it could be the most expensive divorce in history.

Celebrity divorces tend to be more expensive and complicated than "normal" divorces due to the amount of size of assets and wealth involved.

Thailand Divorce Attorney 

Chaninat and Leeds are specialist divorce attorneys 

Bold sky have this week compiled a list of the most expensive divorces in history. Rupert and Anna Murdoch so far top the list.

Although litigation can be an unpredictable process and the laws of different countries may vary, an individual with significant assets, or even an individual who is merely careful about his/her financial future, may find it beneficial to have a prenuptial agreement. In the event of a divorce, a prenuptial agreement can assist with dividing the marital assets. Thailand prenuptial agreements differ from western prenuptial agreements in that they are null and invalid unless they are registered before the marriage. 

Read the whole list here 

Relevant Video:

Relevant Articles:

Prenuptial Agreements: US Law, Thailand Law and EU Law ComparedInternational Prenuptial Agreements: Conflicts of Law in the United StatesEuropean Prenuptial Agreements and the Hague ConventionPrenuptial Agreements in Japan - the Devil’s in the Details

Flickr photo credit: david_shankbone 

1.8 Million Pound Divorce Settlement Set Aside

Courts in the UK have set aside a 1.8 million pound settlement agreement, after it was discovered the husband had not made full financial disclosure about all of his personal assets. 

The couple cannot be named, but the judge has told the husband he may now have to pay more after a judge ruled that couples have a duty to be honest with each other when making such deals reports The Telegraph. 

Thailand Divorce Lawyers 

Chaninat and Leeds specialize in divorce law in Thailand 

The Court heard that the businessman had shares worth up to £740,000 in one company which had a £50 million turnover but that he had told his wife the company was not trading and therefore had a ‘nil value.’

When couples divorce in Thailand, separate property, namely assets and property acquired before marriage, generally remains the property of the owner. Assets and property acquired during marriage are commonly considered community property with both spouses having ownership rights.  

Read the whole article here 

Relevant Video:

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Divorce:Marriage and Divorce in Thailand: When Love Turns DeadlyThailand Marriage and Divorce: Thai Dream or Foreigner’s Nightmare?

Thailand Shooter Blames Mother In Law To Be

Tasaphol Haekla, 35, has allegedly claimed during interrogation that he killed Kewelin Hongthong, 28,  and her mother Wimol Hongthong, 48 when the latter tried to stop their wedding by increasing the sin sod, (bride price for her daughter), from 500,000 baht to 2 million baht report the Bangkok Post.

Police arrested the alleged killer in the Cambodian tourist town of Siem Reap on Monday, four days after he killed and her mother at a garage in Chon Buri’s Muang district.

Thailand Criminal Lawyer

Chaninat and Leeds specialize in Thailand criminal defense law 

He said his fiancee's mother told her daughter she had to stop seeing him once he explained he could not afford the sin sod. He then apparently told police that he had initially only intended to kill his future mother in law.


Tasaphol said he danced his way out of the crime scene because he felt released from pressure and did not know he had been caught on the garage’s security camera. He claimed he did not mean to ridicule the victims.

Under Thailand family law, betrothal is not valid until the man gives or transfers property known as a khongman. This serves as evidence the marriage will take place. A sin sod is given to the parents, adopted parents or guardian of the woman, in exchange for her agreement to marry.

Read the full story here. 

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Are English Prenuptial Agreements Enforceable?

Many people still believe that English prenuptial Agreements are still not legal valid, and whilst that is still technically true, English courts have in fact started to uphold them in the event of a dispute.

Prenuptial agreements can help create a financial plan that can be managed through the course of marriage and in the event of a divorce, to control the division of assets between the husband and wife.

Thailand Prenuptial Lawyer 

Chaninat and Leeds law firm specialize in drafting international prenuptial agreements 

In 2010, English courts upheld a prenuptial agreement, and since then, more and more courts have been showing a willingness to uphold and follow the terms of prenuptial agreements. This is of course still a discretionary power, as they is no specific law yet providing for prenuptial agreements in England, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.

There is presently formal legal consultation ongoing about prenuptial agreements, and it is thought they could become legal towards the end of 2013/early 2014.

Thailand lawyers advise that prenuptial agreements will be null and void unless they are officially registered in Thailand before the marriage. Prenuptial agreements are not registered in Western countries.

Related Video:

Relevant Articles:  Prenuptial Agreements: US Law, Thailand Law and EU Law Compared                                              International Prenuptial Agreements: Conflicts of Law in the US                                               European Prenuptial Agreements and the Hague Convention                                              Prenuptial Agreements in Japan - the Devil’s in the Details                                              The New Developments in the United Kingdom