The Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand



The central law that regulates most business and individual matters in Thailand is the Thai Civil and Commercial Code ("the Code").   The Code sets forth general principles and specific rules for a wide range of civil law issues affecting businesses and individuals.  Some of the topics of special interest to businesses are:  company and partnership law, contracts, sales, obligations, wrongful acts (e.g., torts, negligence), property ownership, mortgages and other types of loans, leases and the law of agency.  Topics of special interest to individuals are:  marriage, divorce, wills and estate administration and parental rights and duties.

The Code was enacted in 1925 and, despite numerous changes of governments and constitutions in Thailand, it has provided a consistent legal framework and structure for the conduct of business and personal transactions. 

The French Civil Code was used as the starting point for the Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand, with legal scholars and jurists from America, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and other countries providing significant input during the drafting of the Code. The end result is that the fundamentals of Thai civil law, as set forth in the Code, are largely consistent with the laws of most democratic countries.  
Location: Chumphon, Thailand

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