A CLEARER START · PHUKET, THAILAND
Working with a lawyer in Phuket
You may be buying a home, dealing with a family matter or responding to a dispute in an unfamiliar legal system. This guide helps you prepare for a conversation, whether you are in Phuket or contacting us from another country.
Lawyer Prair, Khanittha Charoenphon, has practised since 2020. Charoenphon Petchwijit Law Office is based in Ratsada, Mueang Phuket, and advises and represents Thai and international clients in Thai and English, including court matters throughout Thailand.
Choose the right service
Choose the situation closest to yours. Each service page explains the scope, preparation and relevant case studies. You do not need to know the legal name of your problem.
Property Law & Due Diligence
Contracts, due diligence, title transfers, and property dispute resolution in Phuket.
Divorce, Family & Inheritance
Divorce, child custody and support, wills, estate administration and inheritance disputes.
Civil Disputes & Debt Recovery
Advice, negotiation and court representation for unpaid debts, broken agreements and compensation claims.
Criminal Representation
Advice and representation for complainants and defendants, from police proceedings to court.
Employment & Labour Law
Employment contracts, dismissal, severance and workplace disputes for employees and employers.
Notarial Services
Document and signature certification by a Notarial Services Attorney, with receiving-authority requirements checked first.
Contract Drafting & Review
Draft, review and negotiate loan, sale, lease and business agreements before signing or proceeding with a transaction.
Before you instruct a lawyer
Know who will handle your matter
Ask for the lawyer’s full name, qualifications and experience with similar work. Ask to see relevant professional credentials if you need to verify them. Our profile explains Prair’s education, Thai Barrister qualification and Notarial Services Attorney credential.
Agree on the work, not just a price
Explain the result you are seeking and ask what the proposed work covers: advice, document review, negotiation, a transaction or court representation. Ask what would require a new scope or further instructions.
Understand the costs before proceeding
The initial consultation is free. Further work and fees are discussed before you decide to proceed. Ask whether a quote includes document translation, certification, court or official fees, travel and other expenses relevant to your matter, and when payments are due.
Make deadlines and communication clear
Mention any hearing, appointment, payment or signing date at the start. Agree on how you will receive updates and which language you prefer. Distinguish steps the lawyer can arrange from decisions or timing controlled by a court, another party or a receiving authority.
Documents to prepare
For the first conversation, a short summary is enough to begin. Tell us what happened, the dates that matter, what you want help with and how to reach you. We can then identify the documents needed for the next step.
Property Law & Due Diligence
- Title deed or identifying details of the property
- Draft or signed agreements and payment records
- A timeline, the terms causing concern and any transfer or payment deadlines
Divorce, Family & Inheritance
- Relevant relationship documents, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate or will
- Existing agreements and records of assets, debts or children’s expenses
- The issues you want resolved and whether anyone involved lives overseas
Civil Disputes & Debt Recovery
- Agreements, invoices, payment records and demand letters
- Any claim, court summons or correspondence received from the other party
- A timeline, relevant messages and an itemised account of the sums involved
Criminal Representation
- Summonses, police reports, complaints or other police and court documents
- A timeline and any scheduled appointments or hearings
- Relevant messages, documents, images or witness information
Employment & Labour Law
- The employment agreement, workplace rules and wage records
- Warnings, termination letters or claim documents
- A timeline and relevant communications between employer and employee
Notarial Services
- The documents to be certified, with originals available for inspection
- The relevant person’s original passport or identity card
- Instructions or forms from the receiving organisation and the date the documents are needed
Contract Drafting & Review
- An existing draft, signed agreement or a list of terms you want documented
- Details of the parties, the transaction’s purpose and relevant asset or payment documents
- Amounts, payment terms, delivery or repayment dates and any agreed security
- The terms causing concern, the document language and the planned signing date
You do not need to put passport numbers, bank details or a complete evidence file into the initial enquiry form. Discuss which documents are needed and how to provide them with the office first.
Starting from overseas
You can begin with a phone or online consultation. Tell us where you are, your time zone and any planned dates in Thailand. An initial conversation from abroad does not establish that every later step can be completed remotely.
Start with the facts and your location
Explain where the property, dispute or other party is located. If a case is already underway, mention the court or authority and the next known date.
Check attendance and document requirements
Ask which steps need original documents, identity checks, signatures, authorisation or personal attendance. The answer depends on the work and the relevant court or organisation. Check this before booking travel or arranging certification.
Confirm the scope and next step
After discussing the available documents, we explain the proposed work and fees. Agree on what happens next and how to communicate while you are overseas.
Lessons from real cases
These examples show why the documents, the other party and the receiving authority matter. They come from our published case accounts, with client and party names withheld. Results are specific to each matter.
An expatriate buying a villa
For a 15-million-baht purchase with staged payments, we reviewed the contract, developer information and land records, prepared a due-diligence report and assisted through transfer. The lesson: discuss the checks before committing to payment.
Read the villa due-diligence caseA father working overseas
We prepared a child-legitimation petition and evidence while the father’s work prevented him from attending. The court excused his attendance and granted the petition in that case. This was a specific permission, not a general rule allowing remote court cases.
Read the child-legitimation caseAn overseas buyer with undelivered goods
An investigation following an unanswered repayment demand led to a fraud case and an agreement to compensate a buyer in Serbia by instalments. The documented outcome is the agreement; it does not establish that all instalments had been received.
Read the overseas buyer’s caseDocuments for an overseas authority
For driving-licence and pension applications, we checked the receiving authority’s requirements before inspecting originals and certifying documents and signatures. Certification supported the applications; it did not guarantee their approval.
Read the document-certification caseQuestions about the first consultation
How much does a lawyer in Phuket cost?
There is no single price covering every service at our office. An initial consultation is free; a contract review, negotiation and contested court case involve different work. Tell us the matter, documents, stage and deadlines so we can discuss the scope and fees before you proceed.
Can I discuss my matter in English?
Yes. Lawyer Prair advises clients in Thai and English. Let us know the language of your existing documents and any requirements from a court or receiving organisation so that translation needs can be discussed separately.
What if I have already signed a contract or received court papers?
Tell us immediately about any dates or appointments shown in the papers. Bring the signed document or notice and relevant correspondence. The starting point is to review what has already happened and what work is needed next, rather than assume a document can simply be cancelled.
Can you tell me how long the matter will take?
We can discuss the steps and likely timing after reviewing the circumstances. Documents, the other party and court or authority schedules can affect progress. A timeframe in one published case is not a timetable for every similar matter.
Where is the office, and can I arrange a meeting?
The office is at 70/2 Ratsadanuson Road, Ratsada, Mueang Phuket, Phuket 83000. Contact us to arrange a meeting and confirm what to bring. If you are overseas, let us know your time zone when arranging an online consultation.
LET’S TALK
Tell us where you are and what you need help with.
Start with a short description and any deadline. Choose a phone or online consultation, or contact us to arrange a meeting at the Phuket office.
Start a conversationThis is a guide to working with the office, not an assessment of your individual legal position.