According to Thai family law, both parents are obliged to provide financial support to their children until they reach the legal age of 20 years old. The issue on child support arises in the event that the parents are separated or divorced, or when the child is born outside the marriage. Child support can be decided in a written agreement or by the court order.
Child support should cover the child’s living expenses such as food, shelter, clothing, medicines, education and other things that would benefit the child.
Child support can be divided into 2 types:
-
Child Support by Court Order – Court order is seek when the parents cannot come up with a mutual agreement about the amount of child support. Once a court order has been issued, the court will decide the amount of child support. The condition of the child so as the financial ability of the parent obligated to pay for the support will be taken into consideration by the court.
-
Child Support by Mutual Consent – the divorcing parents mutually agree for the child support and is indicated in the Divorce Agreement. The amount of child support and the method of payment has been set and agreed by both parents of the child. If the noncustodial parent fails to pay the child support as agreed, a petition may be filed to the court against the non-custodial parent.
In case of an illegitimate child, the biological father of the child is not obligated to pay for the child support. Child support payment may be agreed together with the mother of the child in a legal agreement, and is enforceable once the agreement has been registered at the register office.
See also Child Support in Thailand.
