Lex Bangkok advises individuals, businesses, and international clients on debt recovery through demand letters, civil litigation, and court enforcement under Thai law.
Registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand
Full bilingual communication for international clients
Demand letters and filings prepared for Thai courts
From the first notice to enforcement — structured legal support at every stage.
Court-compliant demand letters drafted in Thai and English, delivered via registered mail to meet court requirements.​
Full representation in Thai civil courts from case filing through judgment.​
Post-judgment enforcement to recover money through asset seizure and garnishment.​
Out-of-court resolution when possible — payment plans, settlements, and mediation.​
Recovering unpaid debts in Thailand requires early legal action, proper documentation, and a clear enforcement strategy. Many creditors delay action, assuming debtors will eventually pay. In practice, delay often results in asset dissipation, avoidance, or legal time bars.
Thailand follows a formal civil law system. Debt recovery is not based on informal pressure or collection agencies, but on documented legal steps that courts expect creditors to follow.
The first step in any debt recovery case is sending a legal demand letter, which is a formal requirement under Thai law. Understanding the notice requirements in Thai law is essential before proceeding to court.
At Lex Bangkok, we represent clients in debt recovery and demand letter services in Bangkok — guiding cases from the first formal notice through litigation and court-ordered enforcement.
Skipping steps or using improperly drafted letters can weaken your position in court.
Our litigation lawyer Thailand team handles a wide range of commercial and civil disputes for both international and domestic clients:
All attorneys are registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand with courtroom litigation experience.
Full communication in Thai and English — so international clients understand every step of their case.
Every demand letter and filing is drafted to meet Thai court standards from the first step.
We pursue enforcement through asset seizure, garnishment, and property execution — not just judgments on paper.
We give honest advice on recovery prospects before investing in legal action.
Every case receives a tailored strategy — from negotiation to litigation, depending on the specific circumstances.
A formal demand letter is the first legal action in Thailand. It notifies the debtor and sets a deadline for payment. Most debts are resolved at this stage.
Recovering unpaid debts in Thailand requires early legal action, proper documentation, and a clear enforcement strategy by a Debt Recovery Lawyer in Thailand. Many creditors delay action, assuming debtors will eventually pay. In reality, delay often results in asset dissipation, avoidance, or legal time bars. The first step in any debt recovery case is sending a legal demand letter for debt recovery, which is a formal requirement under Thai law.
At Lex Bangkok, we represent individuals, businesses, and international clients in debt recovery and demand letter services in Bangkok and throughout Thailand — guiding cases from the first formal notice through litigation and court-ordered enforcement. Understanding the notice requirements in Thai law is essential before proceeding to court, and our team ensures every step is properly documented. Learn more about why sending a demand letter is the best first step for debt recovery in Thailand.
Thailand follows a formal civil law system. Debt recovery is not based on informal pressure or collection agencies but on documented legal steps that courts expect creditors to follow.
A successful recovery typically depends on:
Proper issuance of a legal demand letter
Strong written evidence
Timely filing within prescription periods
Effective enforcement after judgment
Skipping steps or using improperly drafted letters can weaken your position in court.
A demand letter is usually the first formal legal action in Thailand.
It:
In many cases, payment occurs at this stage.
If the debtor ignores the demand letter, a civil claim may be filed in Thai court.
The court will:Issue a binding judgment
Litigation creates a legally enforceable obligation, not just a request for payment.
If the debtor still refuses to pay, enforcement measures are available through the court.
These include:A judgment without enforcement is ineffective, execution is critical.
A professionally drafted demand letter is not a simple reminder letter. It is a legal instrument.
Judges often ask whether a demand letter was issued before litigation.
Demand letters are issued in Thai and English, depending on the debtor profile.
If payment is not made, court action may be necessary.
The strength of documentation directly impacts speed and success.
Winning a case is not the end. Enforcement ensures recovery.
We advise enforcement strategies early to prevent asset concealment.
For debts secured by collateral (e.g., mortgages or guarantees), Thai law often requires pre-action written notice, commonly 60 days, before enforcement is permitted.
Failure to comply may delay or invalidate enforcement actions. We ensure compliance before proceeding.
The strength of documentation directly impacts speed and success.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026
Definition. Debt recovery in Thailand is the enforcement of a money claim through a demand, a civil action and execution under the Civil Procedure Code, or through collective proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483 (1940).
The Bankruptcy Act sets the dividing lines. A creditor may petition for bankruptcy only against an insolvent debtor that owes at least THB 1,000,000 as an individual, or THB 2,000,000 as a juristic person, in a definite amount. By contrast, a reorganisation petition needs a definite debt of at least THB 10,000,000. Below those figures, therefore, the civil claim is the route.
| Route | Statutory threshold | Source | What it achieves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil claim and execution | None | Civil Procedure Code | A judgment against the debtor, enforced against its assets |
| Creditor's bankruptcy petition | Insolvent debtor; definite debt of at least THB 1,000,000 (individual) or THB 2,000,000 (juristic person) owed to one or more petitioning creditors | Bankruptcy Act, section 9 | Receivership: the Official Receiver takes control of the debtor's property for all creditors |
| Secured creditor's bankruptcy petition | Section 9 conditions, plus waiver of the security or a shortfall of at least THB 1,000,000 or THB 2,000,000 after valuing it | Bankruptcy Act, section 10 | The same, for a creditor holding collateral |
| Reorganisation petition | Insolvent debtor; definite debt of at least THB 10,000,000; reasonable prospect of reorganisation | Bankruptcy Act, sections 90/3 and 90/4 | A court-supervised plan to restructure the debtor's business |
Two points follow from the text of section 9. First, the threshold counts debts owed to "one or more" petitioning creditors, so several creditors may combine their claims to reach it. Second, the debt must be definite in amount, but it need not yet be due.
The Civil and Commercial Code sets a general limitation period of ten years under section 193/30, unless a shorter period applies. For trade debts, however, the period depends on what the goods were for. For example, a merchant's claim for goods delivered carries two years under section 193/34(1), but five years under section 193/33(5) where the merchant supplied them for the debtor's own business.
| Claim | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| General claims, including contract claims with no shorter period | Ten years | Civil and Commercial Code, section 193/30 |
| Merchant's claim for the price of goods delivered | Two years | Civil and Commercial Code, section 193/34(1) |
| The same claim where the goods were supplied for the debtor's own business | Five years | Civil and Commercial Code, section 193/33(5) |
| Application to enforce a judgment | Ten years from the judgment | Civil Procedure Code, section 274 |
In addition, limitation stops running when the debtor acknowledges the debt in writing, by part payment or by giving security. It also stops when the creditor files an action. Both rules sit in section 193/14. For that reason, an acknowledgment obtained during negotiation has real legal value, and a debt recovery lawyer in Thailand should secure one in writing whenever a settlement discussion opens.
A demand letter does three legal jobs in Thailand. First, it puts the debtor in default where the contract fixes no calendar date for payment, under section 204 of the Code. It starts default interest under section 224. And, if the creditor sends two of them at least thirty days apart, it can raise a statutory presumption of insolvency under section 8(9) of the Bankruptcy Act.
Next, default interest deserves precision. Specifically, an Emergency Decree amending the Code took effect on 11 April 2021. It set the section 7 rate at 3 percent a year, subject to periodic review, and the default rate under section 224 at that rate plus 2 percent. Contracts may still fix their own rate within the limits the law allows.
Finally, the bankruptcy point deserves the same attention. Section 8 lists nine circumstances in which the court presumes a debtor insolvent. In particular, the ninth arises where the debtor has received a letter of demand from the creditor at least twice, with an interval of not less than thirty days, and has failed to pay. A creditor that may later petition should therefore design its demands around section 8(9) from the first letter.
| Presumption under section 8 | Example of the circumstance |
|---|---|
| Section 8(2) | The debtor transfers or delivers property with fictitious intent or by fraud |
| Section 8(4) | The debtor leaves the Kingdom, closes its place of business or moves property out of the court's jurisdiction to delay payment |
| Section 8(5) | The debtor's property is seized under a writ of execution, or it has no property available for seizure |
| Section 8(7) and 8(8) | The debtor tells a creditor it cannot pay, or proposes a composition to at least two creditors |
| Section 8(9) | Two letters of demand at least thirty days apart, and no payment |
A bankruptcy lawyer in Thailand can file a creditor's petition once the three conditions in section 9 are met: the debtor is insolvent, it owes the threshold amount, and the debt is definite. In addition, the petitioning creditor must deposit THB 5,000 with the court as security for expenses under section 11. Under section 14, the court then issues an absolute receivership order if satisfied of those facts.
However, section 14 also gives the debtor a defence. The court dismisses the petition if the debtor proves it can pay in full, or if another cause makes bankruptcy undesirable. As a result, a petition against a solvent debtor that simply refuses to pay is the wrong tool, and a civil claim is the better route.
First, a receivership order moves control of the debtor's property to the Official Receiver. Under section 22, the Receiver alone manages and disposes of that property, collects money owed to the debtor, and conducts litigation about it. Section 24, meanwhile, bars the debtor from dealing with its property or business except as the Act permits.
Moreover, the order changes the position of every other creditor. After an absolute receivership order, section 27 allows a creditor to claim payment only through the bankruptcy procedure. That holds even for a creditor that already has a judgment or a pending civil action. Section 28 then requires publication of the order in the Government Gazette and a daily newspaper, together with the period for filing claims.
Taken together, these provisions carry a practical consequence for a creditor weighing a civil action. Once another creditor obtains an absolute receivership order, a judgment in hand no longer gives priority. The creditor claims alongside everyone else. For that reason, the choice between suing and petitioning is a timing decision as well as a legal one.
In contrast, reorganisation suits a debtor whose business still has value. Under section 90/3, the court may accept a petition where the debtor is insolvent, owes at least THB 10,000,000 in a definite amount, and shows a reasonable cause and prospect for reorganisation. Furthermore, section 90/4 lets a creditor or a group of creditors holding that amount file, as well as the debtor itself.
For a creditor, therefore, a reorganisation petition is a way to put a plan in front of the court rather than liquidate the debtor. Our guide to business rehabilitation in Thailand explains how the plan stage works.
The answer depends on who owes the money. The Debt Collection Act B.E. 2558 (2015) defines a debtor as a natural person, and it includes a natural person who is a surety. A claim against a company therefore falls outside it. However, a claim against a director or shareholder who personally guaranteed the company's debt falls inside it.
Where the Act does apply, it controls how the creditor and its representatives make contact. First, section 8 restricts contact with anyone other than the debtor. Next, section 9 fixes the place of contact and the permitted hours, which are 8.00 to 20.00 on weekdays and 8.00 to 18.00 on public holidays. Sections 11 and 12 prohibit threats, abusive language, disclosure of the debt to third parties and misleading statements.
Importantly, the penalties are criminal. Section 39 provides imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to THB 100,000 for several of these breaches. Section 41, however, raises that to five years or THB 500,000 for threats or violence under section 11(1) and for impersonating the court or an official under section 12(1).
In addition, the Act separates two roles. A "debt collection business" must register under section 5, but the definition excludes a lawyer collecting a debt for a client. Even so, a lawyer acting for a creditor remains a "debt collector" under section 3, so the conduct rules still apply when the debtor is an individual guarantor.
A civil claim for money starts with a plaint and a court fee fixed by Table 1 annexed to the Civil Procedure Code. For claims up to THB 50,000,000, the fee is 2 percent of the amount claimed, capped at THB 200,000. On any amount above THB 50,000,000, by contrast, it is 0.1 percent.
After judgment, the creditor then applies for execution through the Legal Execution Department. Section 274 of the Civil Procedure Code requires that application within ten years of the judgment, and the right to enforce is lost after that. Our notes on the ten-year enforcement deadline and on enforcement fees cover the execution stage in detail.
Lex Bangkok acts for foreign and Thai creditors from the first review of the file to execution against assets. We decide the route before the first letter goes out, because the demand, the limitation position and the bankruptcy thresholds all depend on each other.
| Stage | What Lex Bangkok does |
|---|---|
| Assessment | We review the contract, invoices and correspondence, confirm the limitation period, and check the debtor's registration and asset position |
| Route decision | We test the claim against the section 9, section 10 and section 90/3 thresholds, and decide between a civil claim, a petition or both |
| Demand | We draft demands that fix default under section 204 and, where relevant, build the section 8(9) presumption |
| Proceedings | We file the plaint or petition, conduct the trial in Thai, and manage evidence and witnesses |
| Bankruptcy claims | Where another creditor has obtained a receivership order, we file the client's claim within the published period |
| Execution | We apply for execution within the section 274 period and pursue seizure and attachment of the debtor's assets |
Above all, the route drives the cost. A civil claim carries the statutory court fee and the work of trial, while a bankruptcy petition adds the section 11 deposit and a hearing on insolvency. Similarly, contested evidence, the number of witnesses, the need for certified Thai translations and the location of the debtor's assets also matter. We scope every mandate in writing before work begins, so we price the engagement against a defined workstream rather than against an estimate. Where the claim becomes a wider commercial dispute, our litigation and dispute resolution practice takes it forward.
Das thailändische Konkursgesetz (Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483) erlaubt einem Gläubiger den Konkursantrag nur gegen einen zahlungsunfähigen Schuldner. Die Forderung muss bestimmt sein und bei einer natĂ¼rlichen Person mindestens 1.000.000 THB, bei einer juristischen Person mindestens 2.000.000 THB betragen (Abschnitt 9). Mehrere Gläubiger dĂ¼rfen ihre Forderungen zusammenrechnen.
Zahlungsunfähigkeit wird unter anderem vermutet, wenn der Schuldner zwei Zahlungsaufforderungen im Abstand von mindestens dreiĂŸig Tagen erhalten und nicht gezahlt hat (Abschnitt 8 Nr. 9). Ein Sanierungsverfahren setzt eine bestimmte Forderung von mindestens 10.000.000 THB voraus (Abschnitte 90/3 und 90/4).
Lex Bangkok vertritt ausländische Gläubiger bei Forderungsklagen, Konkursanträgen und der Zwangsvollstreckung in Thailand.
A legal demand letter is a formal written notice issued by a lawyer demanding repayment of an outstanding debt within a specified timeframe. It states the legal basis of the claim, the amount owed, and warns of court action if payment is not made. In Thailand, demand letters are often the first and most effective step in debt recovery.
While not always legally mandatory, Thai courts strongly expect creditors to issue a demand letter before initiating a civil lawsuit. Issuing a demand letter demonstrates good faith, strengthens your case, and may influence the court’s assessment of interest, damages, and costs.
Typically, a payment deadline of 7 to 15 days is used, depending on the nature of the debt and urgency. For certain secured debts, Thai law may require longer pre-action notice periods before enforcement.
If the debtor ignores the demand letter or refuses to pay, the next step is to file a civil lawsuit in the appropriate Thai court. The demand letter then becomes key evidence showing that the debtor was formally notified and failed to comply.
Yes. Debts can be pursued against:
Jurisdiction depends on where the debtor resides, where the contract was performed, or where assets are located.
The timeline varies depending on complexity and debtor response:
Early legal action significantly shortens the overall process.
We handle debt recovery for:
Both written and informal loan arrangements may be enforceable with proper evidence.
If the debtor still refuses to pay after judgment, Thai law allows:
Enforcement must be initiated within legal time limits.
Yes. In general:
Delays may permanently bar recovery, so timely action is critical.
Yes. Lex Bangkok provides bilingual services. Demand letters and legal advice can be prepared in Thai and English, ensuring clarity for both Thai and international debtors while remaining court-compliant.
If you have an outstanding debt to recover in Thailand, contact our team for an initial assessment of your case and available legal options.
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