About the Firm
A Quiet Presence in Inheritance Law
Krabi Legal has served families and individuals navigating inheritance matters across southern Thailand since 2009. We work without haste, and we work without surprises.
Return to HomepageOur Story
How Krabi Legal Came to Be
Krabi Legal was founded in 2009 by Sumalee Charoenwong, a Thai-trained advocate who had spent a decade working within the Bangkok courts before returning to her home province of Krabi. She recognised that families dealing with estate and inheritance questions in the south often had little access to counsel with real court experience in the region.
The firm was deliberately kept small. Rather than expanding headcount, we have focused on depth: senior-level attention for each client, a measured caseload, and an approach that allows us to stay with a matter through its full arc — from the first conversation to the final distribution of assets.
Over fifteen years, we have worked with Thai families, long-term expatriate residents, and the estates of foreign nationals with property in Krabi and the surrounding provinces. Each engagement has reinforced our view that inheritance matters are best handled with patience, precision, and a clear line of communication between client and counsel.
Our Mission
To provide thoughtful, well-grounded legal guidance to those facing inheritance questions in Thailand — making a complex process navigable, and keeping the client's interests at the centre of every decision.
Our Values
- Clarity — we explain every step in plain language, in English or Thai
- Steadiness — we do not rush, and we do not cut corners
- Discretion — estate matters are personal; we treat them accordingly
- Transparency — fees are agreed in advance; there are no ambiguous charges
The People
Our Legal Team
Sumalee Charoenwong
Senior Advocate & Founding Partner
Qualified with the Thai Bar Association, Sumalee has practised inheritance and estate law for over 20 years, with deep familiarity of Krabi Provincial Court procedure.
Wirat Phanomchai
Associate Advocate
Wirat handles probate documentation and court liaison, with particular expertise in matters involving multiple heirs or property held across more than one province.
Nattaya Thamrong
Client Relations & Legal Translation
Nattaya coordinates client communications and manages the translation of legal documents between Thai and English, ensuring nothing is lost between the two.
How We Work
Our Professional Standards
Thai Bar Association
All advocates hold current Bar registration and comply with the Council of Thai Lawyers' professional conduct standards.
Client Confidentiality
All client information is held under strict professional privilege. We do not share estate details without explicit client consent.
Written Engagement Terms
Every instruction is confirmed in writing with a clear scope of work and fixed fee — before work begins.
Compliance with Thai Civil Code
Our inheritance practice is grounded in Books V and VI of the Thai Civil and Commercial Code, with ongoing review of relevant court rulings.
Certified Document Translation
Legal translations between Thai and English are handled in-house and certified for court submission.
Single Advocate from Start to Finish
Your matter is not passed between staff members. One senior advocate oversees each engagement through to completion.
Inheritance Law in Southern Thailand
Inheritance law in Thailand is governed by the Civil and Commercial Code, which sets out a specific order of statutory heirs, rules for will validity, and procedures for appointing estate administrators through the provincial courts. In Krabi, the competent court for probate matters is the Krabi Provincial Court on Maharaj Road — a short walk from our office.
The province has a significant population of foreign long-term residents, many of whom hold property through condominium titles or through structures involving Thai spouses or business partners. Inheritance questions in these situations often involve more than one legal system and more than one language. Our practice addresses these cross-border elements with care, drawing on experience with estates involving nationals from the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Scandinavia, and several other countries.
A will made in Thailand must meet the formal requirements of the Civil and Commercial Code — proper witnessing, signature requirements, and correct identification of the testator — to be valid before the court. Wills made abroad may require additional steps, including apostille certification or notarisation, before being accepted in Thai proceedings.
Where an estate has no will, the statutory order of heirs under Thai law may differ from what the deceased would have wished. Acting quickly to appoint a court-approved administrator can help preserve estate assets while the process unfolds. Krabi Legal assists families at this stage, from petition preparation to court attendance.
Speak with Our Team
We welcome questions — whether you are at the beginning of thinking about a will, or you have already begun dealing with an estate after a loss.
Contact Krabi Legal