Our Story
A practice built on care, discretion, and honest counsel
Rattanakorn has served families in Northern Thailand since 2009, guiding them through the quiet complexity of estate and inheritance matters with respect and clarity.
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Founded in patience, guided by principle
Rattanakorn was established in Chiang Mai in 2009 by a small group of attorneys who had spent years in broader legal practice and recognised a particular gap: families navigating the loss of a loved one often found the legal side of settling an estate confusing, impersonal, and poorly paced. Documents arrived without explanation. Deadlines passed without warning. Disputes among heirs went unmanaged until they became serious.
We set out to work differently. Our practice focuses exclusively on inheritance and estate matters, which means that the whole of our knowledge and capacity is directed toward exactly the situations families bring to us. We do not handle unrelated commercial work or litigation. What we do, we do carefully.
Over the years, our office on Tha Phae Road has become a steady point of contact for families across Northern Thailand — as well as for those based abroad whose loved ones held assets here. The work is personal, and we treat it that way.
Our Mission
What we are here to do
Our purpose is to make a difficult process as manageable and clear as possible. Thai inheritance law has its own structure and procedures. We translate that structure into plain language, handle the administrative steps that would otherwise fall to the family, and stand alongside clients when a matter becomes contested.
Dedicated to inheritance matters
We do not diversify into unrelated practice areas. Estate work is what we know and where we focus our attention.
Plain language, always
Legal terms have their place in filings; they do not have a place in our client conversations unless carefully explained.
Your pace, not ours
We do not push clients to decide quickly. We provide information and let families reach decisions in their own time.
Our Team
The people you will work with
A small, settled team — each member focused on estate law and committed to the standard of care the work requires.
Siriporn Kaewmanee
Senior Attorney
Called to the Thai bar in 2003 with a focus on civil and family estate law. Siriporn leads our contested representation practice and has handled complex multi-party inheritance matters across Chiang Mai Province.
Phirawit Lertchai
Estate Documentation Specialist
Phirawit manages filings, probate correspondence, and district office liaison for most of our estate document engagements. His knowledge of local administrative procedure is particularly valuable for clients based abroad.
Natcha Thongsuk
Client Relations & Enquiries
Natcha is often the first person clients speak with. She handles initial enquiries with care, explains our services clearly, and ensures families feel at ease from the very first contact.
Our Standards
How we hold ourselves to account
Our work is governed by professional obligations, by personal values, and by the trust that families place in us at difficult moments.
Thai Bar Association membership
All practising attorneys at Rattanakorn are registered members of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, subject to its professional conduct rules.
Professional confidentiality
We observe strict legal professional privilege. Client information is never shared with third parties without explicit, informed agreement from the client.
Written engagement terms
Before any work begins, we provide a clear written description of the scope, fee, and estimated timeline so there are no surprises during an engagement.
Regular client communication
We commit to keeping clients informed at every substantive stage. You will not need to chase us for an update — we initiate contact when there is news.
Compliance with Thai civil procedure
Estate matters in Thailand are governed by the Civil and Commercial Code. Our filings and representations comply fully with applicable Thai law and local court procedures.
No pressure to proceed
Following a Clarity Session, clients are free to take time before deciding on further steps. We never press for a commitment and are content to answer follow-up questions at no additional charge.
Inheritance law in Thailand: what families need to know
Thai inheritance matters are administered under the Civil and Commercial Code, which sets out the classes of statutory heirs, the priority in which they inherit, and the procedures for wills and estate administration. For families unfamiliar with these rules, the process can seem opaque — particularly when a deceased person held property in Thailand but the heirs are based elsewhere.
Probate proceedings in Thailand are initiated at the local court with jurisdiction over where the deceased was domiciled or held assets. The court appoints an administrator for the estate, who is then authorised to gather assets, settle liabilities, and distribute the remainder according to the will or statutory rules.
Where a will exists, its validity under Thai law must be assessed before it can be acted upon. Thai law recognises several forms of valid will, each with its own execution requirements. A will prepared in a foreign country may also be recognised in certain circumstances, and our team can advise on cross-border validity questions.
Contested estates — those where heirs dispute the distribution, challenge a will's validity, or make claims against the estate — require formal representation before the court. These matters can take considerably longer to resolve, but with clear communication and careful management, the process can be navigated without unnecessary difficulty for the family.
We are glad to speak with you
Whether you have a specific matter in mind or simply want to understand your options, an initial conversation is always welcome and carries no obligation.
Get in Touch