Domestic adoption registration (Kor Ror 14)
Age conditions, consents, the trial-custody period and registration for adoptions inside Thailand under Civil and Commercial Code sections 1598/19 onward and the Child Adoption Act B.E. 2522.
Section 1598/19 of the Civil and Commercial Code requires an adopter to be at least twenty-five years old and at least fifteen years older than the person to be adopted. Sections 1598/20 and 1598/21 set out the consents required from the minor and from the birth parents.
Adoption of a child is also governed by the Child Adoption Act B.E. 2522, which requires approval by the Child Adoption Board and a period of trial custody set by law and regulation, supervised by the Department of Children and Youth under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
After approval, the adoption is registered at the district office on form Kor Ror 14. Under section 1598/27 the adoption is complete on registration. The child then has the status of a legitimate child of the adopter while keeping the rights and duties in the birth family that the law preserves.
Where one spouse adopts, the law also addresses the other spouse's consent, so have the marriage certificate and status documents ready and confirm the finer requirements with the competent officer before filing.
Documents to prepare
- ID cards and house registration of the applicant and spouse
- Marriage certificate or evidence of marital status
- The child's birth certificate and house registration
- Written consent of the birth parents or the persons empowered by law to consent
- Evidence of income, housing and medical certificates as the competent officer requires
- The social enquiry report and trial-custody reports required by regulation
Certification order
- Check the age and age-gap conditions in section 1598/19
- File the adoption application with the competent officer under the Child Adoption Act
- Complete the social enquiry and the regulated trial-custody period
- Await the Child Adoption Board's decision
- Register the adoption at the district office on form Kor Ror 14
- Obtain certified copies and translations if a foreign authority needs them
Pre-filing checklist
- Confirm the people giving consent are legally entitled to do so
- Prepare the housing, income and health evidence the officer asks for
- Do not attempt registration before approval — the registrar will refuse
- Check the child's name is spelled identically across every document
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for an adopter?
Section 1598/19 requires the adopter to be at least twenty-five and at least fifteen years older than the person adopted.
When is an adoption complete?
Under section 1598/27 the adoption is complete upon registration under the law. A private agreement or de facto care does not create adoptive status.
Is a trial-custody period required?
Adoption of a child under the Child Adoption Act B.E. 2522 involves trial custody and approval by the Child Adoption Board. The period and any exceptions follow the applicable law and regulations, so ask the competent officer.
Does an adopted child still inherit from the birth family?
Under the Civil and Commercial Code an adopted child does not lose the rights and duties of the family of birth, so statutory inheritance in that line remains, while the child also gains the status of a legitimate child of the adopter.
Does the adopter inherit from the adopted child?
The Code treats inheritance between adopter and adopted child differently from blood relations, so review the specific provisions with a lawyer before estate planning.
Is spousal consent needed?
The adoption provisions address spousal consent, so bring the marriage certificate and have the spouse attend or sign the consent the registrar requires.
Can an adoption be terminated?
Yes, on the conditions set out in the adoption chapter of the Civil and Commercial Code — by agreement or by court judgment on the statutory grounds — and the termination must itself be registered.
Can the adoption record support a visa for the child?
Most foreign authorities will consider a certified copy of the Kor Ror 14 record with a translation legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy, though the visa decision remains that country's own.
For a document review before filing with a registrar or court, contact LINE @nycli, phone +66-83-249-4999 or email nycli@ilc.ltd. Our team will confirm the steps, anything still missing and a realistic timeline.