Our Practice · Nakhon Ratchasima
A Practice Shaped by Care for Those Left to Administer an Estate
Nakhon Advocates was established with a single purpose: to give families dealing with inheritance matters access to thoughtful, experienced legal counsel — without rushing them toward decisions they are not yet ready to make.
Return to HomepageOur History
How Nakhon Advocates Came to Be
Nakhon Advocates opened its doors on Chom Phon Road in the heart of Nai Mueang in the spring of 2009. The founder, a senior advocate with more than a decade of experience in Thai civil and family law, had observed a recurring gap: families navigating the death of a parent or spouse often found themselves uncertain about their legal position, caught between court timelines and deeply personal decisions, without a legal representative who truly understood the intersection of those two worlds.
The practice was deliberately small from the outset. Rather than growing into a general commercial firm, Nakhon Advocates chose to develop particular depth in the area of Thai succession law — the rules that govern what happens to a person's property, accounts, and obligations after their death. Over the years, the team has worked with families from across Thailand and with Thai nationals whose estates involve property in several provinces or international assets.
Our mission has not changed since those early years on Chom Phon Road: to approach every inheritance matter with the seriousness and sensitivity it deserves, and to give each family a clear picture of their legal position so they can make their own decisions, in their own time.
We are not a high-volume practice. We accept a limited number of engagements each year to ensure that every family who comes to us receives the full attention of a senior advocate — not a paralegal, not a case manager, but someone who knows the file, knows the courts, and knows the law.
The People Behind the Practice
Our Advocates
Somchai Lertpanya
Founding Advocate
Called to the Thai Bar in 1997, Somchai has spent the greater part of his career in succession and estate litigation. He leads all comprehensive estate litigation engagements personally and oversees the practice's advisory work.
Nattaya Wongchai
Senior Associate
Nattaya joined the practice in 2015 after several years at a Bangkok civil litigation firm. She specialises in heir dispute representation and has particular experience with contested testamentary instruments in northeastern Thailand.
Prajak Apirak
Legal Adviser & Researcher
Prajak supports the practice with legal research, probate eligibility analysis, and drafting of advisory notes. He has a detailed knowledge of Thai Civil and Commercial Code provisions relating to inheritance and property registration.
How We Work
Professional Standards We Hold
Thai Bar Association Membership
All practising advocates at Nakhon Advocates are members of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and hold current practising certificates. Our conduct is governed by the professional rules of the Council.
Inheritance Law Specialisation
We focus exclusively on Thai succession law and related estate proceedings. This concentration allows us to maintain a depth of knowledge that generalist practices are unlikely to match in this specific area.
Strict Client Confidentiality
All information shared with our office is subject to professional legal privilege. We do not share, publish, or discuss client matters outside of the strict scope required for your engagement.
Written Engagement Terms
Before any work commences, we provide a clear written engagement letter setting out the scope of work, the fee arrangement, and the basis on which either party may end the engagement. There are no surprises.
Data Protection Compliance
We hold and process personal data in accordance with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Client files and correspondence are stored securely and accessed only by members of the team with a direct role in your matter.
Regular Progress Updates
We provide written updates at every significant stage of a matter. You will not need to chase us for news. Our practice is to keep you informed before you need to ask.
Inheritance Legal Counsel in Nakhon Ratchasima and Across Thailand
Thai succession law, as set out in Book VI of the Civil and Commercial Code, establishes a detailed framework for how property passes on death — who qualifies as an heir, in what order, and under what circumstances a testamentary document alters those entitlements. Navigating that framework, particularly when a family is grieving or when relationships between potential heirs are strained, calls for legal support that is both technically sound and personally considerate.
Nakhon Advocates works with families throughout Thailand, with particular depth of experience in the courts of Nakhon Ratchasima Province. We handle matters from the initial question of whether probate is needed, through to full multi-stage litigation before the civil courts. Every engagement is tailored to the circumstances of the family and the nature of the estate.
Our work in heir dispute matters has covered disagreements arising from the terms of a will, disputes concerning the conduct of an estate administrator, and challenges to the validity of testamentary instruments. We approach each of these with the understanding that the people involved are not merely parties to a legal proceeding — they are members of a family navigating a period of significant difficulty.
We Are Here When You Are Ready
Speak with an Advocate at Your Convenience
An initial conversation carries no obligation. We are happy to give you a clear picture of whether and how we may be of assistance, without pressure or commitment on your part.
Contact Our Office