Child Adoption refers to a child who is cared for as if they were one’s own child. Under Thai law, for someone to be legally considered a foster child, registration according to the law is required.
The registration of child adoption creates legal rights between the adopter and the adopted child. Adopted child has status equivalent to a legal child of the adopter, such as using the surname and inheritance rights. However, the Adopter does not have inheritance rights from the adopted child. Furthermore, registering an adopted child does not diminish the adopted child’s rights and duties within their birth family, and the birth parents lose guardianship authority over the child (minor) from the day the child is adopted.
In order to accept adopted child, the adopter must be at least 25 years old and older than the adopted child by at least 15 years. Additionally, if the adopted child is a minor, consent must be obtained from their biological parents or guardians, and from the spouse if married. Any adopted child cannot become adopted child of the other adopter.