28/09/2026
A usufruct can give a foreigner significant rights to possess, use and enjoy property in Thailand without transferring ownership. It can survive the sale of the underlying land and, in the right circumstances, provide meaningful protection.
But a registered usufruct is not necessarily the complete protection that it may appear to be.
Land Office practice can vary, and registration may be scrutinised where the arrangement falls outside familiar family circumstances. For Thai-foreign couples, Section 1469 of the Civil and Commercial Code creates an additional risk. A lifetime usufruct also ends on the death of the usufructuary and cannot be inherited.
Our latest article, written by Paul Andrew Crosio examines how usufructs work in Thailand, the practical issues surrounding registration, the particular risks for foreign spouses, and the circumstances in which a usufruct may be appropriate.
Read the full article:
Learn how usufructs work in Thailand for foreigners, including registration, Land Office issues, Thai spouses, inheritance and key legal limitations.