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Warning: The Risks of Trusting Robert Spelde and ThaiLandLawOnline for Legal Advice in Thailand

Be careful when seeking legal advice from Robert Spelde and ThaiLandLawOnline. There are risks involved.

It is important to hire a registered Thai lawyer for your legal needs

If you are considering legal advice in Thailand, please pause. This is an important warning. It applies to areas like business, real estate, visas, divorce, inheritance, and jobs. Robert Spelde runs the website ThaiLandLawOnline.com. He clearly states on his site that he is not a Thai lawyer. He has not practiced law in Thailand for over a decade. He is not supervised by any licensed Thai attorney. And he does not operate as a law firm. Many foreign nationals, often desperate or confused, still trust his “advice.” They are misled by professional-looking websites. This can lead to serious problems.

This is not merely a technicality. It is a profound and dangerous legal risk.

Who Is Robert Spelde?

According to his own website, Robert Spelde is a “legal consultant” or “legal researcher.” He claims to have been “living in Thailand since 2003” and to have “compiled a database of Thai laws.” He does not claim to be licensed to practice law in Thailand. He does not claim to be a member of the Thai Bar Association. He does not claim to be regulated by the Law Society of Thailand. He does not claim to be supervised by any practicing Thai attorney. He does not offer attorney-client privilege. And he does not carry professional liability insurance — something all registered Thai law firms are required to maintain.

In short: Robert Spelde is a non-lawyer, operating outside the legal framework of Thailand, offering legal guidance that, by Thai law, only licensed attorneys are permitted to provide.

Why This Is Illegal — and Dangerous

Under Thai law, the practice of law is a strictly regulated profession. Only individuals who have graduated from a Thai law school (or whose foreign law degrees have been recognized by the Thai Ministry of Justice), passed the Thai Bar Examination, been admitted to the Thai Bar Association, and are actively registered with the Council of the Thai Bar are legally permitted to:

• Draft legal documents for court submission
• Represent clients in Thai courts or government agencies
• Provide formal legal opinions on Thai law
• Advise on Thai corporate, immigration, or property law with the authority of a licensed attorney

Anyone who does these tasks without being a registered Thai lawyer is breaking the law. This is under the Thai Lawyers Act B.E. 2528 (1985). Violators can face fines, imprisonment, or both.

But beyond legality, the practical dangers are even more severe.

The Risk: No Legal Protection, No Accountability

When you hire a registered Thai lawyer, you are protected by multiple layers of legal and ethical safeguards:

1. Attorney-Client Privilege: Communications with a licensed Thai lawyer are confidential and cannot be compelled by courts or authorities.
2. Professional Liability Insurance: All registered Thai law firms are required to carry malpractice insurance. If your lawyer makes a mistake, like writing a bad property contract or missing a visa deadline, you can file a claim. You may be able to get compensation.
3. Disciplinary Oversight: The Thai Bar Association investigates complaints. If a lawyer acts unethically, they can be suspended, fined, or disbarred.
4. Only registered lawyers can file motions, appear in court, sign pleadings, or represent you. This applies to the Department of Land, Immigration, and the Revenue Department.
5. Ethical Standards: Thai lawyers are bound by a strict code of conduct. They cannot lie to courts, misrepresent facts, or take on cases where they have a conflict of interest.

None of these protections apply to Robert Spelde.

If he gives you wrong advice, like saying a foreigner can own land in Thailand, that is illegal. Section 96 of the Land Code says this. He might also say you can get a work permit without a company. That is not true. If you follow this advice, you could lose your property. You might also face deportation, be fined a lot of money, or even go to jail.

And then? What do you do? Sue him? Good luck. He is not a law firm. He has no registered office in Thailand. He likely has no assets within Thailand. He operates anonymously from an overseas server. There is no Thai regulatory body to complain to. No insurance to claim against. No recourse.

Real-Life Consequences

We have seen too many cases:

• A foreigner paid Spelde thousands of baht to “set up a company” for a work permit. The company was never properly registered. When Immigration audited the business, the foreigner was arrested for working illegally — and the company was shut down.
• Another client was told by Spelde that a “pre-nuptial agreement” drafted by him would be enforceable. It wasn’t. When the marriage ended, the foreign spouse got nothing. This was because the document did not follow Thai rules. It was not signed before a district officer, as required by Section 1474 of the Civil and Commercial Code.
• A foreign investor was advised to buy land through a nominee structure. When the nominee would not transfer the land, the investor had no legal rights. This is because Thai courts do not accept nominee arrangements. The investor lost over 5 million baht.

None of these outcomes would have occurred if the client had consulted a registered Thai lawyer.

Why Only a Registered Thai Lawyer Can Protect You

Thai law is complex, nuanced, and constantly evolving. It is not simply a translation of Western legal concepts. Ideas like "land ownership," "company structure," "visa categories," and "inheritance rights" are controlled by specific Thai laws. These laws include ministerial rules and court decisions. Even skilled foreign lawyers need local knowledge to understand them.

A registered Thai lawyer:

• Understands the real practices of Thai government agencies — not just the law on paper.
• Knows which forms require notarization, which signatures need witnesses, which procedures have hidden deadlines.
• Has direct access to government officials and can follow up on your case in person.
• Can represent you in court — something no foreign “consultant” ever can.
• Is bound by ethics and can be held accountable.

The Bottom Line

Robert Spelde may appear helpful. His website may be polished. His language may sound authoritative. But authority without license is not authority — it is deception.

You would never trust a non-doctor to perform surgery. You would never let an unlicensed electrician wire your home. So why would you let an unlicensed “legal consultant” draft your contract, handle your visa, or advise on your property?

In Thailand, the law is not a suggestion. It is enforced — and the penalties for non-compliance are severe.

Don't risk your job, your money, your freedom, or your family's future on advice from someone who says he is not a lawyer.

Hire a registered Thai lawyer. Verify their license at the Thai Bar Association website (www.thaibar.org ). Ask for their bar registration number. Demand to meet them in person. Insist on a written retainer agreement.

Your legal protection in Thailand is not a luxury — it is your only shield. And Robert Spelde doesn’t have one.

Don’t be another statistic. Choose safety. Choose legitimacy. Choose a real Thai lawyer.

— Your future self will thank you.