Thinking of marrying a Thai lady? What to check first
January 21, 2023 - Reading time: 8 minutes
Updated: May 29, 2025
'Due diligence' is a term usually associated with business deals and high-value transactions. Naturally, a smart investor wouldn’t part with their money or enter into a binding agreement without first verifying the facts. The same mindset should be applied to something equally serious — marriage.
Marriage brings significant emotional and financial responsibilities. While it's not technically a business deal, it can involve your life savings, property, vehicles, and long-term financial commitments — particularly if you're marrying someone from a different culture with unfamiliar legal and social expectations.
Marrying a Thai woman often involves a significant gift or 'dowry' to her parents, typically money, gold, and sometimes property or vehicles. Known as a ‘sin sod’, this traditional payment is usually displayed during the ceremony for guests to see.
Whether your Thai wedding includes a dowry or not, it’s wise to protect yourself by verifying your partner’s background before making such a life-altering commitment. Conducting due diligence before marriage in Thailand is not only smart — it could save you from financial loss or emotional distress down the line.
Thai girlfriend background checks
Background checks are essential if you're planning to marry a Thai lady or take the relationship to the next level. These checks can uncover crucial facts about your partner that might otherwise remain hidden.
As a trusted detective agency in Thailand, we’ve helped hundreds of clients uncover the truth about their Thai fiancées or girlfriends. In many cases, background checks revealed serious lies or omissions that would have been devastating to discover later.
Common issues include women lying about their age — sometimes reducing it by five or ten years. In rarer cases, we’ve uncovered individuals who were born male but had transitioned to female, without disclosing this to their partner. Many Thai ladyboys are extremely convincing, and gender reassignment surgery can further obscure the truth. Think it can’t happen to you? Think again.
Background checks can include verification of marriage and divorce records, employment history, criminal background, financial status, family ties, social media activity and more. Our Thai partner background screening services are designed to give you peace of mind before making major life decisions.
Criminal record checks are particularly important. If your partner has a past involving fraud, theft, or solicitation, this can not only raise red flags about trustworthiness but may also affect visa applications to Western countries.
If you're romantically involved with a Thai woman who is still legally married, you could be sued by her husband under Thai law. Social media posts, private messages, and even photos can be used as evidence in court.
For this reason, we strongly recommend conducting at least a marital status check — or better still, a full Thai girlfriend background check — before making a serious commitment.
Visit our background check page for more details, or contact us for a free, confidential quote.
Thai prenuptial agreements
Depending on your financial situation, it may make sense to draw up a prenuptial agreement before the marriage takes place. These agreements outline how assets and property will be divided in the event of a divorce — a useful tool for protecting your interests.
Under Thai law, your spouse may be entitled to claim 50% of any assets acquired during the marriage. If you have assets in your home country, the division of those can become even more complex.
Whether a prenup is right for you depends on your personal situation — including the value and location of your assets. We recommend consulting a qualified solicitor who understands both Thai and international family law.
The dowry tradition in Thailand ('sin sod')
Dowry payments — or ‘sin sod’ — are a long-standing Thai wedding tradition. The groom typically gives a large gift to his bride’s family, which can range from 300,000 to over 1,000,000 THB. Gold, property, and vehicles may also be included.
While the dowry tradition has faded in the West, it remains common in Thailand. That said, some families may agree to a ‘fake dowry’ where the money is returned to the groom after the ceremony — allowing them to save face in front of guests without accepting the payment.
Families in rural farming areas may expect genuine support. In these cases, a practical dowry — such as a tractor or farming equipment — might be seen as a valuable investment in their long-term livelihood. Understanding these expectations before marriage is key to avoiding future conflicts.
Also consider that in traditional Thai culture, daughters are often expected to care for their parents in old age. As her husband, you may inherit some of this responsibility. Financial planning for your Thai marriage should account for both short-term and long-term commitments to her and possibly her family.
Doubts before marrying a Thai lady?
It's completely normal to have second thoughts or concerns before entering into a marriage — especially if you're marrying someone from a different country and culture. If you’ve noticed things that don’t quite add up, or you’re unsure whether your Thai partner is being completely honest with you, then it’s worth taking a step back.
Many of our clients come to us with similar worries: “Is she really single?”, “Has she told me the truth about her past?”, “Is she just using me for money?”, or even “How do I know if she’s genuine?”.
Our background check service for Thai girlfriends is specifically designed to help you find clarity before making a long-term commitment. We can discreetly verify her relationship history, marriage or divorce status, criminal record, employment, and more — so you can make your decision with confidence.
Don’t ignore your gut feeling. If something seems off, it’s better to get the facts now — before tying the knot.
About Bangkok Private Investigators
We are a leading private investigation agency based in Bangkok, serving clients across all regions of Thailand. If you’re unsure about your Thai partner or need to verify key facts, we can help uncover the truth discreetly and efficiently.
All communication with us is 100% confidential. We offer free quotes and fast responses. Visit our homepage to learn more or get in touch today.
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