Home & daily life
Legal advice and finding a lawyer
Separate immediate safety needs, professional advice and the support available from a consulate.
Start with these three things
- Japanese diplomatic missions can provide information about lawyers and interpreters.
- They do not provide specialist legal advice or mediate private disputes.
- A limited free Japanese-language consultation programme is available to Japanese victims of serious crime and their families.
Steps
"Tip" marks a planning suggestion, not an official rule.
- Tip If life or physical safety is at risk, move to safety and prioritize emergency help. Prepare for legal advice afterwards.
- Tip Summarize the issue, dates, parties, desired outcome and deadlines on documents received.
- To seek the serious-crime-victim consultation, submit the official application form to the responsible Japanese mission, which checks eligibility and consultation arrangements.
- Tip Before engaging a professional, confirm the person, practice area, language, estimate and scope of authority. Keep the engagement agreement and payment records.
What to prepare
Planning tips (not official rules)
- Organize contracts, notices, receipts, communications and evidence by date. Separate originals from submission copies and avoid broadly sharing unrelated third-party information.
- Bring a short note stating what help you want and what you need to clarify by when.
Where to ask
Consular section, Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai / the legal professional engaged
Airport Business Park, 90 Mahidol Road, Haiya, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai: 052-012-500
Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai: 052-012-501
Current office hours have not been verified. Check with the office before visiting.
Japanese-language support for serious-crime victims is coordinated through the Japanese mission responsible for the incident location or the person’s residence.
Appointment times, prices and languages for general consultations remain unverified. Ask the chosen provider in advance.
Things to watch for
- The free consultation is for serious-crime victims. It does not offer free routine rental, purchase or inheritance advice.
- Confirm fees with the lawyer for work beyond the free consultation or a formal engagement.
Consular support
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes consular assistance and information on lawyers and interpreters, but excludes specialist legal advice, intervention in proceedings and mediation of private disputes. It also does not cover lawyers’ fees.
Planning tips (not official rules)
Tell the consulate whether you need referral information or information about victim support. Take questions about specific rights or contracts to a legal professional.
Support for serious-crime victims
The Embassy’s programme covers Japanese people seriously harmed by offences such as injury, assault, domestic violence or sexual offences, and victims’ families. After application, eligibility and consultation arrangements, including in-person, phone or video, are coordinated.
Free consultations are limited to three per incident, each lasting no more than 30 minutes.
Costs and scope
Planning tips (not official rules)
Ask separately about consultation, document preparation, negotiation and litigation fees. Check who arranges interpreting or translation, when extra charges arise and how early termination is billed. Obtain the proposed work and authority in writing instead of relying on promises of winning or a guaranteed refund.
At the start, prioritize what you need to learn. At the end, confirm the next step, responsible person, additional documents and costs, and make a short note of the advice. Ask permission before recording.
Travelling abroad with a child: the Hague Convention
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides assistance routes concerning a child’s return and cross-border parent–child contact under the Hague Convention. It accepts applications as Japan’s Central Authority.
Planning tips (not official rules)
If separation, divorce or custody is disputed, gather information on the child’s residence, proposed destination and custody arrangements before travelling. Consult the Ministry’s Hague Convention contact point or a lawyer; this guide cannot determine whether an individual trip is lawful.
Japan’s benefits for victims of crimes abroad
Japan’s National Police Agency describes benefits for bereaved families of Japanese nationals killed by intentional crimes abroad, and for Japanese nationals left with serious disabilities by such crimes. Conditions also concern the recipient’s nationality, address and permanent residence. Applicants living abroad may be able to apply through a Japanese consular office.
The Agency provides the official application information and forms. Confirm individual eligibility and deadlines with the relevant prefectural police headquarters or Japanese consular office.
Support arrangements can change. Confirm their scope with the consular section of the Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai.
Sources & dates checked
- OfficialEmbassy of Japan in Thailand タイにおける重要犯罪被害者弁護士無料相談サポート
- OfficialMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 大使館・総領事館にできること・できないこと
- OfficialConsulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 邦人援護
- OfficialMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ハーグ条約（国際的な子の奪取の民事上の側面に関する条約）
- OfficialThe Hague Convention (The Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction)
- OfficialNational Police Agency of Japan 国外犯罪被害弔慰金等支給制度のご案内
- OfficialNational Police Agency of Japan 国外犯罪被害弔慰金等支給制度
- OfficialConsulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 総領事館案内
- OfficialConsulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 邦人援護関係
- OfficialConsulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai 2026年総領事館休館日のご案内