The Claim Certificate, SK-1 or Sor Kor Nung, establishes a claim to land but not actual land ownership. These documents are largely a product of land reform initiatives.
Farmers could obtain the certificate after occupying land for six months and publishing a 30 day notice at the land department without counterclaims. The certificate gives the land occupier the right to continue occupying the land.
These certificates describe the land parcel in everyday language. There is not even a sketch of the property. Instead the parcel is described as “from the treeline down to the lake shore…” Because of the inherent vagueness, these certificates may be used to fraudulently.
Claim Certificates can sometimes be upgraded to a Certificate of Use or even a Chanote. To upgrade, the claimant must prove that the land was possessed legally and put to good use. See other title deeds in Thailand on this website.
