Article 65 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 65 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article requires the deceased to be buried promptly where possible, except where death or its causes are in doubt or unnatural, in which case burial is postponed to verify and the health doctor sets its date.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعجل بدفن المتوفى ما أمكن ذلك إلا إذا اشتبه في حدوث الوفاة أو وقع شك في أن أسباب الوفاة غير طبيعية ففي هذه الحالة يؤجل الدفن للمدة الكافية للتحقق من الوفاة أو أسبابها، ويقوم طبيب الصحة بتحديد موعد الدفن.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 65 explained in plain English
This Article balances two matters: burying promptly and verifying the death and its causes where there is doubt.
The rule: the deceased is buried promptly as far as possible.
The exception: burial is postponed in two cases:
- if the occurrence of death itself is doubted;
- if there is doubt that the causes of death are unnatural.
The length of postponement: the text does not set a number of days but makes it the time sufficient to verify the death or its causes.
Who sets the date of burial? The health doctor.
This Article is linked to Article 64, which prohibits burying any deceased without a burial permit from an approved doctor, given in two copies, or from the emir of the village or center where there are no doctors after verifying that the death is natural, and requires, where there is suspicion, a report stating the condition of the body and no permission for burial except after informing the emir of the region. Article 66 also provides that the persons required to obtain the burial permit are the same persons required to report the death.
If the family feels that a delay in burial has been prolonged, or wants to know its rights in this situation, it may consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A young man died in unclear circumstances, and the doctor doubted that the death was natural. Burial is postponed for the time sufficient to verify the causes of death, and the health doctor sets the date of burial afterwards.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 65 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
When is the burial of the dead postponed?
If the occurrence of death is doubted or there is doubt that its causes are unnatural, it is postponed for the time sufficient to verify.
Who sets the date of burial where there is suspicion?
The health doctor.
Does the Law set a maximum period for postponing burial?
No. The text refers to the time sufficient to verify the death or its causes without setting a particular number.
More articles on Death Registration and Burial
- Article 38Amended (1422 AH)
The Article requires the birth of a newborn who dies before being recorded to be registered, followed by his death, and requires a child born dead after the sixth month of pregnancy to be recorded in the register of deaths as stillborn.
إذا توفي مولود قبل قيده في السجل، وجب تسجيل ولادته ثم تسجيل وفاته. أما إذا ولد ميتا بعد الشهر السادس من الحمل فيقيد في سجل الوفيات بأنه ولد ميتا.
- Article 52
The Article requires reporting, within the legal periods, every death in the Kingdom and every Saudi who dies abroad, including children born dead after the sixth month of pregnancy.
يجب التبليغ خلال المدد المحددة في هذا النظام عن جميع الوفيات الحادثة في المملكة وعن السعوديين المتوفين في الخارج، ويشمل ذلك الأطفال الذين يولدون أمواتا بعد الشه
- Article 53
The Article names those required to report a death, starting with electronically linked health facilities, then relatives and others, with responsibility following the order so that it lapses for any group when the group before it exists.
المكلفون بالتبليغ عن الوفاة هم: أ- المنشآت الصحية المرتبطة إلكترونياً بالأحوال المدنية وفق ما تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية. ب- أصول أو فروع أو زوج المتوفى أو أي من أ
- Article 54
The Article sets the period for reporting a death at fifteen days at any civil status office, and thirty days if the death occurs in a place more than fifty kilometers from the nearest office.
يكون التبليغ عن الوفاة لدى أي مكتب من مكاتب الأحوال المدنية على النموذج المعد خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الوفاة، وتكون هذه المهلة ثلاثين يوما إذا حدثت الوفاة ف
- Article 55
The Article requires a death occurring outside the Kingdom to be reported within fifteen days of arrival, to the competent Saudi representation or, on return, to any civil status office in the Kingdom.
إذا حدثت الوفاة خارج المملكة وجب التبليغ عنها خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الوصول، ويوجه التبليغ إلى الممثلية السعودية المختصة في البلد الذي يقصده المسافر، وفي ح
- Article 56
As an exception, the Article allows a death abroad, far from the seat of the Saudi representation, to be reported by registered mail, provided a death certificate from the competent authority there is attached.
استثناء مما سبق إذا حدثت الوفاة في الخارج في جهة بعيدة عن مقر الممثلية السعودية جاز التبليغ عنها بوساطة البريد المسجل بشرط أن يكون التبليغ مصحوبا بشهادة وفاة من
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.