Article 74 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 74 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article gives the family record book for an unlimited period, with a replacement book for heirs on its holder's death, refers the validity period of the personal card to the Regulations and requires renewal within 180 days before expiry.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
1 - يعطى دفتر العائلة لمدة غير محددة، وإذا توفي صاحبه يسحب ويصرف بدلا منه دفتر عائلة آخر باسم المتوفى لكل من يرغب من ورثته المضافين فيه، على أن يؤثر مكان الصورة بما يفيد أنه متوفى.
2 – تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية مدة صلاحية البطاقة الشخصية من تاريخ صدورها، أو استبدالها، أو تجديدها. ويجب تجديدها خلال مائة وثمانين يوما سابقة لانقضاء مدة صلاحيتها.
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 74 explained in plain English
This Article deals with two basic civil status documents: the family record book and the personal card.
First: the family record book
- The family record book is given for an unlimited period, so it does not expire with the passage of time.
- If its holder dies, the book is withdrawn and another family record book is issued in the name of the deceased to any of his heirs added in it who wish, with a note in the place of the photograph indicating that he is deceased.
Second: the personal card
- The Implementing Regulations set the period of validity of the personal card, counted from the date of its issue, replacement or renewal. The Article itself does not state the period.
- The card must be renewed within the one hundred and eighty days before its period of validity expires.
Its relationship to neighboring Articles:
- Article 73 prohibits a citizen from having more than one entry in the central civil register, from holding more than one personal card or more than one family record book, or from using a card or book that is not his.
- Article 75 requires a citizen, when a civil event occurs that changes one of the details of his card or of the family record book in his possession, to present them to one of the civil status departments for amendment or replacement within sixty days of the event.
This Article has been amended more than once, most recently by Royal Decree No. M/11 dated 4/3/1426 AH. Anyone with a problem concerning the family record book after a death may contact civil status or a lawyer who specializes in personal status.
Practical example
Reem's father died in Madinah, and she and her siblings were added in the family record book. The father's book is withdrawn, and Reem, if she wishes, is issued another family record book in the name of her deceased father, with a note in the place of the photograph indicating his death. Meanwhile, if her national ID is close to expiry, she must renew it within the 180 days before its validity expires.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 74 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Does the family record book have a validity period?
No. The family record book is given for an unlimited period.
What happens to the family record book after its holder dies?
It is withdrawn and another is issued in the name of the deceased to any of his heirs added in it who wish, with a note in the place of the photograph indicating that he is deceased.
When must the national ID be renewed?
It must be renewed within the one hundred and eighty days before its period of validity expires, and the Implementing Regulations set the period of validity.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/11 — 4/3/1426 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عدلت هذه المادة أكثر من مرة ، كان آخرها بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/11) وتاريخ 4 / 3 / 1426 هـ ، لتكون بالنص الآتى:
"1 - يعطى دفتر العائلة لمدة غير محددة، وإذا توفي صاحبه يسحب ويصرف بدلا منه دفتر عائلة آخر باسم المتوفى لكل من يرغب من ورثته المضافين فيه، على أن يؤثر مكان الصورة بما يفيد أنه متوفى.
2 – تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية مدة صلاحية البطاقة الشخصية من تاريخ صدورها، أو استبدالها، أو تجديدها. ويجب تجديدها خلال مائة وثمانين يوما سابقة لانقضاء مدة صلاحيتها."
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يعطى دفتر العائلة لمدة غير محددة تنتهي بوفاة رب العائلة، أما البطاقة الشخصية فتحدد مدة صلاحيتها بعشر سنوات من تاريخ صدورها أو استبدالها أو تجديدها. ويجب تجديدها لمدة مماثلة خلال المائة والثمانين يوما السابقة لانقضاء مدة صلاحيتها.
More articles on Family Record
- Article 42
The Article requires the births registrar to notify his department weekly with a statement of birth events and the certificate copies, and requires the department to record them within three days on the child's father's page.
يجب على كاتب سجل المواليد في نهاية كل أسبوع إشعار إدارة الأحوال المدنية التي يتبعها ببيان على النموذج المعد لذلك يتضمن جميع واقعات الولادة التي قيدها في سجله مع
- Article 43
The Article requires the birth certificate to be presented within 15 days of receiving it to one of the civil status departments, to check it, stamp it with the directorate's seal and add the newborn to the family record book.
يجب تقديم شهادة الميلاد الصادرة من كاتب سجل المواليد خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ تسلمها إلى إحدى إدارات الأحوال المدنية لمطابقة قيدها في السجل وختمها بخاتم المد
- Article 50
The Article allows either spouse to request the family register from civil status, and makes the husband responsible if it is not requested within sixty days of the marriage contract, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
لأي من الزوجين طلب الحصول على سجلّ الأسرة من إدارة الأحوال المدنية، وتقع المسؤولية على الزوج إذا لم يتقدم بطلب استخراجه خلال ستين يوماً من تاريخ عقد الزواج، وذل
- Article 58
The Article requires the death certificate, with the deceased's card and the family record book, to be presented to civil status within fifteen days of its issue, to be stamped, the card withdrawn and the book annotated.
يجب تقديم شهادة الوفاة الصادرة من كاتب سجل الوفيات مع بطاقة المتوفى الشخصية ودفتر العائلة الذي يضم اسمه إلى إحدى إدارات الأحوال المدنية وذلك خلال خمسة عشر يوما
- Article 72
The Article requires every Saudi head of family, subject to Article 50, to go to civil status within three years of the Law coming into force to obtain the family record book issued from the central civil register.
مع مراعاة حكم المادة (50) من هذا النظام يجب على كل رب أسرة سعودي مراجعة إحدى دوائر الأحوال المدنية خلال ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ نفاذ هذا النظام للحصول على دفتر يتضم
- Article 73
The Article prohibits a citizen from having more than one entry in the central civil register, more than one personal card or family record book, or using a card or book that is not his.
لا يجوز أن يكون لأي مواطن غير قيد واحد في السجل المدني المركزي ، كما لا يجوز له حيازة أكثر من بطاقة شخصية واحدة، أو أكثر من دفتر عائلة واحد، أو استعمال بطاقة أو
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.