Article 84 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 84 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The article requires a sub-committee to send a copy of each decision to the Directorate within a week, and allows the Directorate and any interested party to appeal before the Civil Status Authority within 60 days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ترفع كل لجنة فرعية نسخة من كل قرار تصدره إلى المديرية خلال أسبوع واحد من تاريخ صدور القرار، وللمديرية ولكل ذي مصلحة الطعن في قرار اللجنة أمام هيئة الأحوال المدنية وذلك في ميعاد لا يتجاوز ستين يوما.
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 84 explained in plain English
This article regulates what happens after the sub-committee issues its decision, and contains two provisions:
- Notifying the Directorate: every sub-committee must send a copy of every decision it issues to the Directorate within one week of the date of issue.
- Appealing the decision: the Directorate, and any interested party, may appeal the committee's decision before the Civil Status Authority, within a period not exceeding 60 days. The text of the article does not state when this period starts to run.
To understand which decisions this appeal covers, Article 83 explains that the sub-committees have jurisdiction to decide:
- Requests to correct or amend civil status entries, and grievances against refusal of registration, with the decisions and instructions applied to amending the date of birth continuing to be followed until its rules are issued by decision of the Council of Ministers.
- Investigating violators of the provisions of the Law and its regulations and imposing the prescribed penalties and sanctions.
- Other matters referred to them by the Civil Status Department.
However, Article 85 excepts penalty decisions from this article: those sentenced may file a grievance against sub-committee decisions issued against them imposing a fine, imprisonment or both before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of being notified of the decision.
Whether a person is an "interested party", and how to prepare the appeal, differs from case to case, and it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in civil status and administrative cases.
Practical example
Sara applied to the sub-committee in Dammam to correct a mistake in her civil status entry, and the committee rejected the request. As an interested party, she may appeal the decision before the Civil Status Authority within a period not exceeding 60 days, and the Directorate may do so as well.
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 84 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Where do I object to a civil status sub-committee decision?
The appeal is made before the Civil Status Authority, and both the Directorate and any interested party may do so.
How long do I have to appeal a sub-committee decision?
The appeal period may not exceed 60 days under the article.
Can a fine decision be appealed before the Civil Status Authority?
As an exception to Article 84, Article 85 allows those sentenced to file a grievance before the Board of Grievances against sub-committee decisions imposing a fine, imprisonment or both, within 60 days of being notified of the decision.
More articles on Civil Status Violations and Penalties
- Article 76Amended (1427 AH)
The Article requires reporting the loss or damage of the national ID or family record book within 15 days, sets graded fines by number of times and delay, and exempts losses from fire, accidents, theft and disasters officially established.
إذا فقدت أو تلفت البطاقة الشخصية (بطاقة الهوية الوطنية) أو دفتر العائلة (سجل الأسرة)، فيجب اتخاذ الآتي: 1 - على صاحب المصلحة تبليغ إحدى دوائر الأحوال المدنية خل
- Article 78
The article punishes violators of the Civil Status Law with the penalties set out in the following articles, without prejudice to any harsher penalty under other laws.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقضي به الأنظمة الأخرى من عقوبات أشد يعاقب مخالفو أحكام هذا النظام بالعقوبات المحددة في المواد التالية.
- Article 79
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to SAR 10,000, or either, anyone who gives incorrect information under the Law or violates Article 73.
يعاقب بالحبس مدة لا تتجاوز ستة أشهر وبغرامة لا تزيد على عشرة آلاف ريال أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين: أ - كل من أدلى ببيان غير صحيح من البيانات التي يوجبها تنفيذ هذا
- Article 80
The article sets a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000 for anyone who violates the provisions of Articles 32, 39, 45, 52, 70 and 71 of the Civil Status Law.
يعاقب على مخالفة أحكام المواد (32، 39، 45، 52، 70، 71) بغرامة لا تزيد على عشرة آلاف ريال.
- Article 81
The article sets a fine not exceeding SAR 5,000 for violating the remaining provisions of the Civil Status Law, its Implementing Regulations and the decisions implementing them.
يعاقب على مخالفة الأحكام الأخرى في هذا النظام وأحكام اللائحة التنفيذية والقرارات المنفذة لها بغرامة لا تزيد على خمسة آلاف ريال.
- Article 82Amended (1422 AH)
The article provides for local committees in civil status departments and offices and sub-committees in the regions, formed by decision of the Minister of Interior, and states their members from the Interior, Justice and Health.
أ - تشكل بقرار من وزير الداخلية وبقدر الحاجة لجان محلية في كل إدارة أو مكتب للأحوال المدنية، وتتكون كل لجنة من: 1 - مندوب من إدارة الأحوال المدنية يعينه وزير ال
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.