Article 86 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 86 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The article establishes a central authority in the General Directorate of Civil Status, chaired by the Director General, with a counselor from the Board of Grievances, a legal adviser and a physician.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تشكل في المديرية العامة للأحوال المدنية هيئة مركزية مكونة من:
أ - المدير العام للأحوال المدنية رئيساً
ب - مستشار من ديوان المظالم يعينه رئيس ديوان المظالم عضواً
جـ - مستشار قانوني يعينه وزير الداخلية عضواً
د - طبيب يندبه وزير الصحة عضواً
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 86 explained in plain English
This article provides for the formation of a central authority within the General Directorate of Civil Status, and sets its members as follows:
- Chair: the Director General of Civil Status.
- Member: a counselor from the Board of Grievances, appointed by the President of the Board of Grievances.
- Member: a legal adviser, appointed by the Minister of Interior.
- Member: a physician, seconded by the Minister of Health.
This composition brings together several bodies: Civil Status, the Board of Grievances, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health, each of which has a role in appointing or seconding its member.
The authority's jurisdiction is set out in Article 87, and is:
- Deciding appeals against decisions of the sub-committees and the local committees.
- Ratifying the minutes of record inspections.
- Giving an opinion on every civil status matter referred to it by the Minister of Interior.
It should be noted that Article 85, as an exception to Article 84, allows those sentenced to 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.
The article is organizational and is addressed mainly to government bodies, but it matters to individuals because the authority is the body to which appeals against decisions of the sub-committees and local committees are brought. Anyone with a pending appeal would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in civil status and administrative cases.
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 86 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Who chairs the central Civil Status Authority?
The Director General of Civil Status chairs it.
Who are the members of the Civil Status Authority?
A counselor from the Board of Grievances appointed by the President of the Board, a legal adviser appointed by the Minister of Interior, and a physician seconded by the Minister of Health.
What does the central Civil Status Authority do?
Under Article 87, it decides appeals against decisions of the sub-committees and local committees, ratifies the minutes of record inspections, and gives an opinion on matters referred to it by the Minister of Interior.
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.