Article 91 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 91 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The article provides that the head of the family, for purposes of applying the Civil Status Law, is the father or the mother with respect to minor children.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يعد رب الأسرة في مجال تطبيق هذا النظام هو الأب أو الأم بالنسبة إلى الأولاد القصّر
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 91 explained in plain English
This article sets the meaning of "head of the family" for purposes of applying the Civil Status Law.
What does it provide? The head of the family is the father or the mother with respect to minor children.
Three observations on the text:
- The text mentions the father and the mother together, joined by "or", so the status of head of the family is not limited to the father.
- This provision is limited to minor children; the article does not address children who have come of age.
- The provision applies only for purposes of applying this Law; it is a definition to be referred to wherever the term "head of the family" appears in the civil status provisions.
Amendment: the article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/134 dated 27/11/1440 AH to take its current wording.
Its place in the Law: it sits among transitional and closing provisions. Article (90) concerns reliance on population registers until they are withdrawn and a replacement is issued within four years of the Law taking effect, unless the deadline is extended by decision of the Minister of Interior, and Article (92) concerns the issue of birth and death certificates under the provisions of the Law and the gradual transfer of this jurisdiction from the health offices to the civil status offices.
The article does not describe the procedures or documents that follow from being head of the family; these are found in the other provisions of the Law and its regulations. Anyone with a civil status matter concerning his minor children may contact the civil status authorities or consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
Practical example
Mona lives in Jeddah with her minor children. For purposes of applying the Civil Status Law, Mona, like the father, is considered the head of the family with respect to these minor children.
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 91 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Is the mother considered the head of the family under the Civil Status Law?
Yes. The article provides that the head of the family for purposes of applying the Law is the father or the mother with respect to minor children.
Does this provision include adult children?
The text is limited to minor children and does not address those of them who have come of age.
When was this article amended?
By Royal Decree No. M/134 dated 27/11/1440 AH.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/134 — 27/11/1440 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عُدلت هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 134) وتاريخ 27 / 11 /1440هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي: "يعد رب الأسرة في مجال تطبيق هذا النظام هو الأب أو الأم بالنسبة إلى الأولاد القصّر".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يعتبر رب أسرة في مجال تطبيق هذا النظام :
أ - الزوج بالنسبة للزوجة.
ب - الأب بالنسبة لأولاده المضافين معه وبناته غير المتزوجات.
جـ - الأم بالنسبة لأولادها القصر وبناتها غير المتزوجات بعد وفاة والدهم.
د - القريب بالنسبة لمن يعيش معه من أقاربه الذين يعولهم أو يرعاهم ولو لم يكن ملزما بنفقتهم شرعا بعد فقد رب أسرتهم إن لم يكن سبق قيدهم في السجل المدني المركزي .
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.