Article 12 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
المادة 12 من نظام التكاليف القضائية
Non-payment of costs does not prevent filing and deciding a case or request, except cassation and reconsideration requests, whose applicant has 30 days to pay or loses the right.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- فيما عدا طلب النقض وطلب التماس إعادة النظر، لا يحول عدم دفع التكاليف القضائية دون قيد المحكمة للدعوى أو قيد الطلب والبت فيهما، ويكون تحصيلها وفقاً للإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
2- يُمهل طالب النقض وطالب التماس إعادة النظر مدة (ثلاثين) يوماً من تاريخ قيد الطلب لدى المحكمة المختصة لسداد التكاليف القضائية المحددة للطلب؛ فإن لم يقم بالسداد خلال هذه المدة، تحكم المحكمة بسقوط حقه في الطلب، ويُعد الحكم نهائيًّا.
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 12 explained in plain English
This Article answers an important question: must the costs be paid before the case is heard? The answer differs by type of request.
The general rule (paragraph 1): non-payment of judicial costs does not prevent the court from registering the case or request, nor from deciding them. That is, the case is registered, heard and decided, and the costs are collected under the procedures set by the Implementing Regulations.
The exception (paragraph 2): a request for cassation and a request for reconsideration.
- The applicant is given 30 days from the date the request is registered with the competent court to pay the costs set for the request.
- If they do not pay within this period, the court rules that their right to the request lapses.
- This ruling is final.
Anyone filing a request for cassation or reconsideration must therefore watch the deadline closely, because missing it without payment loses them the request for good. This Article is preceded by Article 11, which regulates setting the amount of costs, notifying it and objecting within 15 days, and followed by Article 13, which sets who ultimately bears the costs.
If you intend to file a request for cassation or reconsideration, you can consult a lawyer specialized in litigation and procedure to manage the deadlines.
Practical example
Sultan filed a request for cassation against an appeal judgment, and his request was registered with the competent court. He has 30 days from the date of registration to pay the set costs. If he is late, the court rules that his right to the cassation request lapses, and the ruling is final.
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 12 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
Will the court refuse to register my case if I do not pay the fees?
No. Except for requests for cassation and reconsideration, non-payment does not prevent registering and deciding the case or request.
How long do I have to pay the fee for a cassation request?
Thirty days from the date the request is registered with the competent court.
What happens if I do not pay the reconsideration fee within the period?
The court rules that the right to the request lapses, and the ruling is final.
More articles on Assessing Costs and Objecting to Them
- Article 11
The competent department sets the amount of costs and notifies it on filing; it may be objected to within 15 days before the court president or their delegate, whose decision is final.
تقوم الإدارة المختصة بتحديد مبلغ التكاليف القضائية للدعوى أو الطلب المقدم للمحكمة وفقاً لما يقضي به النظام واللائحة، وتبلغ به المدعي أو صاحب الطلب عند قيد الدعو
- Article 14
If a case ends in judgment without the judicial costs being collected, the final assessment issued by the competent department is an enforceable instrument, collected as the Implementing Regulations provide.
في حال انتهاء الدعوى بالحكم فيها دون تحصيل التكاليف القضائية، فيعد التقدير النهائي الصادر عن الإدارة المختصة سنداً تنفيذيًّا، ويُستوفى وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
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.