Article 2 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
المادة 2 من نظام التكاليف القضائية
The Article makes the Judicial Costs Law apply to all cases and requests before the courts, and excepts six categories of cases and requests.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسري أحكام النظام على جميع الدعاوى والطلبات التي تقدم إلى المحاكم، فيما عدا ما يأتي:
1- الدعاوى الجزائية العامة، والدعاوى التأديبية، والطلبات المتعلقة بها.
2- الدعاوى والطلبات التي تختص بها محاكم الأحوال الشخصية، عدا طلب النقض وطلب التماس إعادة النظر.
3- الدعاوى والطلبات التي يختص بها ديوان المظالم.
4- الدعاوى والطلبات المتعلقة بدعاوى قسمة التركات، عدا طلب النقض وطلب التماس إعادة النظر.
5- الدعاوى والطلبات الناشئة عن تطبيق أحكام نظام الإفلاس.
6- الإنهاءات وما يتعلق بها من طلبات.
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 2 explained in plain English
This Article sets out the scope of application of the Law: the rule is that it applies to all cases and requests submitted to the courts, so judicial costs are imposed on them under its provisions, such as the limit in Article 3 (no more than 5% of the value of the claim, with a maximum of SAR 1 million).
The Article excepts the following categories, to which the Law's provisions do not apply:
- General criminal cases, disciplinary cases and requests related to them.
- Cases and requests handled by the personal status courts, except a request for cassation and a request for reconsideration (petition for reopening), which are subject to the Law.
- Cases and requests handled by the Board of Grievances.
- Cases and requests relating to estate partition cases, except a request for cassation and a request for reconsideration.
- Cases and requests arising from application of the provisions of the Bankruptcy Law.
- Ex parte applications (inhā'āt) and requests related to them.
This means that someone who files a maintenance or custody case before a personal status court is not charged costs under this Law, but if they reach the stage of a request for cassation or a request for reconsideration, those two requests fall within its scope. The same applies in estate partition cases.
The meaning of "case" and "requests" is understood from their definitions in Article 1. If it is unclear whether your case falls within one of these exceptions, you can consult a lawyer specialized in litigation and procedure.
Practical example
Sara filed a custody case before the personal status court in Jeddah, so her case is not subject to the Judicial Costs Law. After the appeal judgment was issued, she wanted to file a request for cassation before the Supreme Court; here the request for cassation falls within the scope of the Law because the Article expressly excludes it from the exemption.
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 2 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
Are there fees on personal status cases in Saudi Arabia?
The provisions of the Judicial Costs Law do not apply to the cases and requests of personal status courts, except a request for cassation and a request for reconsideration.
Are judicial costs imposed on criminal cases?
General criminal cases, disciplinary cases and requests related to them are excepted from the Law.
Are Board of Grievances and bankruptcy cases covered by the Judicial Costs Law?
No. The Article excepts cases and requests handled by the Board of Grievances, and cases and requests arising from application of the Bankruptcy Law.
More articles on Scope of Judicial Costs
- Article 1
The Article defines the key terms of the Judicial Costs Law, such as judicial costs, the case, requests, the competent department and the Implementing Regulations.
يكون للألفاظ والعبارات الواردة في هذا النظام المعاني المبيَّنة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق معنى آخر: النظام: نظام التكاليف القضائية. اللائحة: اللائحة التنفيذية لل
- Article 19
The collected judicial costs are deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance at the Saudi Central Bank.
تودع مبالغ التكاليف القضائية المحصلة في حساب جاري وزارة المالية لدى البنك المركزي السعودي.
- Article 20
The Minister of Justice determines by decision the competent department in the court for collecting judicial costs and refunding them where grounds for refund exist.
يحدد وزير العدل بقرار منه الإدارة المختصة -في المحكمة المرفوع إليها الدعوى، أو المقدم إليها الطلب- بتحصيل التكاليف القضائية، وردِّها إذا توافرت مسوغات الرد.
- Article 21
The Article permits the Minister of Justice to license the private sector to carry out supporting work for applying the Law, and refers licensing provisions, work procedures and supervision to the Implementing Regulations.
لوزير العدل الترخيص للقطاع الخاص بالقيام بالأعمال المساندة لتطبيق النظام. وتحدد اللائحة أحكام التراخيص له وقواعد إجراءات عمله والإشراف عليه.
- Article 22
The Ministry of Justice must prepare the Implementing Regulations within 60 days of the Law's issuance, to be issued by a decision of the Council of Ministers.
تعد وزارة العدل اللائحة خلال (ستين) يوماً من تاريخ صدور النظام، وتصدر بقرار من مجلس الوزراء.
- Article 23
The Judicial Costs Law takes effect 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بالنظام بعد (مائة وثمانين) يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.