Article 20 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
المادة 20 من نظام التكاليف القضائية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحدد وزير العدل بقرار منه الإدارة المختصة -في المحكمة المرفوع إليها الدعوى، أو المقدم إليها الطلب- بتحصيل التكاليف القضائية، وردِّها إذا توافرت مسوغات الرد.
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 20 explained in plain English
This Article gives the Minister of Justice the power to determine the competent department by decision. This department is in the court to which the case is brought, or to which the request is submitted, and carries out two tasks:
- Collecting judicial costs.
- Refunding them where grounds for refund exist.
This Article complements the definition of "the competent department" in Article 1 as the department concerned with collecting and refunding judicial costs; Article 1 stated its function, and this Article states who determines it and where it is located. The Article does not give the name or structure of this department, but leaves that to the Minister's decision.
It comes after Article 19, which provides for depositing the collected amounts in the current account of the Ministry of Finance at the Saudi Central Bank, and is followed by Article 21, which permits the Minister of Justice to license the private sector to carry out supporting work for applying the Law.
For the litigant, this Article means the body they deal with in paying costs or asking for a refund is the department determined by the Minister of Justice's decision in the court where they litigate. To find the body and the procedure suitable for your case, you can refer to the court or consult a lawyer specialized in litigation and procedure.
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 20 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
Who determines the body that collects judicial costs?
The Minister of Justice determines it by decision, and it is in the court to which the case is brought or the request is submitted.
Who refunds judicial costs when a refund is due?
The competent department determined by the Minister of Justice, where grounds for refund exist.
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 2
The Article makes the Judicial Costs Law apply to all cases and requests before the courts, and excepts six categories of cases and requests.
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- ا
- 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 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.