Article 39 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 39 من نظام الإثبات · الفرع الأول: أحكام عامة
The Article distinguishes between a claim of forgery, which applies to official and ordinary documents, and denial of handwriting, seal, signature or fingerprint, which applies only to ordinary documents, and sets the burden of proof.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يرد الادعاء بالتزوير على المحرَّر الرسمي والعادي، أما إنكار الخط أو الختم أو الإمضاء أو البصمة فلا يرد إلا على المحرَّر العادي.
2- على الخصم الذي يدعي التزوير عبء إثبات ادعائه، أما من ينكر صدور المحرَّر العادي منه أو ينكر ذلك خلفه أو نائبه أو ينفي علمه به، فيقع على خصمه عبء إثبات صدوره منه أو من سلفه.
3- إذا أقر الخصم بصحة الختم الموقع به على المحرَّر العادي ونفى أنه ختم به، تعين عليه اتخاذ طريق الادعاء بالتزوير.
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 39 explained in plain English
This Article is fundamental for a person against whom a document is invoked that he says did not come from him, because it determines the appropriate route for challenging it and who bears the burden of proof:
- Scope of each route: A claim of forgery applies to both official and ordinary documents. Denial of handwriting, seal, signature or fingerprint applies only to ordinary documents.
- Burden of proof in forgery: The person who claims forgery bears the burden of proving his claim.
- Burden of proof in denial: If a person denies that an ordinary document came from him, or his successor or representative denies this, or states that he has no knowledge of it, then his opponent, who relies on the document, bears the burden of proving that it came from him or from his predecessor.
- The seal: If the opponent admits that the seal affixed to the ordinary document is genuine, but denies that he used it to seal the document, he must take the route of a claim of forgery, not mere denial.
The practical difference is great: in denial, the burden of proof shifts to the person relying on the document, whereas in forgery the burden remains on the person who claims it.
Article 40 sets out when the court orders an investigation by comparison, by hearing witnesses, or by both, where there is a denial, while Article 38 gives the court power to assess physical defects in a document. To choose the appropriate route in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil litigation.
Practical example
A merchant in Abha submitted an ordinary paper stating that Fahd owes him an amount, and Fahd denied his signature on it. Here the merchant bears the burden of proving that the signature came from Fahd. If the paper were official, denial would not be enough for Fahd; he would have to claim that it was forged and bear the burden of proving it.
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 39 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What is the difference between denying a signature and challenging a document as forged?
Denial of handwriting, seal, signature or fingerprint applies only to ordinary documents, while a claim of forgery applies to both official and ordinary documents, and the person who claims forgery bears the burden of proving it.
Who must prove that a signature is genuine if I deny it?
If you deny that an ordinary document came from you, your opponent bears the burden of proving that it came from you.
What if I admit that the seal is mine but I did not use it to seal the document?
In that case you must take the route of a claim of forgery.
Can heirs deny the signature of the person they inherited from?
Yes. The Article mentions denial by a successor or representative, or a statement of no knowledge, and the opponent then bears the burden of proving that the document came from the predecessor.
More articles on Denying a Signature and Challenging for Forgery
- Article 26
An official document is binding on everyone as to what its author did within his task or what occurred in his presence, unless forgery is proven, and what the persons concerned stated in it is binding on them unless the contrary is proven.
1- المحرَّر الرسمي حجة على الكافة بما دون فيه من أمور قام بها محرره في حدود مهمته، أو حدثت من ذوي الشأن في حضوره؛ ما لم يثبت تزويره بالطرق المقررة نظاماً. 2- يك
- Article 29
An ordinary document is binding on the person who signed it unless he expressly denies his handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint, and a denial is not accepted from a person who has discussed the substance of the document before the court.
1- يعد المحرَّر العادي صادراً ممن وقعه وحجة عليه؛ ما لم ينكر صراحة ما هو منسوب إليه من خط أو إمضاء أو ختم أو بصمة، أو ينكر ذلك خلَفُه أو ينفي علمه بأن الخط أو ا
- Article 38
The Article gives the court power to assess the effect of physical defects in a document on its evidentiary force, to accept all or part of it, and to question its issuer or author where its validity is doubtful.
1- للمحكمة أن تقدر ما يترتب على العيوب المادية في المحرَّر من إسقاط حجيته في الإثبات أو إنقاصها، ولها أن تأخذ بكل ما تضمنه المحرَّر أو ببعضه. 2- إذا كانت صحة ال
- Article 40
The Article sets the conditions under which the court orders an investigation by comparison, by hearing witnesses, or by both, when handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint on an ordinary document is denied.
إذا أنكر من احتج عليه بالمحرَّر العادي خطه أو إمضاءه أو ختمه أو بصمته، أو أنكر ذلك خلفه أو نائبه أو نفى علمه به، وظل الخصم الآخر متمسكاً بالمحرَّر، وكان المحرَّ
- Article 41
The Article regulates the hearing at which documents for comparison are submitted and the effect of parties' absence, and requires the party disputing a document's validity to attend in person to provide a handwriting sample.
1- تحدد المحكمة جلسة لحضور الخصوم لتقديم ما لديهم من محرَّرات للمضاهاة، والاتفاق على ما يصلح منها لذلك، فإن تخلف الخصم المكلف بالإثبات بغير عذر مقبول جاز الحكم
- Article 42
The Article lists exclusively the documents accepted for comparison when the parties do not agree, and states that comparison is made against what is established for the person the document is invoked against.
1- في حالة عدم اتفاق الخصوم على المحرَّرات الصالحة للمضاهاة، فلا يقبل إلا ما يأتي: أ- الخط أو الإمضاء أو الختم أو البصمة الموضوعة على محرَّرات رسمية. ب- الجزء ا
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.