Article 40 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 40 من نظام الإثبات · الفرع الثاني: إنكار الخط أو الإمضاء أو الختم أو البصمة، وتحقيق الخطوط
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المحرَّر منتِجًا في النزاع، ولم تكف وقائع الدعوى ومستنداتها في إقناع المحكمة بصحة الخط أو الإمضاء أو الختم أو البصمة؛ فتأمر المحكمة بالتحقيق بالمضاهاة، أو بسماع الشهود أو بكليهما، وفقاً للقواعد والإجراءات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام. ولا تسمع الشهادة إلا فيما يتعلق بإثبات حصول الكتابة أو الإمضاء أو الختم أو البصمة على المحرَّر.
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 40 explained in plain English
After Article 39 made clear that the burden of proving that an ordinary document came from a person falls on the one who relies on it if the person against whom it is invoked denies it, this Article sets out when the court orders an investigation. This requires all of the following:
- The person against whom the ordinary document is invoked denies his handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint, or his successor or representative denies this, or states that he has no knowledge of it.
- The other party continues to rely on the document.
- The document is material to the dispute, that is, it affects its determination.
- The facts and documents of the case are not sufficient to convince the court that the handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint is genuine.
The court then orders an investigation by comparison, that is, comparing the denied handwriting or signature with established handwriting or a signature, or by hearing witnesses, or by both, in accordance with the rules and procedures set out in the Law.
The text limits the hearing of testimony here: it is heard only as to proving that the writing, signature, seal or fingerprint was placed on the document, not to prove the content of the transaction itself.
Article 41 regulates the hearing at which comparison documents and handwriting samples are submitted. A person facing a denial of a signature in his case is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in civil litigation.
Practical example
Majed submitted an ordinary paper in which a person acknowledges receiving an amount from him, and that person denied his signature. Majed continued to rely on the paper because it is decisive in the dispute, and the other documents were not enough to convince the court. The court orders the signature to be compared, or witnesses who were present at the signing to be heard, or both, and their testimony is limited to the fact that the signature was placed on the paper.
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 40 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
When does the court order a signature to be compared?
When the person against whom an ordinary document is invoked denies his signature, his opponent continues to rely on the document, it is material to the dispute, and the facts and documents of the case are not enough to convince the court that it is genuine.
Can a signature be proven by witnesses?
Yes. The investigation may be by hearing witnesses, by comparison, or by both, but testimony is heard only as to proving that the writing, signature, seal or fingerprint was placed on the document.
Does the court always order an investigation when there is a denial?
No. If the facts and documents of the case are enough to convince it that the handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint is genuine, or if the document is not material, the conditions for ordering an investigation in the Article are not met.
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 39
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.
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 التزوي
- 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.