Article 41 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 41 من نظام الإثبات · الفرع الثاني: إنكار الخط أو الإمضاء أو الختم أو البصمة، وتحقيق الخطوط
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 بإسقاط حقه في الإثبات، وإذا تخلف خصمه جاز للمحكمة اعتبار المحرَّرات المقدمة للمضاهاة صالحة لها.
2- يجب على الخصم الذي ينازع في صحة المحرَّر أن يحضر بنفسه للاستكتاب في الموعد المحدد لذلك، فإن امتنع عن الحضور بغير عذر مقبول، أو حضر وامتنع عن الاستكتاب؛ جاز للمحكمة الحكم بصحة 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 41 explained in plain English
When the court orders an investigation by comparison under Article 40, this Article regulates the practical procedures and the consequences of non-cooperation in them:
- The comparison hearing: The court sets a hearing at which the parties attend to submit the documents they hold that are suitable for comparison, and agree on which of them are suitable for it.
- Absence of the party bearing the burden of proof: If the party bearing the burden of proof is absent from the hearing without an acceptable excuse, a judgment may be given forfeiting his right to prove.
- Absence of the other party: If his opponent is absent, the court may treat the documents submitted for comparison as suitable for it.
- Handwriting sample: The party who disputes the validity of the document must attend in person at the set time to write before the court a sample of his handwriting to be compared. If he refuses to attend without an acceptable excuse, or attends and refuses to write, the court may rule that the document is valid.
All of these consequences are discretionary for the court; the text says "may" and does not make them inevitable. Their purpose is to prevent the investigation from being obstructed by absence or refusal.
If the parties do not agree on the documents suitable for comparison, Article 42 specifies which are accepted, on an exclusive basis. A person who has a comparison or handwriting-sample hearing is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in civil litigation.
Practical example
Abdullah denied his signature on an acknowledgment of debt submitted by his opponent, so the court set a date for him to attend in person to give a handwriting sample. Abdullah did not attend and gave no acceptable excuse, so the court may rule that the acknowledgment is valid.
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 41 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What does giving a handwriting sample in court mean?
It means that the party who disputes the validity of the document attends in person at the set time to write before the court, so that his handwriting can be compared with the denied handwriting.
What happens if I refuse to give a handwriting sample?
If the party refuses to attend without an acceptable excuse, or attends and refuses to give the sample, the court may rule that the document is valid.
What is the effect of missing the hearing to submit comparison papers?
If the party bearing the burden of proof is absent without an acceptable excuse, a judgment may be given forfeiting his right to prove, and if his opponent is absent, the documents submitted may be treated as suitable for comparison.
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 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 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.