Article 46 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 46 من نظام الإثبات · الفرع الثالث: الادعاء بالتزوير
The Article allows the person claiming forgery to withdraw his claim before the investigation ends, without returning to it, and allows the respondent to end the investigation by giving up reliance on the document.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجوز لمن يدعي تزوير المحرَّر أن يتنازل عن ادعائه قبل انتهاء إجراءات التحقيق، ولا يقبل منه ادعاء تزوير المحرَّر بعد تنازله.
2- يجوز للمدعى عليه بالتزوير إنهاء إجراءات التحقيق في التزوير -في أي حالة كانت عليه- بنزوله عن التمسك بالمحرَّر المدعى تزويره، وللمحكمة في هذه الحالة أن تأمر بضبط المحرَّر أو حفظه إذا طلب المدعي بالتزوير ذلك لمصلحة مشروعة.
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 46 explained in plain English
This Article gives each party to a claim of forgery a way to end it before the investigation is complete:
First: withdrawal by the person claiming forgery. A person who claims that a document is forged may withdraw his claim before the investigation procedures end. But this withdrawal is final, since a claim that the document is forged is not accepted from him after his withdrawal.
Second: the respondent giving up the document. The respondent to the claim of forgery, that is, the party who relies on the document, may end the investigation procedures at whatever stage they have reached, by giving up reliance on the document alleged to be forged, that is, by ceasing to invoke it.
In this second case, the court may order that the document be seized or preserved, provided that the person claiming forgery asks for this for a legitimate interest.
Note the difference in timing: the withdrawal by the person claiming forgery is limited to the period before the investigation procedures end, whereas the respondent may give up the document at whatever stage the investigation procedures have reached.
Article 45 regulates handing over the document alleged to be forged, while Article 47 provides that an order for investigation into forgery suspends the document's fitness for enforcement. Before withdrawing a claim or giving up a document, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil litigation.
Practical example
Nasser claimed that a receipt submitted by his opponent was forged, and during the investigation the opponent decided not to rely on it. The investigation procedures end, and Nasser may ask the court to seize or preserve the receipt if he has a legitimate interest in doing so.
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 46 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Can I withdraw a claim of forgery?
Yes. A person claiming forgery may withdraw his claim before the investigation procedures end, but a claim that the same document is forged is not accepted from him after his withdrawal.
How can the other party end the investigation into forgery?
By giving up reliance on the document alleged to be forged. He may do this at whatever stage the investigation procedures have reached.
What happens to the document if its holder gives it up?
The court may order that it be seized or preserved if the person claiming forgery asks for this for a legitimate interest.
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 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
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.