Article 14 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 14 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
Article 14 sets the order in which a bailiff delivers a copy of the notice (to the person, then someone standing in for him, then the neighborhood head, police, center head or tribal identifier), with a registered letter within 24 hours, and the notice takes effect from delivery.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يسلم المحضر صورة التبليغ ومرافقاتها إلى من وجهت إليه في مكان إقامته أو عمله إن وجد، وإلا فيسلمها إلى مَنْ يقرر أنه وكيله أو أنه يعمل في خدمته أو أنه من الساكنين معه من أهله وأقاربه وأصهاره، فإذا لم يوجد منهم أحد أو امتنع من وجد عن التسلّم أو كان قاصرًا فيسلم الصورة ومرافقاتها بحسب الأحوال إلى عمدة الحي أو مركز الشرطة أو رئيس المركز أو معرف القبيلة الذين يقع مكان إقامة الموجه إليه التبليغ في نطاق اختصاصهم حسب الترتيب السابق، مع أخذ توقيعهم على الأصل بالتسلُّم.
وعلى المحضر خلال أربع وعشرين ساعة من تسليم الصورة إلى أي من الجهات المذكورة في هذه المادة أن يرسل إلى الموجه إليه التبليغ في مكان إقامته أو عمله خطابًا - مسجلًا مع إشعار بالتسلّم - يخبره فيه بأن الصورة سلمت إلى تلك الجهة، وعلى المحضر كذلك أن يبين ذلك في حينه بالتفصيل في أصل التبليغ، ويعد التبليغ منتجًا لآثاره من وقت تسليم الصورة وفقًا للأحوال السابقة.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article explains how the bailiff delivers the copy of the notice and its attachments, and sets a graded order:
- To the person himself: the copy is delivered to the person to whom it is addressed at his place of residence or work if he is found.
- To someone standing in for him: if he is not found, it is delivered to someone who states that he is his agent, or that he works in his service, or that he is among those living with him from his family, relatives and in-laws.
- To the local bodies: if none of them is found, or the person found refuses to receive it, or is a minor, the copy is delivered, as the case may be, to the neighborhood head (umda), the police station, the head of the center or the tribal identifier within whose jurisdiction the place of residence of the person addressed falls, in this order, taking their signature on the original acknowledging receipt.
The bailiff's duties after delivery to a body: within 24 hours of delivering the copy to any of the said bodies, he must send to the person addressed, at his place of residence or work, a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt informing him that the copy was delivered to that body, and he must record this in detail, at the time, on the original of the notice.
When the notice takes effect: the notice is treated as having its effects from the time the copy is delivered in accordance with the above cases, not from the time the letter arrives.
Article 13 specifies the details that must be included in the notice paper, among them the name of the person to whom the copy was delivered, his capacity and his signature or a record of his refusal and its reason, and Article 15 requires center heads, police stations, neighborhood heads and tribal identifiers to assist the bailiff within their jurisdiction.
If you receive a letter stating that a notice in your name has been delivered to some body, it is advisable to act promptly and consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation.
Practical example
A bailiff goes to serve Sultan at his home in Jeddah, does not find him, and finds only his minor son. The copy is not delivered to the minor, so the bailiff delivers it, as the case may be, to the neighborhood head or the next body in the order and takes its signature, and then within 24 hours sends Sultan a registered letter informing him of this. The notice is treated as having its effects from the time the copy was delivered.
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 14 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
To whom is the notice paper delivered if the defendant is not found?
To someone who states that he is his agent or works in his service or is among those living with him from his family, relatives and in-laws.
What happens if the defendant's family refuses to receive the notice?
The copy is delivered, as the case may be, to the neighborhood head, the police station, the head of the center or the tribal identifier in that order, with their signature of receipt taken.
Is the person told that the copy was delivered to a body?
Yes. Within 24 hours the bailiff must send him a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt informing him of this.
When is a notice considered effective?
The notice is treated as having its effects from the time the copy is delivered, in accordance with the cases provided in the article.
More articles on Notification and Deadlines
- Article 1
Article 1 provides that courts apply Sharia rulings as indicated by the Quran and the Sunnah and the regulations issued by the ruler that do not conflict with them, and follow the Law of Sharia Procedure in procedures.
تطبق المحاكم على القضايا المعروضة أمامها أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية، وفقًا لما دل عليه الكتاب والسنة، وما يصدره ولي الأمر من أنظمة لا تتعارض مع الكتاب والسنة، وتتق
- Article 2
Article 2 provides that every procedural step validly completed under a law in force remains valid, unless the Law of Sharia Procedure provides otherwise.
كل إجراء من إجراءات المرافعات تم صحيحًا في ظل نظام معمول به يبقى صحيحًا، ما لم ينص على غير ذلك في هذا النظام.
- Article 5
Article 5 provides that a procedure is void if the Law says so or if a defect defeats its purpose, but voidness is not ruled where the procedure's purpose was achieved despite an express provision.
يكون الإجراء باطلًا إذا نص النظام على بطلانه، أو شابه عيب تخلّف بسببه الغرض من الإجراء، ولا يحكم بالبطلان - برغم النص عليه - إذا ثبت تحقق الغاية من الإجراء.
- Article 7Amended (1442 AH)
Article 7 bars bailiffs, clerks and other court aides from performing work within their duties in cases concerning themselves, their spouses or their relatives or in-laws up to the fourth degree, on pain of voidness.
لايجوز للمحضرين ولا للكتبة وغيرهم من أعوان القضاء أن يباشروا عملاً يدخل في حدود وظائفهم في الدعاوى الخاصة بهم أو بأزواجهم أو بأقاربهم أو بأصهارهم حتى الدرجة الر
- Article 8
Article 8 provides that the periods and time limits in the Law of Sharia Procedure are calculated by the Umm al-Qura calendar, and that sunset ends each day.
تحسب المدد والمواعيد المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام حسب تقويم أم القرى. ويعد غروب شمس كل يوم نهايته.
- Article 9
Article 9 defines a person's place of residence as where he habitually lives (with special rules for nomadic Bedouins, detainees and prisoners), allows choosing a special place to receive notices, and requires telling the court of any change.
يقصد بمكان الإقامة في تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام المكان الذي يقطنه الشخص على وجه الاعتياد. وبالنسبة إلى البدو الرحل يعد مكان إقامة الشخص المكان الذي يقطنه عند إقامة
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.