Article 33 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 33 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الثاني: الاختصاص
The article sets the jurisdiction of the personal status courts over all personal status matters, including marriage, divorce, custody, maintenance, inheritance, determining heirs and guardianship, and the claims arising from them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تختص محاكم الأحوال الشخصية بالنظر في الآتي:
أ - جميع مسائل الأحوال الشخصية، ومنها:
1- إثبات الزواج، والطلاق، والخلع، وفسخ النكاح، والرجعة، والحضانة، والنفقة، والزيارة.
2- إثبات الوقف، والوصية، والنسب، والغيبة، والوفاة، وحصر الورثة.
3- الإرث، وقسمة التركة بما فيها العقار إذا كان فيها نزاع، أو حصة وقف أو وصية، أو قاصر، أو غائب.
4- إثبات تعيين الأوصياء، وإقامة الأولياء والنظار، والإذن لهم في التصرفات التي تستوجب إذن المحكمة، وعزلهم عند الاقتضاء، والحجر على السفهاء، ورفعه عنهم، وتحدد لوائح هذا النظام الإجراءات اللازمة لذلك.
5- إثبات توكيل الأخرس الذي لا يعرف القراءة والكتابة.
6- تزويج من لا ولي لها، أو من عضلها أولياؤها.
ب - الدعاوى الناشئة عن مسائل الأحوال الشخصية.
ج - الدعاوى المرفوعة لإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في نظام الهيئة العامة للولاية على أموال القاصرين ومن في حكمهم.
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 33 explained in plain English
This article states what the personal status courts are competent over, and divides it into three categories:
(a) All personal status matters, including:
- Proving marriage, divorce, khul' (divorce at the wife's request for compensation), annulment of the marriage, revocation of divorce, custody, maintenance and visitation.
- Proving endowments, wills, lineage, absence and death, and determining heirs.
- Inheritance, and dividing the estate including real estate if there is a dispute in it, or a share of an endowment or will, or a minor, or an absentee.
- Proving the appointment of guardians, appointing legal guardians and trustees, authorizing them for acts that require the court's permission, dismissing them when necessary, and placing the incompetent under interdiction and lifting it, with the law's regulations setting the necessary procedures for that.
- Proving a power of attorney given by a mute person who cannot read or write.
- Marrying a woman who has no guardian, or whom her guardians have unreasonably refused to marry.
(b) Claims arising from personal status matters.
(c) Claims filed to impose the penalties set out in the Law of the General Authority for the Guardianship of Minors' Funds and those in their position.
Note that dividing an estate, including real estate, falls within these courts' jurisdiction only in the cases the text mentions. For the procedures for appointing guardians and legal guardians and for interdiction, the article refers the details to the law's regulations.
If there is no personal status court in the governorate or district, Article 32 applies, making the general court there competent, unless the Supreme Judicial Council decides otherwise. Article 34 sets the jurisdiction of the labor courts over labor disputes.
To know the right route for your family or estate case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation or in personal status cases.
Practical example
Sara's father died in Dammam and left a house and funds; among his heirs is a minor brother, and the heirs disagreed over the division. Determining the heirs and dividing the estate, including the house, fall within the jurisdiction of the personal status court, because the estate involves a dispute and a minor.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 33 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
What cases does a personal status court hear?
All personal status matters, including marriage, divorce, khul', custody, maintenance, visitation, lineage, wills, determining heirs and inheritance, and the claims arising from them.
Is dividing a real estate estate within the personal status court's jurisdiction?
Yes. It includes dividing the estate including real estate if there is a dispute in it, or a share of an endowment or will, or a minor, or an absentee.
Where is a claim to marry off a girl whose guardian has unreasonably refused filed?
The personal status courts are competent over marrying a woman who has no guardian or whom her guardians have unreasonably refused to marry.
Do these courts hear interdiction of an incompetent person?
Yes. They are competent over placing the incompetent under interdiction and lifting it, and the law's regulations set the necessary procedures.
More articles on Judicial Jurisdiction
- Article 10
The article bars transferring a case properly filed before a competent court to another court or body, or withdrawing it before judgment, and treats the case as filed from the date of its registration.
لا يجوز نقل أي قضية رفعت بطريقة صحيحة لمحكمة مختصة إلى محكمة أو جهة أخرى، ولا يحق لأحد سحبها منها قبل الحكم فيها، وتعد القضية مرفوعة من تاريخ قيدها في المحكمة.
- Article 19
The article provides that a person residing outside the Kingdom is served by sending the copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diplomatic delivery, and a reply confirming it reached him is sufficient.
إذا كان مكان إقامة الموجه إليه التبليغ خارج المملكة فترسل صورة التبليغ إلى وزارة الخارجية لتوصيلها بالطرق الدبلوماسية، ويكتفى بالرد الذي يفيد وصول الصورة إلى ال
- Article 24
Article 24 gives the courts of the Kingdom jurisdiction over cases brought against a Saudi even if he has no general or chosen residence in the Kingdom, except real actions concerning real estate outside the Kingdom.
تختص محـاكم المملكة بنظـرالدعـاوى التـي ترفع على السعودي ولو لم يكن له محل إقامة عام ومختار في المملكة فيما عدا الدعاوى العينية المتعلقة بعقار خارج المملكة.
- Article 25
The article makes the Kingdom's courts competent over claims against a non-Saudi who has a general or chosen place of residence in the Kingdom, except real actions concerning real estate outside it.
تختص محاكم المملكة بنظر الدعاوى التي ترفع على غير السعودي الذي له محل إقامة عام أو مختار في المملكة فيما عدا الدعاوى العينية المتعلقة بعقار خارج المملكة.
- Article 26
The article sets three cases in which the Kingdom's courts are competent over a claim against a non-Saudi with no general or chosen place of residence in it: property or obligation, bankruptcy, and multiple defendants.
تختص محاكم المملكة بنظر الدعاوى التي ترفع على غير السعودي الذي ليس له مكان إقامة عام أو مختار في المملكة في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا كانت الدعوى متعلقة بمال موجو
- Article 27
The article sets cases in which the Kingdom's courts are competent over a claim against a non-Saudi Muslim with no place of residence in it, relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, lineage, guardianship and other personal status matters.
تختص محاكم المملكة بنظر الدعوى المقامة على المسلم غير السعودي الذي ليس له مكان إقامة عام أو مختار في المملكة، وذلك في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا كانت الدعوى معارضة
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.