Article 45 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 45 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الثالث: رفع الدعوى وقيدها
The article requires the defendant to file his defense memorandum three days before the hearing before the general court and one day before others, except urgent claims and those where the appearance period was shortened.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على المدعى عليه في جميع الدعاوى – عدا الدعاوى المستعجلة والدعاوى التي أُنقص موعد الحضور فيها - أن يودع لدى المحكمة مذكرة بدفاعه قبل الجلسة المحددة لنظر الدعوى بثلاثة أيام على الأقل أمام المحكمة العامة، وبيوم واحد على الأقل أمام المحاكم الأخرى، وأمام الدوائر العمالية والتجارية والأحوال الشخصية إذا نظرت أمام المحكمة العامة في المحافظة أو المركز.
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 45 explained in plain English
This article requires the defendant to file a memorandum of his defense with the court before the hearing set for hearing the case, so the court can review it and the hearing of the case is orderly.
The period required before the hearing:
- Before the general court: at least three days before the hearing.
- Before the other courts: at least one day before the hearing.
- Before the labor, commercial and personal status circuits if heard before the general court in the governorate or district: also at least one day.
What is exempt from this duty:
- Urgent claims.
- Claims in which the appearance period was shortened, which Article 44 permitted to be shortened to 24 hours on conditions.
The article sets only the time limit and does not mention what follows from not filing the memorandum on time. Article 46 follows, providing that failing to observe the time limit for delivering the statement or the appearance period does not invalidate the statement of claim.
To prepare a suitable defense memorandum, you can seek the help of a lawyer specializing in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
A claim was filed against Abdullah before the general court and the hearing was set for Thursday. He must file his defense memorandum at least three days before the hearing, that is, on Monday or earlier. If it were a commercial claim before the commercial court, it would be enough to file it at least one day before the hearing.
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 45 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
When must the defense memorandum be filed before the general court?
At least three days before the hearing set for hearing the case.
What is the period before the other courts?
At least one day before the hearing, and the same before the labor, commercial and personal status circuits if heard before the general court in the governorate or district.
Must a defense memorandum be filed in advance in urgent claims?
No. The article exempts urgent claims and claims in which the appearance period was shortened.
More articles on Filing and Registering a Case
- Article 3
Article 3 requires a lawful, existing interest for any request or defense to be accepted, with a potential interest sufficient in two cases, and requires the court to reject a sham or malicious case.
1- لا يقبل أي طلب أو دفع لا تكون لصاحبه فيه مصلحة قائمة مشروعة، ومع ذلك تكفي المصلحة المحتملة إذا كان الغرض من الطلب الاحتياط لدفع ضرر محدق أو الاستيثاق لحق يخش
- Article 4
Article 4 provides that a hisbah case may be filed only through the public prosecutor after the King's approval, and is not heard after 60 days from the date the claimed right arose.
لا ترفع أي دعوى حسبة إلا عن طريق المدعي العام بعد موافقة الملك، ولا تسمع بعد مضي (ستين) يومًا من تاريخ نشوء الحق المدعى به.
- 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 41Amended (1440 AH)
Article 41 requires a case to be filed by a signed statement of claim with specified details, bars combining unrelated requests, and applies the rules of other labor disputes to collective labor disputes.
1- ترفع الدعوى من المدعي بصحيفة ـ موقعة منه أو ممن يمثله ـ تودع لدى المحكمة من أصل وصور بعدد المدعى عليهم. ويجب أن تشمل صحيفة الدعوى البيانات الآتية: أ - الاسم
- Article 42
The competent clerk registers the case on the day its statement of claim is submitted after recording the hearing date, and hands the original and copies to the process server or claimant for service by the next day at the latest.
يقيد الكاتب المختص الدعوى في يوم تقديم الصحيفة في السجل الخاص بذلك بعد أن يثبت - بحضور المدعي أو مَنْ يمثله - تاريخ الجلسة المحددة لنظرها في أصل الصحيفة، وصورها
- Article 43
The process server or claimant must deliver a copy of the statement of claim to the defendant within 15 days at most, or before the hearing if it is sooner, observing the appearance period.
يقوم المحضر أو المدعي ـ بحسب الأحوال ـ بتسليم صورة صحيفة الدعوى إلى المدعى عليه خلال خمسة عشر يومًا على الأكثرمن تسليمها إليه، إلا إذا كان قد حدد لنظر الدعوى جل
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.