Article 50 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 50 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الرابع: حضور الخصوم وغيابهم والتوكيل في الخصومة
The article requires the agent to declare his attendance on behalf of his principal and file a certified copy of his power of attorney, allows proving the authorization at the hearing, and applies the filing duty to guardians, legal guardians and trustees.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على الوكيل أن يقرر حضوره عن موكله، وأن يودع صورة مصدقة من وثيقة وكالته لدى الكاتب المختص. وللمحكمة أن ترخص للوكيل عند الضرورة بإيداع صورة الوثيقة في موعد تحدده، على ألا يتجاوز ذلك أول جلسة للمرافعة. ويجوز أن يثبت التوكيل في الجلسة بتقرير يدون في محضرها، ويوقعه الموكل أو يبصم عليه بإبهامه.
ويسري وجوب الإيداع المشار إليه آنفًا على الوصي والولي والناظر.
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 50 explained in plain English
This article regulates what the agent must do when attending before the court, and it complements Article 49, which allowed a representative of the litigants to attend.
- Declaring attendance: the agent must declare that he is attending on behalf of his principal.
- Filing the power of attorney: he must file a certified copy of his power of attorney document with the competent clerk.
- A time limit in case of necessity: the court may, in case of necessity, allow the agent to file a copy of the document by a date it sets, which may not go beyond the first pleading hearing.
- Authorization at the hearing: an authorization may be proved at the hearing itself by a statement recorded in its minutes, signed by the principal or marked with his thumbprint.
The duty to file is not limited to agents; it applies to the guardian, the legal guardian and the trustee, each of whom must file a copy of the document proving his capacity.
The purpose of these rules is for the court to confirm the capacity of the person attending for another before it relies on his statements, particularly since Article 51 gives what the agent states effects on his principal.
Anyone who needs to know the type of power of attorney suitable for his case can consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
Omar attended a hearing on behalf of his father in a financial claim and did not have a copy of the power of attorney. The court may, in case of necessity, give him time to file it by a date it sets that does not go beyond the first pleading hearing. If the father had attended with Omar, the authorization could be proved at the hearing by a statement recorded in the minutes and signed or thumb-marked by the father.
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 50 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Must the agent give the court a copy of the power of attorney?
Yes. He must file a certified copy of his power of attorney document with the competent clerk.
What if the power of attorney is not ready at the hearing?
In case of necessity the court may allow the agent to file it by a date it sets, which may not go beyond the first pleading hearing.
Can the authorization be made inside the hearing?
Yes. An authorization may be proved at the hearing by a statement recorded in its minutes, signed by the principal or marked with his thumbprint.
Must a legal guardian or guardian present proof of his capacity?
Yes. The filing duty applies to the guardian, the legal guardian and the trustee.
More articles on Attendance and Absence of Parties
- Article 48
If the court has set a hearing for two litigants and they appear at a time other than the one set and ask for their dispute to be heard, the court must grant their request if possible.
إذا عينت المحكمة جلسة لشخصين متداعيين، ثم حضرا في غير الوقت المعين وطلبا النظر في خصومتهما، فعليها أن تجيب هذا الطلب إن أمكن.
- Article 49
Litigants attend on the day the case is heard in person or through a representative, and a representative who is an agent must be someone with the right to act as an agent under the law.
في اليوم المعين لنظر الدعوى يحضر الخصوم بأنفسهم أو مَنْ ينوب عنهم، فإذا كان النائب وكيلًا تعين كونه ممن له حق التوكل حسب النظام.
- Article 51
What an agent states in his principal's presence counts as the principal's own admission unless he denies it at the hearing, and in the principal's absence the agent has no power over serious acts such as admission, settlement and waiver without special authorization.
كل ما يقرره الوكيل في حضور الموكِّل يكون بمثابة ما يقرره الموكِّل نفسه، إلا إذا نفاه أثناء نظر القضية في الجلسة نفسها. وإذا لم يحضر الموكِّل فلا يصح من الوكيل ا
- Article 52
An agent's withdrawal or dismissal without the court's approval does not stop the proceedings, unless the principal informs his opponent of appointing another agent or of his intention to pursue the claim himself.
لا يحول اعتزال الوكيل أو عزلـه بغير موافقة المحكمة دون سير الإجراءات، إلا إذا أبلغ الموكِّل خصمه بتعيين وكيل آخر بدلًا من المعتزل أو المعزول، أو بعزمه على مباشر
- Article 53
If it appears to the court that the agent asks for extensions too often on the pretext of consulting his principal in order to stall, it may require the principal himself or another agent.
إذا ظهر للمحكمة من أحد الوكلاء كثرة الاستمهالات بحجة سؤال موكله بقصد المماطلة، فلها حق طلب الموكل بنفسه لإتمام المرافعة أو توكيل وكيل آخر.
- Article 54
The article bars the judge, members of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority and court staff from acting as agents for litigants, even before another court, except for their spouses, ascendants, descendants and those under their guardianship.
لا يجوز للقاضي ولا لعضو هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام ولا لأحد من العاملين في المحاكم أن يكون وكيلًا عن الخصوم في الدعوى ولو كانت مقامة أمام محكمة غير المحكمة الت
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.