Article 78 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 78 من نظام القضاء
The article subjects notaries to all the provisions that apply to civil service employees, without prejudice to what the Law of the Judiciary provides.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بالأحكام المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، يخضع كتاب العدل لجميع الأحكام التي يخضع لها موظفو الخدمة المدنية.
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 78 explained in plain English
This article sets the employment framework that governs notaries.
The rule: Notaries are subject to all the provisions that apply to civil service employees. Whatever provisions apply to civil service employees apply to notaries.
The limit: This is without prejudice to the provisions laid down in the Law of the Judiciary. If the Law of the Judiciary contains a provision specific to notaries, that specific provision is applied. Examples of what the Law provides about them:
- Article 77, which keeps in force the regulation issued by agreement between the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Civil Service to set the qualifications for filling the grades of notary posts, and allows it to be amended in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
- Article 79, which subjects notaries to judicial inspection in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
A notary's position thus combines two things: he is subject to the civil service provisions in general, and he is also subject to what the Law of the Judiciary specifically provides for him, including judicial inspection.
The article does not state the details of the civil service provisions that apply; it refers to them in general terms. A notary who needs to know his rights or job obligations in a particular situation may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and civil service regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 78 of Law of the Judiciary?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Administrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 78 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
Is a notary subject to the civil service law?
Yes. Article 78 provides that notaries are subject to all the provisions that apply to civil service employees, without prejudice to the provisions of the Law of the Judiciary.
Do notaries have special provisions that differ from those for civil service employees?
Yes. Their subjection to the civil service provisions does not prejudice what the Law of the Judiciary provides, including their subjection to judicial inspection under Article 79.
More articles on Notaries Public
- Article 73Amended (1440 AH)
The article provides that notary offices are established, and their jurisdictions and composition determined, by decision of the Minister of Justice, and that the head of each notary office supervises its notaries.
يكون إنشاء كتابات العدل، وتحديد دوائر اختصاصها وتكوينها بقرار يصدره وزير العدل . ويشرف رئيس كل كتابة عدل على كتاب العدل التابعين لها.
- Article 74
The article makes notary offices competent to notarize contracts and record acknowledgments, except endowments and wills, and allows some of these functions to be entrusted to others under a regulation issued by the Minister of Justice.
تختص كتابات العدل بتوثيق العقود وضبط الإقرارات فيما عدا الأوقاف والوصايا ، ويجوز أن يعهد ببعض هذه الاختصاصات إلى الغير، وذلك وفق لائحة تصدر بقرار من وزير العدل
- Article 75
The article assigns the notary function to the town's court where the town has no notary office, with the powers and authority of a notary office within the court's territorial jurisdiction.
تسند مهمة كتابة العدل - في البلد الذي ليس فيه كتابة عدل - إلى محكمة البلد. ويكون لها اختصاصات كتابة العدل وصلاحيتها في حدود اختصاص المحكمة المكاني.
- Article 76
The article requires anyone appointed as a notary to meet the conditions in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Article 31, which sets the conditions for taking up judicial office.
يشترط فيمن يعين على وظيفة كاتب عدل أن تتوافر فيه الشروط المنصوص عليها في الفقرات (أ)، و(ب) و(ج)، و(د)، و(و) من المادة الحادية والثلاثين من هذا النظام.
- Article 77
The article keeps in force the regulation issued by agreement between the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Civil Service on the qualifications for notary post grades, and lets them amend it in accordance with the Law.
يستمر العمل باللائحة الصادرة بالاتفاق بين وزير العدل ووزير الخدمة المدنية ، المتعلقة بتحديد مؤهلات شغل فئات وظائف كتاب العدل، ويجوز لهما تعديل ما يلزم منها وفقً
- Article 79
The article subjects notaries to judicial inspection in accordance with the provisions of the Law of the Judiciary.
يخضع كتاب العدل للتفتيش القضائي، وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام.
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.