Article 19 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
المادة 19 من نظام الولاية على أموال القاصرين
The article requires adult heirs, relatives living with the deceased, officials and others to notify the Authority within three days at most of the death of anyone who left minors or those treated like them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على ورثة المتوفى البالغين أو الأقارب المقيمين معه في معيشة واحدة أو الموظفين العموميين الذين أثبتوا الوفاة أو غيرهم أن يبلغوا الهيئة خلال ثلاثة أيام على الأكثر بوفاة كل شخص توفي عن حمل أو قصر أو عديمي أهلية أو ناقصيها أو غائبين أو مفقودين أو مجهولين، وبوفاة الولي أو الوصي أو القيم أو الناظر أو الوكيل عن الغائب.
ويجب على الأقارب كذلك أن يبلغوا الهيئة عن فقد أهلية أحد أفراد الأسرة أو غيابه، أو فقده إذا كان مقيماً معهم في معيشة واحدة خلال ثلاثة أيام على الأكثر.
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 19 explained in plain English
This article sets the duty to notify that enables the Authority to step in to protect the funds of minors and those treated like them in good time.
Who must notify?
- The deceased's adult heirs.
- Relatives living with him in one household.
- Public officials who recorded the death.
- Or others.
The time limit: three days at most.
What must they notify about?
- The death of anyone who died leaving an unborn child or minors, or persons wholly or partly lacking legal capacity, or absentees, missing persons or persons of unknown whereabouts.
- The death of the guardian, the executor, the curator, the waqf supervisor or the agent of an absentee.
An additional duty on relatives: they must also notify the Authority, within three days at most, of the loss of capacity, absence or disappearance of a family member if he lived with them in one household.
Article 20 completes this duty by requiring the executor or guardian of the unborn child to notify the Authority within three days of the end of the pregnancy term or of the child's birth, alive or dead.
So if someone in your family dies leaving minor children or an unborn child, notifying within the time limit is a legal duty. Anyone with a question about his family's situation can consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and estates.
Practical example
Fahd died in Riyadh leaving a pregnant wife and two small children, and he has an adult brother who lives with him in the same house. Under this article his brother, as one of the relatives living with him, must notify the Authority of the death within three days at most.
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 contentFamily & Personal Status Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Family & Personal Status Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Dr. Ali Al-Masradi Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 19 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
When must the Guardianship Authority be notified of a death?
Within three days at most of the death, if the deceased left an unborn child, minors, persons wholly or partly lacking capacity, or absentees, missing persons or persons of unknown whereabouts.
Who is responsible for notifying the Authority?
The deceased's adult heirs, relatives living with him in one household, public officials who recorded the death, or others.
Must the absence of a family member be reported?
Yes. Relatives must notify the Authority within three days of the loss of capacity, absence or disappearance of a family member living with them in one household.
More articles on Reporting Minors and Absentees
- Article 20
The article requires the executor or guardian of an unborn child to notify the Authority within three days at most of the end of the pregnancy term or of the child's birth, alive or dead.
بجب على الوصي أو الولي على الحمل أن يبلغ الهيئة خلال ثلاثة أيام على الأكثر بانقضاء مدة الحمل أو بانفصاله حيا أو ميتا.
- Article 21
The article requires doctors, hospital directors and administrative and judicial authorities to notify the Authority within three days at most of cases of partial or total loss of capacity arising from a mental disability.
يجب على الأطباء ومديري المستشفيات والسلطات الإدارية والقضائية أن يبلغوا الهيئة خلال ثلاثة أيام على الأكثر عن حالات نقص الأهلية أو فقدها الناشئة عن عاهة عقلية بم
- Article 22
The article requires courts to notify the Authority within three days at most of the executors, curators, guardians and supervisors they appoint, so that it can oversee their dealings.
على المحاكم أن تبلغ الهيئة خلال ثلاثة أيام على الأكثر عن الأوصياء والقيمين والأولياء والنظار الذين عينتهم هذه المحاكم؛ لتتمكن الهيئة من الإشراف على تصرفاتهم طبق
- Article 23
The article requires all governmental and non-governmental bodies to supply the Authority with the data and documents it requests that relate to its jurisdiction or to those covered by the Law.
على جميع الجهات الحكومية وغير الحكومية موافاة الهيئة بما تطلبه من بيانات ومستندات تتصل باختصاصها أو بالمشمولين بهذا 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.