Article 20 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
المادة 20 من نظام الولاية على أموال القاصرين
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
بجب على الوصي أو الولي على الحمل أن يبلغ الهيئة خلال ثلاثة أيام على الأكثر بانقضاء مدة الحمل أو بانفصاله حيا أو ميتا.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article concerns the unborn child, the fetus not yet born that has funds or rights managed by another body on its behalf, for example where its father dies before its birth.
On whom does the duty fall? On the executor or guardian of the unborn child.
What must be notified? He notifies the Authority of one of the following:
- The end of the pregnancy term.
- Or the child's birth alive.
- Or its birth dead.
The time limit: three days at most.
This notification matters because the position of the unborn child's funds changes depending on the outcome; the Authority needs to know what happened so it can deal correctly with the funds reserved for the child. The provision is limited to the duty to notify and does not state what effects each case has on inheritance, which are governed by the Sharia rules.
This article is part of a series of notification duties: before it, Article 19 requires heirs, relatives and others to notify the Authority within three days of the death of anyone who died leaving an unborn child or minors, and after it, Article 21 requires doctors, hospital directors and administrative and judicial authorities to report cases of partial or total loss of capacity arising from a mental disability.
Anyone with a question about the rights of an unborn child in a particular estate can consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and estates.
Practical example
Noura's husband died while she was five months pregnant, and the unborn child's paternal uncle was appointed executor for the unborn child. After Noura gives birth to a live child, the uncle must notify the Authority of the birth 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.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 20 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
Who notifies the Authority of an unborn child's birth?
The executor or guardian of the unborn child.
What is the time limit for reporting the birth of the unborn child?
Three days at most.
Must it be reported if the child is born dead?
Yes. The duty covers notifying the child's birth alive or dead, as well as the end of the pregnancy term.
More articles on Reporting Minors and Absentees
- Article 19
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.
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 الأ
- 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.