Article 27 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
المادة 27 من نظام الولاية على أموال القاصرين
The article requires the Authority, if it fears the loss of a right or dealing in the funds while a request for guardianship, its removal or its suspension is pending, to ask the competent court for permission to take precautionary measures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا رأت الهيئة أن طلب الولاية على المشمولين بهذا النظام أو سلبها أو وقفها ممن تشرف عليهم يستغرق فترة من الزمن يخشى خلالها ضياع حق أو التصرف في الأموال فعلى الهيئة أن تتقدم للمحكمة المختصة لتأذن باتخاذ أي إجراء من الإجراءات التحفظية التي تراها مناسبة.
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 27 explained in plain English
This article addresses the problem of time: requests concerning guardianship take a while to be decided, and funds may be lost during that period.
When does it apply? If the Authority considers that one of the following requests will take a period of time:
- A request for guardianship over those covered by the Law.
- Or removal of guardianship from those it oversees.
- Or its suspension.
And it is feared during this period that a right will be lost or the funds dealt with.
What does the Authority do? It must apply to the competent court for permission to take whichever precautionary measures it considers suitable.
Two points to note:
- The provision is in mandatory form ("the Authority must"), so it is a duty on the Authority once its conditions are met.
- A precautionary measure requires the court's permission; the Authority does not take it on its own, and the provision does not specify the types of these measures.
This article is linked to Article 26, which extends the bar on dealing to the partners of a person under interdiction or an absentee, and to Article 28, which sets out the requests the Authority submits to the court, such as a judgment of interdiction or of established absence.
If you fear that a guardian or executor will deal in a minor's funds before his case is decided, you can notify the Authority or consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and estates.
Practical example
The Authority filed a request to remove a man's guardianship in Tabuk over the funds of his minor sons because of his mismanagement, and the case will take time. It learned that he is trying to sell cars the sons inherited. The Authority must ask the competent court for permission to take a suitable precautionary measure that prevents these funds from being lost until the request is decided.
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 27 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
Can a minor's funds be protected before a judgment is issued?
Yes. If the Authority fears the loss of a right or dealing in the funds, it must ask the competent court for permission to take suitable precautionary measures.
Does the Authority take the precautionary measure itself?
No. It applies to the competent court, which permits the measure.
In which requests does this article apply?
In a request for guardianship over those covered by the Law, or for its removal or suspension from those the Authority oversees.
More articles on Interdiction of Persons of Limited Capacity and Absentees
- 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 26
The article extends the bar on dealing in Article 25 to the partners of a person under interdiction, an absentee and a person with no known heir, from the date of the judgment.
تسري أحكام المادة (الخامسة والعشرين) من هذا النظام على شركاء المحجور عليه أو الغائب أو من لا يعرف له وارث من تاريخ الحكم بالحجر أو بثبوت الغيبة أو بثبوت عدم ظهو
- Article 28
The article sets out the Authority's requests to the court, such as interdiction of an adult, establishing absence and the non-appearance of an heir, and lifting interdiction and establishing the return or death of the absentee or the existence of an heir.
تقدم الهيئة طلبا للمحكمة المختصة طبقا لهذا النظام متى توافرت الشروط الشرعية والنظامية لهذا الطلب بالآتي: 1 - الحكم بالحجر على البالغ إذا تبين فيه عارض من عوارض
- Article 29
The article gives the Authority the right to object to all non-final judgments and decisions in lawsuits to which it is a party, and to challenge them by the methods of appeal established under Sharia and the law.
للهيئة الاعتراض على جميع الأحكام والقرارات غير النهائية في الدعاوى التي تكون طرفا فيها والطعن فيها بطرق الطعن المقررة شرعا ونظاما.
- Article 31
The article requires the Authority to ask the court to appoint a litigation executor if the covered person's interest conflicts with its own or that of his guardian, executor, curator or waqf supervisor.
يجب على الهيئة أن تطلب من المحكمة المختصة تعيين وصي للخصومة في الحالات الآتية: 1 - إذا تعارضت مصلحة المشمول بهذا النظام مع مصلحة الهيئة. 2 - إذا تعارضت مصلحة ال
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.