Article 28 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
المادة 28 من نظام الولاية على أموال القاصرين
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الأهلية أو الحكم بإثبات الغيبة للغائب أو بعدم ظهور وارث للميت.
2 - رفع الحجر أو إثبات عودة الغائب أو وفاته أو إثبات وجود وارث.
ويتبع في هذه الطلبات الأحكام المقررة شرعا بشأن الدعاوى.
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 28 explained in plain English
This article sets out the judicial requests the Authority submits to the competent court, provided the Sharia and legal conditions are met for each request.
First group: requests to begin protection
- A judgment of interdiction on an adult in whom one of the impediments to capacity appears.
- A judgment establishing the absence of an absentee.
- A judgment that no heir has appeared for the deceased.
Second group: requests to end protection or change the position
- Lifting interdiction.
- Establishing the return of the absentee or his death.
- Establishing the existence of an heir.
Procedure: these requests follow the rules established under Sharia for lawsuits, that is, they are heard as lawsuits are heard.
Note that the Authority does not place anyone under interdiction itself; it asks the court to do so. Its role is also not limited to beginning protection but includes asking for its end when its cause disappears, such as the absentee's return.
Before it, Article 27 requires the Authority to ask for permission to take precautionary measures if funds are feared lost while the requests are being heard, and after it, Article 29 gives the Authority the right to object to non-final judgments and decisions in lawsuits to which it is a party.
If you have an absent relative or think someone has lost capacity, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and estates to learn the suitable course.
Practical example
A man from Hail has been away from his family for a long time without his whereabouts being known, and left property. Once the Sharia and legal conditions are met, the Authority submits a request to the competent court for a judgment establishing his absence. If he later returns, the Authority submits a request to establish his return.
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 28 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
Can the Guardianship Authority place a person under interdiction?
It does not do so itself. It submits a request to the competent court for a judgment of interdiction on an adult in whom one of the impediments to capacity appears.
Does the Authority also ask for interdiction to be lifted?
Yes. Its requests include lifting interdiction and establishing the return or death of the absentee or the existence of an heir.
What procedure is followed for these requests?
The rules established under Sharia for lawsuits.
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 27
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.
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 الهي
- 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.