Article 32 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
المادة 32 من نظام الولاية على أموال القاصرين
The article sets the cases in which the Authority's guardianship ends, requires funds to be handed over to those concerned within six months by a record, and deals with their failure to take delivery by appointing a custodian while the Authority takes 20% of the net return on investment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تنتهي ولاية الهيئة على المشمولين بهذا النظام في الحالات الآتية :
1 - بلوغ القاصر ورشده وثبوت ذلك شرعا أو وفاته إلا إذا رأت المحكمة المختصة وجود سبب شرعي يستدعي استمرار الولاية بناء على طلب هذه الهيئة أو ذوي الشأن.
2 - رفع الحجر عن المحجور عليهم أو عودة الولاية للولي أو عودة الغائب أو المفقود أو ثبوت وجود وارث أو معرفة المجهول بناء على حكم المحكمة المختصة.
3 - ويجوز للمحكمة المختصة أن تنهي ولاية الهيئة على أي من المشمولين بهذا النظام إذا رأت أن في ذلك مصلحة له.
ويجب على الهيئة تسليم الأموال التي تحت يدها سواء الثابتة أو المنقولة إلى ذوي الشأن متى زالت ولايتها عن أي من المشمولين بهذا النظام في مدة لا تتجاوز ستة أشهر من تاريخ إبلاغها بذلك. ويتم التسليم بموجب محضر يوقع عليه رئيس الهيئة أو من ينيبه. فإذا تخلف ذوو الشأن عن تسلم أموالهم خلال مدة لا تتجاوز ثلاثة أشهر من تاريخ دعوتهم لذلك دون عذر تقبله الهيئة، فعلى الهيئة أن ترفع الأمر إلى المحكمة المختصة لتعيين حارس لتسلم تلك الأموال على أن تستمر الهيئة في إدارة أموالهم وتتقاضى في هذه الحالة نسبة (20 %) من صافي عائد الاستثمار حتى إصدار الحكم من المحكمة المختصة، وتخصص هذه النسبة لما يعود بالنفع العام على جميع الأغراض التي أنشئت الهيئة من أجلها.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article answers an important question: when does a person take over his funds from the Authority?
Cases in which the Authority's guardianship ends:
- The minor reaches majority and maturity and this is established under Sharia, or his death; unless the competent court sees a Sharia reason requiring the guardianship to continue, on the request of the Authority or those concerned.
- Lifting of interdiction, or the guardianship reverting to the guardian, or the return of the absentee or missing person, or the establishment that an heir exists, or the identification of the unknown person, on a judgment of the competent court.
- The competent court may end the Authority's guardianship over any of those covered if it sees that this serves his interest.
Note that reaching majority alone is not enough; the provision requires both majority and maturity, established under Sharia.
Handing over:
- The Authority hands the fixed and movable funds to those concerned within a period not exceeding six months from the date it is notified that its guardianship has ended.
- The handover is made by a record signed by the head of the Authority or his delegate.
If the owner of the funds fails to take delivery: if those concerned do not take their funds within a period not exceeding three months from the date they are invited, without an excuse the Authority accepts, the Authority refers the matter to the court to appoint a custodian. Until the judgment is issued it continues to manage their funds and receives 20% of the net return on investment, and this percentage is allocated to what serves the public benefit within the Authority's purposes.
If you have reached majority and maturity and have funds with the Authority, taking delivery promptly when invited avoids this percentage. Anyone with a problem in taking delivery can consult a lawyer who specializes in personal status and estates.
Practical example
The Authority had been managing Youssef's funds since his father died when he was young. After he reached majority and maturity, this was established under Sharia and the Authority was notified, it must hand him his funds within six months by a record signed by its head or his delegate. If the Authority invites him to take delivery and he delays three months without an excuse it accepts, it refers the matter to the court to appoint a custodian, and takes 20% of the net return on investment until the judgment is issued.
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 32 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
When do I take my funds from the Guardianship Authority after reaching majority?
Guardianship ends when the minor reaches majority and maturity and this is established under Sharia, and the Authority hands over the funds within a period not exceeding six months from the date it is notified of this.
Is reaching the age of majority enough to take the funds?
The provision requires majority and maturity, established under Sharia, unless the court sees a Sharia reason for the guardianship to continue.
What happens if I delay taking my funds?
If you fail to take them within three months of the invitation without an excuse the Authority accepts, it refers the matter to the court to appoint a custodian, and takes 20% of the net return on investment until the judgment is issued.
May the court end the Authority's guardianship?
Yes. It may end the Authority's guardianship over any of those covered if it sees that this serves his interest.
More articles on End of Guardianship and Handover of a Minor's Property
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.