Article 20 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 20 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الثالث: الرخصة، والإعلان عن المهنة
The article provides that the license of a licensed notary or marriage officiant is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice on the recommendation of the competent department.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تصدر الرخصة بقرار من الوزير بناء على توصية من الإدارة المختصة.
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 determines the body that issues the notarization license. The license, under Article 1, is the license of a licensed notary or marriage officiant.
According to the text:
- the license is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice.
- the decision is on the recommendation of the competent department, which is the body competent for notarization affairs in the Ministry of Justice.
So issuance goes through two stages: a recommendation from the competent department, then a decision from the Minister.
This stage is preceded by the conditions for the licensee, including, for the marriage officiant, what Article 19 provides: Saudi nationality, good conduct, medical fitness, a university degree in Sharia sciences, and passing the written examination prepared by the competent department. A committee formed by the Minister decides license applications within 30 days of their submission under Article 21, with the applicant having the right to file a grievance before the competent court against a decision of refusal or against failure to decide within that period.
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 Notarization Law
Who issues the license of a licensed notary or marriage officiant?
The license is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice on the recommendation of the competent department.
What is the role of the competent department in issuing the license?
It submits its recommendation, on the basis of which the Minister's decision granting the license is issued.
More articles on The Notarization License
- Article 21
The article creates a committee to decide notarization license applications within 30 days, requires a refusal decision to be reasoned, and allows a grievance before the competent court against refusal or failure to decide in time.
يشكل الوزير لجنة للبت في طلبات الحصول على الرخص، تؤلف برئاسة وكيل من الوزارة، وعضوية مستشار شرعي ومستشار نظامي من الوزارة لا تقل مرتبة كل منهما عن المرتبة (العا
- Article 22
The article sets the term of a notarization license at five years, renewable, and leaves the Regulations to set the procedures and controls for issuing, renewing and reissuing the license.
تكون مدة الرخصة خمس سنوات قابلة للتجديد، وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والضوابط الواجب اتخاذها عند إصدار الرخصة، أو تجديدها، أو إعادة إصدارها.
- Article 23
The article provides that notarization licenses are entered in the register with the competent department, and leaves the Regulations to state how the entry is made and the data it includes.
تقيد الرخص في الجدول لدى الإدارة المختصة، وتبين اللائحة كيفية القيد، وما يدرج فيه من بيانات.
- Article 24
The article allows licensed notaries and marriage officiants to advertise their profession in accordance with controls prepared by the competent department and issued by decision of the Minister of Justice.
للمرخص له الإعلان عن مهنته وفق ضوابط تعدها الإدارة المختصة، وتصدر بقرار من الوزير.
- Article 25
The article sets the fee for issuing a licensed notary's license at SAR 2,000 and for renewing it at SAR 1,000.
يستحصل على إصدار الرخصة للموثق رسم قدره ألفا ريال، وألف ريال عند التجديد.
- Article 26
The article prohibits practicing notarization work except after obtaining the license in accordance with the provisions of the Notarization Law and its Implementing Regulations.
يحظر ممارسة أعمال التوثيق إلا بعد الحصول على الرخصة وفقاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
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.