Article 30 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 30 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الأول: الواجبات والمحظورات
The article requires the notary to receive notarization requests and take the necessary steps under the Law and its Regulations, and gives anyone whose request is refused the right to file a grievance with the competent department.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كاتب العدل تلقي طلبات التوثيق، واتخاذ ما يلزم في شأنها، وفقاً لأحكام النظام ولائحته، ولمن رُفض طلبه حق التظلم لدى 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 30 explained in plain English
This article regulates how the notary handles notarization requests and gives the applicant a safeguard if the request is refused.
It contains two rules:
- The notary's duty: he must receive notarization requests and take the necessary steps on them, in accordance with the provisions of the Law and its Regulations. He may not decline to receive requests; he receives them and deals with them under the established provisions.
- The right to file a grievance: anyone whose request is refused has the right to file a grievance with the competent department, which is the department responsible for notarization affairs at the Ministry of Justice.
So if an applicant believes the refusal to notarize his transaction was wrong, the route the text provides is a grievance with the competent department. The article sets no time limit for the grievance, no procedures for it, and does not detail the grounds on which refusal is allowed.
Note that the article speaks specifically of the notary, not the licensed notary or the marriage officiant. It follows Article 29, which bars the notary and the licensee from notarizing matters touching their own interest or that of their spouse, ascendants, descendants or wards, which is one of the cases in which notarization is not allowed. Someone whose request was refused in an important transaction may consult a lawyer who specializes in notarization matters before filing the grievance.
Practical example
Haya applied to notarize an acknowledgment at the notary's office in Riyadh, and her request was refused. Under this article she has the right to file a grievance against the refusal with the competent department for notarization affairs at the Ministry of Justice.
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 30 of the Saudi Notarization Law
What can I do if the notary refuses to notarize my request?
You have the right to file a grievance against the refusal with the competent department for notarization affairs at the Ministry of Justice.
May a notary decline to receive notarization requests?
He must receive notarization requests and take the necessary steps on them in accordance with the provisions of the Law and its Regulations.
More articles on Duties of the Notary Public and Private Notary
- Article 27
The article requires the notary and the licensee to record the statements of the parties only after verifying their capacity, status and identity and confirming their documents are valid, and refers the details to the Implementing Regulations.
على كاتب العدل والمرخص له كتابة إقرارات ذوي الشأن بعد التحقق من أهليتهم وصفاتهم وهوياتهم، والتثبت من المستندات المقدمة منهم، وأنها صالحة للاعتماد عليها، وتبين ا
- Article 28
The article requires the notary and the licensee to use an approved translator for anyone who does not speak Arabic well, requires the translator to sign, and bars using a translator with an interest in what is notarized.
على كاتب العدل والمرخص له الاستعانة بمترجم معتمد لمن لا يحسن العربية، ويوقع المترجم على ما قام به من ترجمة، ولا تجوز الاستعانة بمترجم له مصلحة فيما يوثق.
- Article 29
The article bars the notary and the licensee from notarizing matters touching their own interest or that of their spouse, ascendants, descendants or persons under their guardianship, even when acting as a representative.
لا يجوز لكاتب العدل أو المرخص له توثيق ما يتعلق بمصلحته، أو مصلحة زوجه أو أصوله، أو فروعه أو من تحت ولايته ولو بصفة النيابة.
- Article 31
The article confines the notary's work to the notary's office except under controls set by the competent department, allows the licensed notary to travel at the parties' request, and bars removing the notarization record and official documents otherwise.
يقوم كاتب العدل بأعمال التوثيق في كتابة العدل، ولا ينتقل خارجها إلا وفق ضوابط تحددها الإدارة المختصة، أما الموثق فله أن ينتقل إذا طلب ذوو الشأن ذلك. وفي غير ما
- Article 32
The article prohibits the notary and the licensee from disclosing the secrets of transactions and any information they saw or obtained because of their work.
يُحظر على كاتب العدل والمرخص له إفشاء أسرار المعاملات وأي معلومة اطلعا عليها، أو تحصلا عليها بسبب عملهما.
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.