Article 45 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 45 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الرابع: حجية الوثائق وحمايتها
The article provides for re-registering a deed issued by a notary before the Law if its register is lost or damaged so its content cannot be known, when the deed matches its basis; otherwise it goes to the competent department.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا فقد سجل صك صادر من كاتب عدل قبل صدور النظام، أو تلف تلفاً لا يعرف معه مضمونه، فيعاد تسجيله، متى طابق الصك أساسه المستند إليه، وإلا فيعرض على الإدارة المختصة لتقرير ما يلزم في شأنه.
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 45 explained in plain English
This article deals with a case close to that of Article 44, but it concerns the register of the deed rather than its minute.
Scope of the article: a deed issued by a notary before the Law came into force, in one of two cases:
- Its register is lost.
- The register is damaged to the point that its content cannot be known.
The rule: it is re-registered, if the deed matches the basis on which it rests.
If it does not match, it goes to the competent department, which under Article 1 is the department responsible for notarization affairs at the Ministry, to decide what is needed; the article does not state what the department decides.
The difference between Articles 44 and 45: Article 44 deals with the loss or damage of the minute of a deed or of a notarization record, and requires, for the minute to be re-drawn, the confirmation of the parties concerned in addition to the deed matching its basis. Article 45 deals with the loss or damage of the register of a deed and mentions only the condition of matching, without providing for the parties' confirmation.
The article is also linked to Article 46, which makes the competent department the body that inspects and supervises the notary and the licensee, showing the place of this department in notarization affairs.
Anyone facing the loss of the register of a deed that concerns them may consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate matters.
Practical example
Noura went to the notary's office about a real estate deed issued to her before the Notarization Law, and found that the register of the deed was damaged so its content could not be known. The deed is re-registered if it matches the basis on which it rests; if it does not, it goes to the competent department to decide what is needed.
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 45 of the Saudi Notarization Law
What happens if the register of an old deed is lost?
Article 45 provides for re-registering it if the deed matches the basis on which it rests; otherwise it goes to the competent department to decide what is needed.
Does Article 45 apply to new deeds?
The text deals with a deed issued by a notary before the Notarization Law came into force.
What is the difference between losing a deed's register and losing its minute?
Article 44 deals with losing the minute and requires the parties' confirmation along with matching; Article 45 deals with losing the register and states the condition that the deed match its basis.
More articles on Evidentiary Weight of Documents and Challenging Them
- Article 41
The article gives documents issued under the Notarization Law evidentiary force and the status of an enforceable instrument, and provides they may be annulled only by a court judgment for conflict with Sharia or statutory principles or for forgery, after a fully completed hearing.
الوثائق الصادرة وفق أحكام النظام لها قوة الإثبات، وتعد سنداً تنفيذيًا فيما تضمنته من التزام، ويجب العمل بمضمونها أمام المحاكم بلا بينة إضافية ولا يجوز الطعن فيه
- Article 42
The article allows anyone with an interest, even a potential one, whether a natural or legal person, public or private, to bring a claim against the holder of a document issued under the Law or its beneficiary before the competent court.
يجوز لمن له مصلحة ولو محتملة من الأشخاص ذوي الصفة الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية -العامة والخاصة- أن يخاصم من بيده وثيقة صادرة وفق أحكام النظام أو من يستفيد منها أمام ا
- Article 43
The article bars noting a suspension or restraint on a notarization record, or lifting either, except by an order of the competent court or an authority competent under a statutory provision.
لا يؤشر على وعاء التوثيق بالإيقاف أو التحفظ عليه أو رفعهما إلا بأمر من المحكمة المختصة، أو سلطة مختصة بذلك بموجب نص نظامي.
- Article 44
When the minute of a deed issued by a notary before the Law, or a notarization record, is lost or damaged so its content cannot be known, the minute is re-drawn after the parties' confirmation if the deed matches its basis; otherwise it goes to the competent department.
إذا فقد ضبط صك صادر من كاتب عدل قبل صدور النظام، أو فقد وعاء توثيق، أو تلف أي منهما تلفاً لا يعرف معه مضمونه، فيعاد ضبطه بعد أخذ تصديق ذوي الشأن، متى طابق الصك
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.