Article 48 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 48 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الثاني: العقوبات
The article provides for the Minister to form one or more committees to consider the results of investigations into violations by the notary and the licensee and impose the penalties in Articles 49 and 50, sets their composition and procedure, and allows appeal to the Board of Grievances.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يشكل الوزير لجنة -أو أكثر- للنظر في نتائج التحقيق في مخالفات كاتب العدل -ذات العلاقة بالتوثيق- والمرخص له، وتوقيع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في المادتين (التاسعة والأربعين) و(الخمسين) من النظام، وتؤلف برئاسة وكيل من الوزارة، وعضوية مستشار شرعي ومستشار نظامي، ويسمي الوزير من يحل محل أي من أعضائها عند غيابه. وتكون مدة عضوية هذه اللجنة أربع سنوات قابلة للتجديد، وتنعقد بحضور جميع أعضائها، وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية بعد سماع أقوال كاتب العدل أو المرخص له. وتكون قراراتها مسببة قابلة للطعن فيها وفقاً لأحكام نظام المرافعات أمام ديوان المظالم.
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 48 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body that imposes penalties on the notary and the licensee, and how it works.
Jurisdiction: the Minister forms one or more committees to consider the results of investigations into violations by the notary related to notarization and violations by the licensee, and to impose the penalties set out in:
- Article 49: penalties for the notary, which are a reprimand, a salary deduction not exceeding the net salary of 3 months, deprivation of one periodic increment, and dismissal.
- Article 50: penalties for the licensee, which are a warning, a fine not exceeding SAR 500,000, suspension of the license for no more than 3 years, and cancellation of the license.
Composition: chaired by an undersecretary of the Ministry, with a Sharia adviser and a legal adviser as members, and the Minister names a replacement for any member who is absent. Membership lasts 4 years, renewable.
How it works:
- It meets with all its members present.
- It issues its decisions by majority.
- After hearing the statements of the notary or the licensee.
- Its decisions are reasoned.
Appeal: the committee's decisions may be appealed in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
This stage follows the investigation, and it may be preceded by suspending the licensee from work during the investigation for no more than 90 days under Article 47. Anyone against whom the committee has issued a decision may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative matters.
Practical example
An investigation of a licensed notary in Dammam over an alleged violation ended, and the results were referred to the committee. The committee met with all its members present, heard the notary's statements, and then issued by majority a reasoned decision imposing one of the penalties in Article 50. The notary has the right to appeal the decision under the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
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 48 of the Saudi Notarization Law
Who imposes the penalty on a violating licensed notary?
A committee formed by the Minister of Justice, chaired by an undersecretary of the Ministry with a Sharia adviser and a legal adviser as members, under Article 48.
Can a decision of the notarization violations committee be appealed?
Yes. Its decisions are reasoned and may be appealed in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances.
Does the committee hear the notary's statements before punishing him?
Yes. The committee issues its decisions by majority after hearing the statements of the notary or the licensee.
How long is membership of the notarization violations committee?
Four years, renewable.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 49
The article sets the disciplinary penalties that may be imposed on the notary: a reprimand, a salary deduction not exceeding the net salary of 3 months, deprivation of one periodic increment, and dismissal.
العقوبات التأديبية التي يجوز توقيعها على كاتب العدل هي: 1- اللوم. 2- الحسم من الراتب بما لا يتجاوز صافي راتب ثلاثة أشهر. 3- الحرمان من علاوة دورية واحدة. 4- الف
- Article 50
The article sets the penalties for the licensee, a licensed notary or marriage officiant: a warning, a fine not exceeding SAR 500,000, suspension of the license for no more than 3 years, and cancellation of the license, without prejudice to any more severe penalty.
مع عدم الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد منصوص عليها في نظام آخر، يعاقب المرخص له بعقوبة أو أكثر من العقوبات الآتية: 1- الإنذار. 2- غرامة لا تزيد على خمسمائة ألف ريال. 3- إ
More articles on Inspection of Notaries Public and Private Notaries
- Article 46
The article assigns to the competent department inspection, supervision and investigation of the notary and the licensee under procedures set by the Regulations, without prejudice to the jurisdiction of the Judicial Inspection Department of the Supreme Judicial Council.
1- تتولى الإدارة المختصة التفتيش والرقابة على كاتب العدل والتحقيق معه في الأعمال ذات العلاقة بالتوثيق، وذلك وفقًا للإجراءات المنظمة لذلك التي تحددها اللائحة. 2-
- Article 47
The article provides that the Minister suspends a licensee from work for no more than 90 days during an investigation on the recommendation of the competent department, and the suspension ends when its term ends or the investigation ends without conviction, whichever is earlier.
يصدر الوزير قراراً بإيقاف المرخص له عن العمل مدة لا تزيد على تسعين يوماً أثناء التحقيق معه بناءً على توصية من الإدارة المختصة، وينتهي قرار الإيقاف بانتهاء مدته
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.