Article 52 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 52 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الثاني: العقوبات
The article punishes anyone who impersonates the name or capacity of a licensee, or practices the licensee's work without a license, with imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to SAR 100,000, or both, with the judgment's summary possibly published.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد منصوص عليها في نظام آخر، تعاقب المحكمة المختصة من ينتحل اسم المرخص له أو صفته، أو يمارس عمله دون رخصة، بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على سنة، أو بغرامة لا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال، أو بهما معاً، ويجوز تضمين الحكم الصادر بالعقوبة النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المحكوم عليه في صحيفة أو أكثر من الصحف المحلية، أو في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع الجريمة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون النشر بعد اكتساب الحكم القطعية.
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 52 explained in plain English
This article protects people from impersonators, that is, anyone who presents himself as a licensed notary or marriage officiant when he is not. Under Article 1, the licensee is the licensed notary or marriage officiant who works under a license issued in accordance with the Law.
The punishable acts:
- Impersonating the name of the licensee.
- Impersonating the capacity of the licensee.
- Practicing his work without a license.
The body that imposes punishment: the competent court.
The punishment:
- Imprisonment for no more than one year,
- or a fine of no more than SAR 100,000,
- or both.
Publication of the judgment: the judgment may include a provision for publishing its summary at the convicted person's expense in one or more local newspapers or by any other suitable means, depending on the type of crime committed, its seriousness and its effect, provided publication takes place after the judgment becomes final. Publication is discretionary, not mandatory.
More severe penalty: the article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for in another law", so if another law provides a more severe penalty for the act, this article does not prevent its application.
It is linked to Article 51, which allows a person whose license was cancelled to apply for re-entry and licensing after 5 years from the decision. Anyone who dealt with a person who impersonated a licensed notary or officiant, or who is accused of this, is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal matters.
Practical example
A person in Riyadh announced on social media that he is a notary and began drawing up powers of attorney for people for a fee, although he holds no license. He is punished before the competent court with imprisonment of no more than one year, or a fine of no more than SAR 100,000, or both, and the judgment may include publishing its summary at his expense once it becomes final.
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 52 of the Saudi Notarization Law
What is the penalty for practicing notarization without a license in Saudi Arabia?
Imprisonment for no more than one year, or a fine of no more than SAR 100,000, or both, under Article 52 of the Notarization Law.
What is the penalty for impersonating a marriage officiant?
Impersonating the name or capacity of a licensee, and the marriage officiant is a licensee, is punished the same way, without prejudice to any more severe penalty in another law.
Is the judgment against someone impersonating a notary published?
The judgment may include publishing its summary at the convicted person's expense, depending on the type of crime, its seriousness and its effect, after the judgment becomes final.
More articles on Penalties for Notarization Violations
- 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.
- Article 48
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.
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 وا
- 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
- Article 51
The article requires the final penalty decision to be noted in the table, allows a person whose license was cancelled to apply after 5 years from the decision to be re-entered and licensed, and refers the procedures to the Regulations.
يؤشر في الجدول بالقرار النهائي الصادر بالعقوبة، ولمن ألغيت رخصته بعد مضي خمس سنوات من تاريخ صدور القرار طلب إعادة قيد اسمه في الجدول، والترخيص له، وتحدد اللائحة
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.