Article 151 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 151 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: الوصي
The father may remove a guardian at any time and the guardian may step down during the testator's lifetime; if the testator is deceased or lacks full capacity, the guardian must apply to the court to step down.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للأب عزل الوصي متى شاء.
2- للوصي التنحي عن الوصاية متى شاء في حياة الموصي، وعلى الوصي أن يتقدم إلى المحكمة بطلب التنحي إذا كان الموصي متوفى أو غير مكتمل الأهلية.
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 151 explained in plain English
This article regulates two ways in which a guardian's connection to the guardianship ends: removal of the guardian by the father, and stepping down by the guardian of his own will.
First: removal of the guardian by the father. Paragraph 1 gives the father the right to remove the guardian whenever he wishes, and the text does not require any particular reason for this.
Second: stepping down by the guardian. Paragraph 2 distinguishes between two cases:
- If the testator is alive: the guardian may step down from the guardianship whenever he wishes.
- If the testator is deceased or does not have full legal capacity: it is not enough for the guardian to decide on his own to leave the guardianship; he must apply to the court to step down.
This article follows Article 150, which makes the guardianship take effect on the guardian's acceptance and treats his beginning his duties as implied acceptance. If the minor is left without a guardian or the guardian is removed, Article 152 provides that the court appoints a guardian over his property after hearing the views of his mother, unless the court itself appoints her as guardian over his property.
To know what applies in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
Practical example
Khaled chose his brother as guardian over the property of his minor children, and after some time decided to remove him, which he may do whenever he wishes. If Khaled died while the brother was still guardian and the brother then wanted to leave the guardianship, it would not be enough for him to announce it; he must submit a request to step down to the court.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 151 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
Can the father remove the guardian he chose?
Yes. The article provides that the father may remove the guardian whenever he wishes.
Can the guardian give up the guardianship?
He may step down whenever he wishes during the testator's lifetime; if the testator is deceased or does not have full legal capacity, he must apply to the court to step down.
What happens if the guardian is removed and the minor has no guardian?
Under Article 152, the court appoints a guardian over the minor's property after hearing the views of his mother, unless the court appoints her as guardian over his property.
More articles on Guardianship and Wardship over a Minor
- Article 136
The article defines a minor as a person who has not attained full legal capacity, whether by losing it completely or having it diminished, and anyone treated as such under the regulating provisions.
دون إخلال بما تقضي به الأنظمة الأخرى، يقصد بالقاصر في هذا النظام من لم يستكمل الأهلية، بفقدها بالكلية أو نقصانها، ومن في حكمه بحسب الأحكام المنظمة لذلك.
- Article 137
The guardian is the father or whomever the court appoints, and the executor is whomever the father appoints when unable to act or after his death; each takes charge of the minor's affairs and represents him.
1- الولي هو الأب، أو من تعينه المحكمة. 2- الوصي هو من يعينه الأب عند عجزه أو بعد وفاته. ويتولى الولي أو الوصي -بحسب الحال- شؤون القاصر وتمثيله.
- Article 138
The article divides guardianship over a minor into guardianship of the person and guardianship of property, and both may be combined in one person.
تنقسم الولاية على القاصر إلى ما يأتي: 1- ولاية على النفس، ويقصد بها؛ الإشراف العام على شخص القاصر بما لا يتعارض مع سلطة الحاضن في إدارة شؤون المحضون. 2- ولاية ع
- Article 139
Guardianship of a minor's property belongs to the father, then the father's executor, then whomever the court appoints.
تكون الولاية على مال القاصر للأب، ثم وصي الأب، ثم من تعينه المحكمة.
- Article 140
A guardian of the person or property must have full legal capacity, be trustworthy and be able to carry out the requirements of guardianship, and a guardian of the person must share the religion of a Muslim ward.
يشترط في الولي على النفس أو المال أن يكون كامل الأهلية أميناً، قادراً على القيام بمقتضيات الولاية المنوطة به، ويشترط في الولي على النفس أن يكون متحداً في الدين
- Article 141
Whoever is appointed executor or guardian must not be a likely source of harm to the minor's interest, including not being convicted of a crime of dishonor, declared insolvent, removed from another guardianship, or an enemy of the minor.
دون إخلال بما تضمنته المادة (الأربعون بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، يشترط فيمن يُعيّن وصيًّا أو وليًّا، ألا تكون في ولايته مظنة الضرر بمصلحة القاصر، ويشمل ذلك: 1-
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.