Article 166 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 166 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الخامس: الغائب والمفقود
The court rules that a missing person is deceased at an interested person's request if evidence of death exists; otherwise after 4 years from notification if his death is not likely, or one year from disappearance if it is likely.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تحكم المحكمة -بناءً على طلب من ذي مصلحة- بوفاة المفقود إذا قام الدليل على وفاته. وفيما عدا ذلك، على المحكمة ألا تحكم بوفاته إلا بعد مضي المدة المقررة بحسب الظروف التي أحاطت بالفقد، وذلك على النحو الآتي:
1- مضي مدة (أربع) سنوات من تاريخ إبلاغ الجهة المختصة بفقدانه، إذا فقد في ظروف لا يغلب فيها هلاكه.
2- مضي (سنة) من تاريخ الفقد، إذا فقد في ظروف يغلب فيها هلاكه.
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 166 explained in plain English
This article sets out when the court rules that a missing person is deceased, and it begins with a procedural condition: that this be at the request of an interested person.
First case: evidence of death exists. If evidence of the missing person's death exists, the court rules that he is deceased without waiting for a particular period.
Second case: no evidence. The court rules that he is deceased only after a period that varies according to the circumstances of the disappearance:
- 4 years from the date the competent authority was notified of his disappearance, if he disappeared in circumstances where his death is not likely.
- One year from the date of disappearance, if he disappeared in circumstances where his death is likely.
Note that the starting point of the calculation differs: in the first case the period runs from the date of notification, and in the second from the date of the disappearance itself.
Article 165 still governs all of this, as it requires the court in all cases to take what is necessary to find out whether the missing person is alive or dead before ruling that he is deceased. After the ruling is issued, Article 167 provides that the date of the ruling is treated as the date of the missing person's death, unless his true date of death is established later.
To know what applies in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
Practical example
A fisherman went out to sea during a severe storm and did not return. These are circumstances where death is likely, so his family may ask for a ruling that he is deceased after one year from the date he went missing. A young man who traveled in ordinary circumstances and lost contact cannot be ruled deceased without evidence until 4 years have passed from the date the competent authority was notified of his disappearance.
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 166 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
When is a missing person ruled deceased?
If evidence of his death exists, the court rules so at the request of an interested person; otherwise, after the period set according to the circumstances of the disappearance.
How long is the wait for a ruling that a missing person is deceased in ordinary circumstances?
4 years from the date the competent authority was notified of his disappearance, if he disappeared in circumstances where his death is not likely.
What is the period if a person disappears in an incident where death is likely?
One year from the date of disappearance.
Who asks for a ruling that a missing person is deceased?
The ruling is made at the request of an interested person.
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.