Article 169 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 169 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة للوصية
The article defines a will as a disposition of property by way of gift that takes effect after the testator's death.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الوصية هي تصرف بمال على وجه التبرع مضاف إلى ما بعد موت الموصي.
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 169 explained in plain English
This article opens the provisions on wills by defining the will, and the definition has three elements:
- A disposition of property: the subject of the will is property.
- By way of gift: that is, without anything in return for the testator, so it is neither a sale nor an exchange.
- Attributed to the time after the testator's death: that is, the effect of the disposition does not occur during the testator's life, but after his death.
This distinguishes the will from gifts that take effect during life; the deciding element is attributing the disposition to the time after death.
The later articles set out rules that branch from this definition, including:
- Article 170, which provides that a will is valid whether absolute or restricted.
This definition helps the reader know whether the disposition he wants falls within the chapter on wills with its specific rules, or is a different disposition. To know what applies in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
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 169 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
What is a will under the Personal Status Law?
It is a disposition of property by way of gift that takes effect after the testator's death.
Does a will take effect during the testator's life?
The definition makes the will attributed to the time after the testator's death.
More articles on Bequest (Will)
- Article 170
The article provides that a will is valid whether it is absolute or restricted.
تصح الوصية مطلقة أو مقيدة.
- Article 171
A will is carried out from the testator's estate after paying the costs of preparing the deceased for burial and settling his debts, subject to Article 190 of the Law.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به المادة (التسعون بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، تنفذ الوصية من تركة الموصي، بعد إخراج نفقات تجهيز الميت وأداء ديونه.
- Article 172
Any ownership-transferring disposition by a person in a death-illness has the rule of a will if it is a gift; if it is an exchange involving favoritism, the amount of favoritism has the rule of a will.
يأخذ كل تصرف ناقل للملكية يصدر من المريض مرض الموت حكم الوصية إذا كان تبرعاً، وإذا كان معاوضةً فيها محاباة فيأخذ قدرُ المحاباة حكمَ الوصية.
- Article 173
The article sets four pillars of a will: the formula, the testator, the beneficiary and the subject of the bequest.
أركان الوصية هي: الصيغة، والموصي، والموصى له، والموصى به.
- Article 174
A will is concluded by words indicating it, spoken or written, and if the person is unable to do either, by an understandable sign.
تنعقد الوصية باللفظ الدال عليها نطقاً أو كتابةً، وعند العجز عنهما فبالإشارة المفهومة.
- Article 175
The article allows the testator to amend his will, or withdraw from all or part of it, by words or by an act indicating that.
للموصي تعديل الوصية، أو الرجوع عنها أو عن بعضها بالقول أو بالفعل الدال عليه.
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.