Article 181 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 181 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: أركان الوصية وشروطها
The article explains when a will becomes binding depending on the beneficiary: on acceptance after death, on acceptance by the guardian, on death alone, or on approval by the competent body.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون الوصية لازمة بحسب الموصى له على النحو الآتي:
1- إذا كانت لشخص طبيعي معين وفئة محصورة فبالقبول لها بعد وفاة الموصي، وينتقل الملك للموصى له من وقت القبول.
2- إذا كانت لقاصر، فبقبول الولي لها.
3- إذا كانت مطلقة لله تعالى، أو لوجوه البر، أو لفئة غير محصورة؛ فتلزم الوصية بوفاة الموصي بلا قبول.
4- إذا كانت لشخص اعتباري، فبعد موافقة من يملك حق قبولها وفقاً للأحكام المنظمة لذلك.
5- إذا كانت لمسجد فبعد موافقة الجهة المشرفة، وإذا كانت لوقف فبعد موافقة ناظره.
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 181 explained in plain English
This article sets the moment at which a will becomes binding, which differs according to the person or body it is made for, in five cases:
- For a specified natural person or a limited category: it becomes binding on acceptance by the beneficiary after the testator's death, and ownership of the subject of the bequest passes to him from the time of acceptance.
- For a minor: it becomes binding on acceptance by his guardian.
- Absolute, for God Almighty or for charitable purposes or for an unlimited category: it becomes binding on the testator's death with no need for acceptance.
- For a legal person: it becomes binding after approval by the one who has the right to accept it under the provisions governing that.
- For a mosque or a waqf: it becomes binding after approval by the body supervising the mosque, or approval by the waqf's administrator.
This article complements Article 180, which sets out the cases in which a will is valid; the validity of a will is one thing and its becoming binding is another. It is also linked to Article 182, which gives the beneficiary with full legal capacity the right to reject the will or part of it after the testator's death, gives the guardian of a minor this right with the court's permission, and gives it to whoever represents the legal person, the mosque and the waqf.
The practical importance of this rule is that ownership of the subject of the bequest does not pass to a specified beneficiary merely on the testator's death, but from the time of his acceptance. To know the effect of this in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
Practical example
A man in Riyadh left a sum of his money to his nephew, and another sum for charitable purposes. After his death, the will for the nephew does not become binding until he accepts it, and ownership of the sum passes to him from the time of acceptance, whereas the will for charitable purposes becomes binding on the testator's death with no need for acceptance.
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 181 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
Does the beneficiary own the money as soon as the testator dies?
If the will is for a specified natural person or a limited category, it does not become binding until he accepts it after the testator's death, and ownership passes to him from the time of acceptance.
Who accepts the will if it is for a minor child?
A will for a minor becomes binding on acceptance by his guardian.
Does a will for charitable purposes need acceptance?
No. An absolute will for God Almighty, for charitable purposes or for an unlimited category becomes binding on the testator's death without acceptance.
How does a will for a mosque or waqf become binding?
A will for a mosque becomes binding after approval by the body supervising it, and for a waqf after approval by its administrator.
More articles on Bequest (Will)
- Article 169
The article defines a will as a disposition of property by way of gift that takes effect after the testator's death.
الوصية هي تصرف بمال على وجه التبرع مضاف إلى ما بعد موت الموصي.
- 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.
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.