Article 186 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 186 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: أركان الوصية وشروطها
Whoever carries out a will for an unlimited category may use discretion in distributing it, giving precedence to the needy, without being bound to cover everyone or divide equally unless the will provides otherwise.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كانت الوصية لفئة غير محصورة، فلمن له تنفيذها تقدير توزيعها على الموصى لهم، مع مراعاة تقديم المحتاجين منهم دون التقيد بالتعميم أو المساواة، ما لم تتضمن الوصية خلاف ذلك.
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 186 explained in plain English
When a person leaves a will for an unlimited category, such as the poor or students of knowledge, this article gives whoever carries out the will the power to use discretion in distributing it among the beneficiaries.
The text regulates this power as follows:
- Giving precedence to the needy among the beneficiaries.
- Not being bound to cover everyone, so it is not necessary to give to every member of the category.
- Not being bound to equality among the recipients.
- All of the above applies unless the will provides otherwise; if the will provides another method, what it provides is followed.
This rule differs from Article 187, which deals with several beneficiaries where the share of each is not specified, giving each of the specified persons or of a limited category a share, and where specified persons and an unlimited category come together, each specified person has a share and the unlimited category has a share. It is also linked to Article 185, which provides that a will for an unlimited category, if it ceases before ownership is taken, is spent on the nearest similar body after the court's approval.
Anyone who carries out a will of this kind and needs an assessment of a particular case is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
Practical example
A man left a sum for the orphans of his city without specifying the method of distribution. The executor of the will may give precedence to the neediest orphans and may vary the amounts among them, without being bound to give to every orphan in the city, because the will did not provide otherwise.
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 186 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
Must a will be distributed equally among all members of the category?
No. Whoever carries out the will may use discretion in distributing it without being bound to cover everyone or divide equally, unless the will provides otherwise.
Who is given precedence when distributing a will for an unlimited category?
The executor of the will takes care to give precedence to the needy among the beneficiaries.
Is the executor bound by a method of distribution set by the testator?
Yes. The power of discretion applies unless the will provides otherwise.
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.