Article 188 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 188 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: أركان الوصية وشروطها
The article sets three conditions for the subject of a bequest: if specified, it must belong to the testator; it must exist or be possible to exist; and it must be lawful.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يشترط في الموصى به ما يأتي:
1- أن يكون ملكاً للموصي إذا كان معيناً.
2- أن يكون موجوداً أو ممكن الوجود.
3- أن يكون مشروعاً.
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 188 explained in plain English
This article sets the conditions that must be met in the subject of the bequest, that is, the property or thing that a person bequeaths, and they are three:
- If specified, it must belong to the testator: a person who bequeaths a particular item, such as a specific car or plot of land, must own it.
- It must exist or be possible to exist: the subject of the bequest need not actually exist, but it is enough that its existence is possible.
- It must be lawful.
Note that the ownership condition is limited to the subject of the bequest being specified, that is, a thing identified in itself.
This article is linked to the following:
- Article 189, which explains that the subject of the bequest may be a tangible thing, a benefit or a right of value, undivided or specified, and that an undivided bequest covers all of the testator's property at the time of his death unless the heirs and the beneficiary agree otherwise.
- Article 187, which explains how a will is distributed when there are several beneficiaries with no share specified for each.
Anyone who wishes to write a will and make sure its conditions are met may consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
Practical example
Ahmed wanted to leave his nephew a particular apartment in Jeddah that he lives in as a tenant and does not own. This will does not meet the condition that a specified subject of the bequest belong to the testator, unlike if he had left an apartment he actually owns.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 188 of Personal Status Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Family & Personal Status Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Family & Personal Status Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Nasser Al-Adhali Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 188 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
Is a will valid for something I do not own?
If the subject of the bequest is specified, it must belong to the testator.
Must the thing bequeathed exist at the time of the will?
It must exist or be possible to exist.
What are the conditions for the thing bequeathed?
Three: if specified, it must belong to the testator; it must exist or be possible to exist; and it must be lawful.
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.