Article 57 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 57 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الأول: النفقة
The article regulates who may live with the spouses in the marital home: the husband's parents and children subject to no harm to the wife, the wife's children under conditions, and mutual consent if the spouses share the home.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للزوج أن يسكن مع زوجته في بيت الزوجية: أبويه، وأولاده من غيرها متى كان مكلفاً بالإنفاق عليهم، بشرط ألا يلحق الزوجة ضرر من ذلك.
2- للزوجة أن تسكن معها في بيت الزوجية أولادها من غير الزوج إذا لم يكن لهم حاضن غيرها أو أنهم يتضررون من مفارقتها، أو إذا رضي الزوج بذلك صراحة أو ضمناً، ويحق للزوج العدول متى لحقه ضرر من ذلك.
3- إذا اشترك الزوجان في ملكية بيت الزوجية أو استئجاره أو توفيره، فليس لأي منهما أن يسكن معهما أحداً إلا برضا الطرف الآخر.
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 57 explained in plain English
Article 57 of the Personal Status Law answers a common question: who may live with the spouses in the marital home? It sets three rules:
1- What the husband may do
The husband may house with him and his wife: his parents, and his children from another marriage, where he is obliged to maintain them. This is on condition that no harm is caused to the wife by it.
2- What the wife may do
The wife may house her children with her from a man other than the husband in any of the following cases:
- If they have no custodian other than her.
- Or if they would be harmed by being separated from her.
- Or if the husband agrees to it, expressly or implicitly.
The husband may withdraw from this whenever he is harmed by it.
3- If the spouses share the home
If the spouses share in owning, renting or providing the marital home, neither of them may house anyone with them except with the consent of the other party.
It is noted that harm is a basic criterion in this article for both parties: the husband's right is limited by not harming the wife, and the husband may withdraw from housing the wife's children if he is harmed. This is consistent with Article 42, which makes it a mutual right that neither spouse harms the other, materially or morally.
The article comes after Article 56, which provides that the wife resides with her husband in the suitable marital home unless she stipulated otherwise.
To confirm your specific situation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in personal status matters.
Practical example
A husband wanted to house his parents with him and his wife in a home that he rented alone, and no harm is caused to the wife by this. Under Article 57 he may do so. But if the spouses shared in renting the home, he may not house them except with his wife's consent.
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 57 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
May a husband house his parents with his wife?
Yes, the husband may house with him his parents and his children from another marriage where he is obliged to maintain them, on condition that no harm is caused to the wife by it.
May a wife house her children from a previous husband with her?
She may if they have no custodian other than her, or they would be harmed by being separated from her, or the husband agreed expressly or implicitly; the husband may withdraw whenever he is harmed.
What is the rule if the home is shared by the spouses?
If they share in owning, renting or providing it, neither of them may house anyone with them except with the consent of the other party.
More articles on Spouses' Rights
- Article 6
The article defines marriage as a contract with pillars and conditions that creates rights and duties between the spouses, aimed at chastity and founding a stable family.
الزواج عقد بأركان وشروط، يرتب حقوقاً وواجبات بين الزوجين، غايته الإحصان وإنشاء أسرة مستقرة يرعاها الزوجان بمودة ورحمة.
- Article 38
The article provides that the dower belongs to the woman and that she is not compelled to dispose of it in any way.
المهر ملك للمرأة، لا تجبر على أي تصرف فيه.
- Article 42
The article sets out the spouses' mutual rights, and obliges the husband to provide maintenance and treat wives equitably, and the wife to obey in a reasonable manner and nurse the children unless there is an impediment.
يلزم على كل من الزوجين حقوق للزوج الآخر، وهي: 1- حسن المعاشرة بينهما بالمعروف، وتبادل الاحترام بما يؤدي للمودة والرحمة بينهما. 2- عدم إضرار أحدهما بالآخر ماديًّ
- Article 43
The article allows the wife to refuse to move in and consummate the marriage until she receives her advanced dower and the husband prepares a suitable residence, with her right to maintenance, and explains the effect of her agreeing to move in before receiving it.
1- للزوجة الامتناع عن الدخول والانتقال إلى بيت الزوجية حتى تقبض مهرها الحال ويهيئ الزوج لها المسكن المناسب، ولها الحق في النفقة خلال هذه المدة. 2- إذا رضيت الزو
- Article 51
The article provides that a wife's maintenance is owed by her husband under a valid marriage contract if she makes herself available to him in fact or by operation of law, subject to Article 43.
مع مراعاة أحكام المادة (الثالثة والأربعين) من هذا النظام، تجب النفقة للزوجة على زوجها بموجب عقد الزواج الصحيح إذا مكَّنته من نفسها حقيقةً أو حكماً.
- Article 55
The article provides that the wife's right to maintenance is forfeited if she prevents herself from her husband, or refuses to move to the marital home, spend the night there or travel with him, without a legitimate excuse.
يسقط حق الزوجة في النفقة إذا منعت نفسها من الزوج، أو امتنعت عن الانتقال إلى بيت الزوجية أو المبيت فيه أو السفر مع الزوج، من دون عذر مشروع.
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.