Yes, disinheriting a child is legally permissible in Saudi Arabia under strict conditions outlined in Islamic Sharia principles and the Civil Transactions Law. The 2026 amendments to the Personal Status Law reinforce that parental disinheritance requires valid Islamic justifications, such as apostasy, severe harm, or gross misconduct by the child. Courts scrutinize such cases to prevent arbitrary exclusions, ensuring compliance with Saudi Arabia’s legal and religious frameworks.
Key Regulations for Disinheriting a Child in Saudi Arabia
- Sharia-Based Justification: Disinheritance must align with Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), where valid grounds include apostasy (riddah), physical harm, or persistent disobedience to parents. Courts defer to Hanbali school interpretations unless overridden by statutory law.
- Civil Transactions Law (2026 Amendments): Article 123(3) mandates judicial review of disinheritance claims, requiring documented evidence of misconduct. Unilateral decisions by parents are invalid without court validation.
- Mandatory Inheritance Shares: Even if disinherited, a child retains forced heirship rights under Article 124, unless proven guilty of a crime punishable by death or severe corporal punishment under Saudi Penal Law. The state’s Waqf and inheritance authorities monitor compliance.