In brief
Details how child abuse and neglect cases are handled: awareness and prevention, risk assessment, urgent alternative care, and court action to move custody where needed.
Summary of the law
Key points
- If a child's life is at risk or a parent or carer abuses them, urgent temporary alternative care outside the family is provided (Article 4).
- A court action may be brought to move custody to someone who will care for the child, under the Personal Status Law (Article 4).
Practical tip
- In custody disputes, evidence of abuse or neglect from medical or school reports or an official report is what changes the outcome.
A plain-language summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm, focused on the violations and problems that come up most in daily life. It is not a substitute for the official text or for legal advice.
What it covers
- Risk assessment
- Urgent alternative care
- Transfer of custody
- Rules for authorities
Timeline
- Issued: Published 22/3/1446H
Full record of amendments and regulations at the official source
Official text at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
The authoritative text is in Arabic; the Bureau of Experts publishes English translations for some laws.
Full official text
The full official text is in Arabic and is reproduced on the Arabic version of this page, as published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Read the full Arabic text
Library content is simplified general information for awareness only. It is not legal advice and does not replace the official text. Laws change: always check the official source and consult a lawyer before acting. Library data last reviewed: .