Do you have an old paper heirship deed, while the bank or the notary asks for an electronic one? That is what digitising the heirship deed is for: turning the paper deed into a certified electronic deed linked to the heirs' IDs, which can be verified online and used with any authority without going back to the paper original.
Why digitise the deed?
- Many authorities now accept only the electronic deed when releasing funds or transferring ownership.
- An electronic deed can be verified instantly, which cuts delays and matching requests.
- It eases the next steps: the estate inventory, division and transfer.
Steps to digitise an heirship deed
- Log in to Najiz with your Nafath account.
- Choose the deed digitisation service, or the request for an electronic heirship deed.
- Enter the paper deed's details: number, date and issuing court, and upload a copy.
- The authority reviews the request and matches it with the records; more documents may be requested.
- The electronic deed is issued and made available to you and the heirs to verify and print.
The service's name and path in Najiz may change; check Najiz for the current service.
Paper and electronic deeds
| Paper deed | Electronic deed | |
|---|---|---|
| Verification | Needs matching with the original | Instant by deed number |
| Acceptance by authorities | An update may be requested | Usually accepted directly |
| If lost | Needs a replacement | Always available online |
When is digitisation not enough?
- An heir appears who is not named in the deed, or someone named is not an heir.
- Another heir has died since the deed was issued (successive deaths).
- The heirs' names or ID numbers differ from the records.
In these cases the deed must be amended or a new one issued through the court. Read heirship and estate division.
Frequently asked questions
Can one heir request digitisation alone?
Usually yes, any heir named in the deed, or their agent under a valid power of attorney.
Are there fees?
Ministry of Justice e-services are mostly free; check the platform when you apply.
How long does it take?
It depends on the deed's age and how complete its details are; recent deeds are faster.
An error in the heirship deed, or funds held up?
The Usus Law Firm team handles estates and heirship: amending deeds, estate inventories and division, in Riyadh and Tabuk.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 12 October 2026
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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