If a judgment has been issued against you and you disagree with it, your route is an objection memorandum (لائحة اعتراضية, la'iha i'tiradiya): a written submission filed within the objection period asking the Court of Appeal to overturn or amend the judgment. Its value lies not in its length but in showing precisely where the judgment went wrong. Below is a general objection memorandum template you can copy, followed by guidance on building your grounds of objection.
First, watch the deadline: the objection period starts from the date you receive a copy of the judgment, or from the date set by law, and missing it makes the judgment final. Check the period stated in the judgment or on Najiz (ناجز, the Ministry of Justice e-services platform) as soon as it is issued.
Objection memorandum template (general form)
Saudi courts work in Arabic, so the memorandum must be filed in Arabic. Use the Arabic template below for filing; the English version after it is a translation to help you understand and complete it.
How to write the grounds of objection
- One ground per paragraph, starting with what the judgment said, then showing the error and the evidence for it.
- Link each ground to a document, hearing or legal provision: "At the hearing of such-and-such date I submitted document X, and the judgment did not address it."
- Do not repeat the original claim: the Court of Appeal is looking for errors in the judgment, not for the story of the dispute again.
- Order the grounds from strongest to weakest.
| Type of error in the judgment | Example |
|---|---|
| Error of fact | The judgment treated the amount as paid, but the documents prove otherwise |
| Overlooking a defence or document | The judgment did not respond to a material defence raised at the hearings |
| Error in applying the law | The judgment applied an article that does not fit the facts |
| Procedural defect | Improper notification, or a ruling made without allowing a response |
| Going beyond the requests | The judgment awarded more than the claimant asked for |
Objection memorandum, appeal letter or objection to a Sharia judgment?
These are all names for the same document. Its formal name is the objection memorandum (laihat i'tiradiyyah); people also call it an objection letter, or an objection to a Sharia judgment when the judgment comes from a general or personal status court. The template above works for all of them once you change the circuit and the court.
What matters most is the deadline: as a rule thirty days, shorter in urgent matters, running from the date the law sets. Check the official updated text and rely on the period stated in the judgment or on Najiz.
How to file the objection
- Get a copy of the judgment from Najiz and note the date you received it and the last day of the period.
- Write the memorandum on the template and number the attachments in the order you cite them.
- File it electronically on Najiz from the case's own services, with the documents attached.
- Watch the notifications: the case may go back to the same circuit to review its judgment before it is sent to the Court of Appeal.
In family cases (maintenance, custody, visitation) the objection is usually about the court's assessment, so give figures and facts. Read custody and maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Can new documents be submitted with the objection?
The Court of Appeal considers the objection as the law allows, and may accept evidence submitted within certain limits. It is best to submit all your documents before the court of first instance.
Does the objection suspend enforcement of the judgment?
That depends on the type of judgment, as some judgments are subject to immediate enforcement. See the Law of Sharia Procedure explained.
What comes after the appeal judgment?
In specific cases you can seek cassation (naqd) before the Supreme Court, or petition for reconsideration if grounds set by the law arise.
Has a judgment been issued against you?
The team at Usus Law Firm reviews the judgment and drafts the objection memorandum within the deadline, as part of our court litigation service, in Riyadh and Tabuk, and can explain it to you in English. Don't wait until the last day of the period.
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.
Request a quick consultation
Leave your name and mobile number, and a lawyer from our Riyadh or Tabuk office will call you during working hours. We advise in English.
