SJC President to QNA: No Filed Lawsuits Since Implementing Law on Procedures for Dividing Inheritances

HE President of the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) and President of the Court of Cassation Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Al Mohannadi emphasized that that law No. (4) of 2023 on the procedures for dividing inheritances has achieved positive results that exceeded expectations with regard to the speed of settling family disputes related to inheritances, noting that no lawsuit has been filed before the competent court since the law came into effect more than a year ago. In special remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency said that the SJC worked to complete the estate division cases that the courts were hearing before the law was issued, as 99 percent of the cases were settled during the judicial season that ended on Aug. 31. Only a small number of inheritance cases remain at the level of the Court of Appeal, and it is expected that they will be settled finally and that rulings will be issued on them before the end of this year. His Excellency considered that the law on procedures for dividing inheritances is one of the most important laws introduced into the judicial system within the plan of the national initiative to develop justice systems, which enjoys great support from the wise leadership of the State of Qatar. It represents a qualitative shift in the procedures for dividing inheritances following the provisions and teachings of Islamic Sharia at the local and Arab levels to protect the bonds of family relations among heirs and to ensure the continuity of friendship and solidarity among heirs after the loss of one of their members. His Excellency added that the procedures of the law are in line with the situation of Qatari society, and indirectly work to relieve the embarrassment of all family members, as it was previously necessary for one of the heirs to file a lawsuit to divide the estate even if they agreed. The new law obliges the heirs to submit a request to divide the inheritance within a month of registering the death or starting the procedures by the family documentation judge, which supports t he process of settling the inheritance during the judicial season in a satisfactory and friendly manner and high acceptance by the heirs, which achieves positive results at the community level and speeds up the absolution of the deceased. HE the President of the SJC and President of the Court of Cassation indicated that the positive results achieved by implementing the law supported the SJC's developmental orientations to develop plans and mechanisms to enhance the procedures for inventorying heirs and dividing inheritances to address old inheritances before the law was issued. He noted that the SJC is working intensively with all concerned parties to accelerate the inventorying of inheritances by advancing the wheel of government integration through electronic systems. HE Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Al Mohannadi added that the SJC is currently implementing major projects to complete all integrated procedures with the competent authorities through electronic systems, as the current plan includes developing linkag e mechanisms to serve inheritances procedures and at the same time implementing judgments, especially after the issuance of Law No. (4) of 2024 issuing the Judicial Enforcement Law. His Excellency stressed that after the great positive results from the implementation of the law on the procedures for dividing inheritances, a new headquarters was opened to provide family and inheritances documentation services in Hazm Al Markhiya, with the latest equipment that meets the needs of community members. Halls were also prepared specifically for holding meetings between the heirs and the judge within a suitable work environment that is compatible with the nature of the existing procedure and preserves the privacy of the heirs. His Excellency noted the efforts of the SJC to activate remote video communication procedures through the family documentation system to facilitate the heirs and members of society regarding the completion of some procedures that require attendance before the competent judge through various t echnological means that facilitate the completion of requirements for reviewers. HE Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Al Mohannadi pointed to the development of family documentation procedures, the introduction of many updates, and the reorganization of the names of the documents issued in this regard, in addition to the cancellation of a number of previous services that were replaced by electronic linking operations. His Excellency emphasized that enhancing cooperation with the relevant authorities aims to develop the services provided by the family documentation department, in line with current developments and serving the requirements of society and government agencies, as the names and purposes of using certificates have been corrected, in addition to reorganizing the issuance of statistical reports linked to statistical indicators, and coordinating with the relevant authorities in the country regarding the method of producing information and reading indicators correctly. Concluding his statements to QNA, HE Presi dent of the SJC and President of the Court of Cassation Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Al Mohannadi voiced his aspiration to achieve additional and positive accomplishments in the judicial season that recently began, in a way that serves the needs of society and supports the achievement of prompt justice. Source: Qatar News Agency