SJC President to QNA: No Filed Lawsuits Since Implementing Law on Procedures for Dividing Inheritances -1-

For his part, head of the family documentation department at the Family Court Judge Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al Roumi said that since the implementation of law No. (4) of 2023 on the procedures for dividing inheritances in June 2023 up until the end of August 2024, more than 720 inheritance cases have been amicably resolved among heirs, with the agreement of all parties and without any judicial disputes, which demonstrates the law's success in addressing all issues amicably. The head of the family documentation department told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that as a result of the new law prioritizing amicable resolutions, in some instances, all heirs received their full rights regarding funds and property ownership amicably in a single session, with the issuing of division and distribution documents among family members upon the approval of all parties. He attributed the fact that the law has had a 100 percent success rate of settling inheritance cases amicably during the first year of its implementation to the law's procedural provisions that are in accordance with Islamic law, achieving ideal judicial practices that align with the nature of the country's judicial system and the legislative approach in place. Judge Dr. Al Roumi said that the law's success in turn means the success of the Supreme Judiciary Council in achieving its objectives, which include facilitating litigation procedures, speeding up inheritance division, and avoiding legal, social, and economic issues arising from delays in inheritance settlement. He pointed out that the activation of the law and its implementation has been supported by new mechanisms for managing family documentation that comply with Islamic law, along with providing a specialized judicial staff in inheritance matters to adjudicate issues according to precise standards that ensure the achievement of expedited justice. Additionally, it is supported by electronic systems specific to the stages of implementation, as well as organizing coordination channels with the Qatar Central Bank, banks, and relevant entities in inheritance division to ensure the law is applied within its timeframe. The head of the family documentation department stressed the judicial staff's commitment to processing requests to avoid legal, social, and economic issues resulting from delays in inheritance distribution, as well as documenting family ties. Judge Dr. Al Roumi said that before the implementation of the law, inheritance matters were previously dealt with via lawsuits, however, now they are dealt with via requests made in the context of achieve social protection, family cohesion, safeguarding the rights of minors, and settling the deceaseds debts. He added that the Supreme Judiciary Council introduced this law for it to be a model and a practical example for the application of Islamic law in inheritance settlement and the execution of related wills, highlighting that expedited justice is at the essence of this law, which is why it set one month from the date of death as a timeframe for settling inheritanc e division. Judge Dr. Al Roumi underscored the family documentation department's efforts in raising societal awareness about this law and the procedures to be taken upon the death of a family member, with the goal of supporting social and family cohesion. Source: Qatar News Agency