What happens to the non-Saudi wife of a Saudi man if he dies?
If a Saudi man and his American wife are living in Saudi Arabia and he dies, what happens to the wife? Is she deported back to her country? Does it make a difference if they have kids together? Who becomes the legal guardian of the kids? Does she or his male relatives? By legal guardian, I mean to make all of the decisions regarding where they will live, where they will go to school, how to manage their money, whether they can leave the country etc. My intention is to live in Saudi Arabia as I want my kids to be raised there, but I in case I want to travel with my kids or move somewhere for whatever reason, I'd like to be able to do so.
Saudi Arabia - 11 Answers
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1 :
the American wife still has her USA constitutional rights to return to the states but bringing the children may be difficult. The wife became part of his family by marriage and his male relatives will have a lot of control regarding the children and their future. It's complicated because as an American citizen (assumably) she has physical custody of the children.but by Sharia law, the children can be with her until their 6th birthday after that they are suppose to be with their father. In this situation i really don't know, but I'm sure the male relatives will make the final decision Allah Hafiz
2 :
I wish I could answer this but it sounds like the woman will need a lawyer
3 :
well hopefully my son if he is of age.. (who holds dual citizenship) will be my legal mahram,, the person who can legally do things for me if (Allah forbid) my husband passes away.. Although I am on excellent standing in his family,, Im sure any of his brothers would help me to the utmost of their abilities if something did happen... Also Chal if you are here and married for 10years you can if you so decide to get Saudi citizen ship (and keep your American citizenship).. I know many sisters who have chosen this route... That way you will be covered in all aspects and have the right to his property, home, assets etc if he does pass away...
4 :
this is a legal question that will really differ from family to family i am sure you will hear sad stories of both sides, saudi side got the custody of kids by force, or foreign side disappeared in a blue moon with the kids for good .. irregardless of the legal aspect, what's more important is the husband and family itself .. if they are understanding and supportive .. everything will be fine .. i know a case that is the mother is european, got divorced, and the girl is living with her mother another case, that the mother is syrian (or egyptian), but are living in their home country with the kids after their husbands died however, if the family is aggressive or insist on getting the kids, things can get complex enough .. also, there are the different possibilities, where to spend on kids? self employed? enough savings? at each situation, what will be ? it is a place where social cultrue might play a role, may be more important than the legal strutcture .. this why, here many guys (and girls) like to meet the spouse parents, before deciding on marriage. we say, here you marry a family, not a person. lol of course, if the family is tough, not understanding or anything of that sort, it is not the end of world, but one should be really diplomatic, smart and 'alert'. and this system has both good and bad impact.
5 :
She would be here legally until her iqama expires. When that happens, she'd have to find a new sponsor, either her child or a new husband. Otherwise, she can stay illegally or go home. What happens to the kids...I think that really depends on your relationship with your in-laws. Either they can/will take them, or help you be able to raise your kids. Your kids would need their grandfather's permission to leave Saudi Arabia. So, if you want to move your family back to America, then you need the support of your in-laws. Your question doesn't really have any clear answer because everything depends on the family. Edit: Tahirah - First of all, my kids will be Saudi because their father is Saudi, and they will be born in KSA. Second of all, if my husband dies, I will get a 'dime'. His company will continue paying his salary to his widowed wife, which is me. It doesn't matter that I'm not Saudi. Also, I have a bank card for his account, so I could go and take all of OUR money any day I want. And, finally, I will not leave my kids EVER! I don't honestly think my in-laws would ever expect me to either. Edit: I know that being born here means nothing because there are families who've lived here for generations who don't have Saudi citizenship. I believe that if the father is Saudi, then the kids will be given a Saudi passport/Saudi citizenship. I have heard of couples (american woman, saudi man) living in America who got the Saudi citizenship for their baby. Why would they have to be 10 years old and living here the whole time before being Saudi when they are Saudi??? American websites probably aren't the most reliable concerning Saudi Arabia, but it says here that, "Children of Saudi fathers automatically acquire Saudi citizenship at birth, regardless of where the child was born." http://travel.state.gov/family/abduction/country/country_517.html If the mother is Saudi and the father is not Saudi, then the children are NOT automatically given Saudi citizenship.
6 :
By all accounts she has no rights. what i have read IN THE NEWS
7 :
Again " Dog's Barking will not hurt the Sky" you know what i mean
8 :
First of all, you should know that non-Saudis intending to live in Saudi Arabia should be sponsored by either Saudi individuals or organizations. As for the non-Saudi women married to Saudis, they should be sponsored by their husbands. In case the husband dies leaving no kids behind, the wife will have to leave the country. However, having kids makes a difference! The wife acquires the rights of raising her kids & taking decisions in their life, & will be sponsored by a first-class male relative, as long as she decides to live in Saudi. In case she wants to take the kids live somewhere else than Saudi, she will have to get it approved by the kids` relative since they are Saudi minors. Otherwise, the court will have to resolve such a dispute.
9 :
if you husabn dies you dont get a dime ..your kids are dot considerd saudi arabian unles they have ive their until they were 18 .. the wife should leave and the kids ...and she has no right to any of her husbans money
10 :
The Saudi Company where her husband worked will pay half of his salary to the wife and her children. Normally the daughter goes into the custody of the father in law if he is still alive at 7 years old and the son can choose who he wants to live with at the age of 9. If the father in law is dead then the oldest brother gets custody of the children. In Saudi, Saudi citizenship precedes all other forms of citizenship including American. No she is not deported back to her country. The Saudi Government is obligated to pay for her living expenses and food costs as long as she remains in Saudi Arabia. If the mother agrees not to ever get married again she retains custody. If she gets married again then her child custody rights are thrown out the window. EDIT:Saudis don't get citizenship if they are born in the country. They get citizenship after they have lived in Saudi Arabia for 10 years. Forgein women get Saudi Citizenship if they have lived in Saudi for 5 years and have a couple of babies in Saudi Arabia. The USA is the ONLY Country in the world that gives you automatic citizenship at birth.
11 :
The guardian is a male relative if the kids are underage. If not, then the oldest son is the guardian. If you have been married for more that 5 years and your kids are Saudi then you have rights. You have the same rights as a Saudi woman.
