Family Legal Matters in Qatar: What to Know

Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Guide updated June 2026. Written by the Qatar Living editorial team using official Qatari government sources, linked throughout.

If you are dealing with marriage, divorce, child custody or inheritance in Qatar, knowing which authority to contact is the first step. Family legal matters in Qatar are primarily handled through the Family Court and the Supreme Judicial Council's family services, with Family Law No. 22 of 2006 providing the main legal framework for many family-related issues.

This guide explains which authority handles what, how to access official e-services, the fees published by the authorities and what documents you may need to prepare.

Family matters are personal, and the outcome depends on your circumstances, including your nationality, religion, family situation and the applicable law. Rather than predicting what a court might decide, this guide focuses on helping residents identify the correct official procedures and prepare the necessary paperwork.

Where family legal matters are handled in Qatar

Family and inheritance disputes in Qatar are generally handled by the Family Court under the Supreme Judicial Council.

Under Article 2 of Law No. 22 of 2006, the Family Court operates through circuits of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal, dealing with family and inheritance disputes within their jurisdiction.

Within the Court of First Instance, family matters may be assigned to two types of courts:

• Partial (District) Family Court — Handles family and inheritance matters assigned to a single judge under the applicable jurisdictional rules.
• Plenary Family Court — Handles family and inheritance matters assigned to a panel of three judges.

The appropriate court depends on the type of case and the applicable procedural rules, rather than the applicant choosing which court should hear the dispute.

However, not every family-related procedure requires filing a lawsuit.

For services such as documenting a marriage, obtaining a marriage certificate or requesting certain divorce documents, residents may use the Supreme Judicial Council's Family Authentication System, which provides electronic application services.

The law behind it: Family Law No. 22 of 2006

The principal family-law statute is Law No. 22 of 2006, published on Qatar's official legal portal, Al Meezan.

The law addresses matters including marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody, guardianship, wills and inheritance.

However, Family Law No. 22 of 2006 does not apply in exactly the same way to everyone living in Qatar.

Under Article 4, the law provides for different treatment depending on the parties' religious school or religion. It specifically states that family matters involving non-Muslims are subject to their own applicable provisions, while also identifying circumstances in which the Family Law itself applies.

This distinction is particularly important for expatriate residents whose marriages or other family relationships involve foreign legal systems.

Procedural matters are also governed by other legislation, including the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law No. 13 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 3 of 2019 and other applicable amendments.

Law No. 22 of 2006 remains listed as in force on Al Meezan. However, residents should check the latest applicable legislation and procedures before taking legal action rather than assuming that no subsequent changes affect their circumstances.

Official family e-services you can request

The Supreme Judicial Council provides a range of services through its Family Services portal and electronic Family Authentication System.

These include:

• Marriage Contract Request
• Marriage Card Request
• Marriage Continuity Certificate
• Marriage Proof Certificate
• Non-Marriage Proof Certificate
• Consensual Divorce Documentation
• Divorce Document Requests
• Determination of Heirs
• Family and Dependant Support Certificates
• Other family-status certificates and documentation services

The official online application platform is the SJC Family Authentication System.

Marriage contract and marriage card

The Supreme Judicial Council provides an online service for requesting and documenting marriage contracts.

According to the SJC's official guidance, applicants can follow these steps:

1. Open the Family Authentication System.
2. Log in through Qatar's National Authentication System using the required credentials.
3. Select the relevant marriage service.
4. Enter the information requested about the parties involved.
5. Upload the required documents.
6. Review the application and submit it.

The SJC's published requirements for marriage contract authentication include:

• Identification documents, such as QIDs or passports, for the parties involved, including the couple, guardian and witnesses.
• The required premarital medical certificate.
• A divorce document where a party was previously divorced.
• Additional documents or approvals where applicable, depending on the circumstances.

The official SJC guidance states the following fees for the relevant marriage contract service:

• Marriage officiant fee: QAR 1,000
• Marriage contract service fee: QAR 100
• Marriage card: QAR 100

The separate marriage card service can be requested through the Family Authentication System.

These charges should not be confused with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' document-legalization fee, which is a separate procedure.

Applicants should also check their eligibility and any additional requirements, especially when one or both parties are foreign nationals.

Divorce documentation

The Supreme Judicial Council also provides services for consensual divorce documentation and divorce-related certificates.

The available procedures depend on whether the parties are seeking to document an agreed divorce, obtain a divorce certificate or file a contested divorce lawsuit.

For consensual divorce documentation, the SJC's official guidance directs applicants to the Family Authentication System.

The listed documents may include:

• Identification documents for the parties.
• A copy of the marriage contract, where required.
• Children's birth certificates and school certificates, where applicable.
• Employment and salary information.
• Housing-related documents, where relevant.
• A valid power of attorney if a party is represented by an authorised agent.

The SJC lists consensual divorce documentation as free of charge under the relevant service.

However, other divorce-related procedures have separate fees. The SJC's Family Court guidance lists QAR 100 for filing a divorce lawsuit.

Because the requirements differ between consensual documentation, issuing certificates and contested legal proceedings, applicants should confirm the specific service before paying any fees.

For family authentication enquiries, contact the SJC on 1101 or email ATTESTATIONS@SJC.GOV.QA.

How the Family Court is structured

The Family Court includes circuits of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal.

Within the Court of First Instance, certain cases are heard by a single judge, while others are heard by three judges.

The relevant court is determined by the nature of the dispute and applicable jurisdictional rules.

The Supreme Judicial Council also provides electronic services for filing and following up on family lawsuits.

According to the SJC's official Family Court guidance, examples of published service fees include:

• Divorce lawsuit: QAR 100
• Deferred dowry claim: QAR 100
• Spousal maintenance application: Free
• Child maintenance application: Free
• Application to divide inheritance funds: QAR 10
• Determination of heirs certificate: QAR 50, under the Family Attestations guidance

Certain other family-related applications carry separate charges.

The required documents also depend on the case. For example, the official guidance for divorce lawsuits identifies documents such as proof of identity, the marriage contract, an explanatory legal statement, children's birth information where applicable and a valid power of attorney if representation is involved.

There is no single filing fee or deadline covering every family court case.

Residents should verify the applicable charges, procedural deadlines and appeal requirements for their specific dispute before submitting an application.

For general court enquiries, the Supreme Judicial Council's unified call centre is 16007.

Legalizing family documents at MOFA

Many family-related processes require official documents to be used outside Qatar or foreign-issued documents to be accepted by authorities in Qatar.

In such situations, applicants may need document attestation or legalization through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

MOFA publishes specific fees for personal-status documents.

The official charges include:

• Marriage contract legalization: QAR 100
• Divorce certificate legalization: QAR 100
• Birth certificate legalization: QAR 100
• Inheritance enumeration certificate legalization: QAR 100
• Certification of a will: QAR 100
• Specified marriage approvals: QAR 100

These are the published fees for the listed document categories, not approximate amounts.

MOFA also specifies requirements concerning the seals, signatures and prior attestations that documents must carry before they can be legalized.

Applications may be submitted through MOFA's electronic services or the Department of Consular Affairs, subject to the service's requirements.

For assistance, contact the Government Contact Centre on 109 or MOFA's Attestation Department on +974 4011 1188.

Importantly, MOFA legalization is separate from registering a marriage, obtaining a divorce certificate or filing a family lawsuit. Completing one procedure does not automatically replace the others.

What to prepare before you start

Family legal procedures can involve several documents, and the requirements depend on the service being requested.

Before starting, prepare the documents most relevant to your situation:

• Your QID and passport — Keep valid identification documents for yourself and any other parties involved.
• Marriage or divorce documents — Have the original marriage contract, divorce certificate or other relevant family-status documents available.
• Birth certificates — Particularly important for proceedings involving children, custody or maintenance.
• Previous court documents — Include any judgments, agreements or orders relevant to an existing dispute.
• Financial documents — Salary certificates, bank statements or other financial evidence may be required for maintenance-related applications.
• Power of attorney — Required where an authorised representative is acting on behalf of a party.
• Translations and attestations — Foreign-issued documents or documents in languages other than Arabic may require approved translations and appropriate legalization.
• Contact details — Keep accurate contact information available for court notifications and administrative follow-up.

For inheritance-related procedures, additional documents may include a death certificate, identification of heirs and other supporting records.

The Supreme Judicial Council's official guidance provides individual document requirements for many family services, so check the relevant service before applying.

Preparing documents in advance can help prevent delays, but requirements can differ substantially between marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance matters.

A note for non-Qatari residents

Non-Qatari residents can access Qatar's judicial system for family matters falling within the jurisdiction of its courts.

However, the law applicable to a dispute may depend on factors such as nationality, religion, marriage location and the parties' legal circumstances.

This is particularly important for non-Muslim expatriates.

Article 4 of Qatar's Family Law recognises that non-Muslim family matters may be subject to their own applicable provisions, rather than automatically applying every provision of Qatar's Family Law to all residents.

A marriage certificate issued abroad, a foreign divorce judgment or an inheritance matter involving assets in more than one country may also raise questions about recognition, jurisdiction and document legalization.

In some cases, additional procedures may be required through an embassy, foreign authority, MOFA or the relevant Qatari court.

Residents dealing with cross-border family matters should therefore confirm which laws and authorities apply before filing a case.

For complicated matters involving custody, divorce, inheritance or recognition of foreign judgments, consulting a lawyer licensed to practise in Qatar is advisable.

FAQs

Which court handles family and inheritance matters in Qatar?

The Family Court under the Supreme Judicial Council handles family and inheritance disputes within its jurisdiction.

It operates through circuits of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal. First-instance matters may be assigned to a single judge or a panel of three judges, depending on the applicable rules.

What law governs family matters in Qatar?

Family Law No. 22 of 2006 is the principal statute governing many family-related matters, including marriage, divorce, custody, maintenance and inheritance.

However, Article 4 provides for differences in the law applicable to certain parties, including non-Muslims.

Procedural laws, including the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law as amended, may also apply.

How do I start a family court case, and what if I need a lawyer?

Visit the Supreme Judicial Council's official website and review its Family Court guidance.

For family-related documents, the Family Authentication System provides electronic services.

For contested legal disputes, use the appropriate court filing service and confirm the required documents and fees.

You can also contact the SJC on 16007. A licensed lawyer can help assess the legal requirements for your individual case.

How much does it cost to legalize a marriage contract or divorce certificate?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges QAR 100 to legalize a marriage contract or divorce certificate under its published personal-status document fee schedule.

These charges are separate from SJC fees for obtaining or registering family documents.

What family e-services can I request online?

The Supreme Judicial Council offers electronic services for marriage contracts, marriage cards, marriage-related certificates, consensual divorce documentation and other family-status documents.

Applications are available through the Family Authentication System.

Other services, including family lawsuits, are handled through the relevant court filing channels.

Is there a deadline or fine for family services?

There is no single deadline or fee that applies to every family service.

The Supreme Judicial Council publishes specific charges for several applications, including divorce lawsuits, marriage contracts, marriage cards and inheritance-related services.

Court procedures may also have filing, notification and appeal deadlines depending on the case.

Check the current rules for the specific service rather than assuming that no deadline or fee applies.

Can non-Qatari residents use the Family Court?

Yes. Non-Qatari residents can bring family matters before Qatar's courts where the courts have jurisdiction.

However, the applicable law may differ depending on the parties' nationality, religion and other circumstances.

Residents dealing with foreign marriage documents, overseas divorces or cross-border inheritance matters should confirm the relevant legal requirements before proceeding.

Official sources

• Supreme Judicial Council — Family Court
• Supreme Judicial Council — Court of First Instance
• Supreme Judicial Council — Family Services
• Al Meezan — Law No. 22 of 2006 (The Family Law)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Legalization

Need more help settling in? Browse trusted guides and services on Qatar Living covering QID, residency and everyday admin for residents.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees can change — always confirm with the official sources linked above before you act.

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