A course on married life is a prerequisite for documenting the marriage: Al-Sumait
- Kuwait set to introduce new marriage, child access and electronic documentation rules
- Kuwait to replace Powers of Attorney with electronic system by end-2027
- Justice Minister announces major legal reforms, 20% drop in court cases
Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait said the new Documentation Law has been completed and is being finalized to be issued soon, introducing several changes covering marriage registration, child access, electronic documentation and powers of attorney.
Under the proposed law, divorced women who unjustifiably prevent their former husbands from seeing their children could face a fine determined by a judge. The law would also allow fathers to communicate with their children daily through video calls at any time.
The legislation will require couples planning to marry to attend a special course on married life and obtain a certificate before their marriage contract can be registered. The measure is intended to reduce divorce and raise awareness of the responsibilities and importance of married life.
The law will also move toward electronic marriage-contract documentation, linking the process with government systems, including the Ministry of Health and the Public Authority for Civil Information. It will include electronic verification of the wife’s identity and presence, as well as confirmation by the marriage officiant.
Al-Sumait said the Personal Status Law has not yet been finalized and is awaiting responses from the relevant authorities. The legislation is expected to establish standardized child-support payments so that the amount does not vary from one case to another.
Judiciary Kuwaitization reaches 87 percent
Al-Sumait said the Ministry of Justice is implementing a comprehensive plan to modernize the judicial and legislative system, address the causes behind the rising number of cases and improve the efficiency of judicial work. Kuwaitization in the judiciary currently stands at 87 percent, with the ministry targeting 92 percent by Sept. 30, 2027, and 100 percent by Sept. 30, 2030. He described the Kuwaitization of the judiciary as a key state requirement.
The minister also highlighted a new electronic selection system for Public Prosecution candidates, designed to ensure unified evaluation standards, transparency and equal opportunities. The system was reviewed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
For the latest intake, 855 citizens who graduated in the 2024-2025 academic year applied for the junior legal researcher position, while 632 met the requirements to sit for the test. The Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies prepares the questions, while the electronic examinations are conducted at Kuwait University. Applicants receive their results immediately, followed by personal interviews before the Judicial Admissions Committee.
The new selection mechanism was used for the first time after the previous acceptance list was cancelled in July 2025. The new list differed by 55 percent, with 73 accepted candidates not appearing on the previous list, while 59 candidates were accepted on both lists.
300 legislative measures completed
Al-Sumait said the ministry completed about 300 legislative amendments, cancellations and new measures over the past year and four months, in addition to international agreements and memoranda of cooperation. Work is continuing to update about 40 percent of the existing legislative system.
He said recent legislative amendments had contributed to a 92 percent decline in assaults against employees and workers. The impact is expected to increase with the new Penal Code, which will introduce a modern classification of crimes and alternative punishments and criminalize certain dangerous acts that are currently not covered.
Other legislation being prepared includes new laws governing lawyers, commercial arbitration, rent, notarization, juveniles, children and personal status, along with amendments to the Civil Law and legislation covering economic, procedural and insurance matters.
Electronic powers of attorney to replace current system
The ministry is also preparing to launch its electronic powers-of-attorney project. The system will define the legal effect of each power of attorney and connect it to government systems. Under the planned system, a power of attorney would automatically expire upon the death of the principal or a court ruling placing the principal under guardianship, helping reduce disputes and prevent the misuse of powers of attorney after death.
Al-Sumait said all existing powers of attorney are to be cancelled by the end of 2027 and replaced by electronic versions in different colors, each valid for no more than five years. They will replace bank powers of attorney and can be cancelled directly through the Sahel application. The ministry will also offer translation and direct Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation services.
Court cases fall 20 percent
The minister announced a 20 percent decline in cases before the courts over six months, equivalent to about 111,000 cases. He said the ministry is focusing on addressing the causes of case inflation rather than simply increasing the number of judges.
Changes to the performance-orders system reduced such cases by 36 percent after making recourse to the system optional rather than mandatory. The ministry also ended the practice of sending a case back to the starting point after a grievance is accepted, allowing the court that accepts the grievance to rule on the substance of the case.
The minister said progress had been made in reorganizing the National Human Rights Commission by strengthening its independence, providing immunity for its work and an independent budget, preventing ministerial interference and requiring government agencies to cooperate with the commission and provide requested information.
