Saman: the formal notice that calls a party to court

A saman is a formal notice the court issues to call the other party, usually an ex-husband or ex-wife, to appear and answer the claim you filed. It is an early step in many Syariah cases, including maintenance and custody claims.

After you file a claim, the court issues a saman to the other party, telling them the hearing date and the claim they need to answer. If that party does not appear without a reasonable excuse, the court can proceed based on the evidence available.

A saman differs from an ordinary application because it formally starts the process of calling the opposing party in, rather than simply registering your claim.

To see a real comparison between a saman and an application, read saman vs permohonan.