Israeli wills, foreign assets, and inheritance — drafted in English for Olim and overseas families.
If you have made Aliyah, returned to Israel after years abroad, or own assets here as a foreign citizen, you almost certainly have an estate that crosses borders. A bank account in New York, an apartment in Netanya, a pension in London, a brokerage account in Toronto — each sits under a different legal system, with different tax rules, different probate procedures, and different inheritance defaults. Without a properly drafted Israeli will (in Hebrew, tzava’a) coordinated with your foreign estate plan, your family can face years of cross-border probate, unnecessary taxes, and disputes that could have been avoided.
What We Handle
Drafting an Israeli Will in English
We draft your Israeli will in clear English, walk you through every clause, and prepare a parallel Hebrew version for execution. Israeli law recognizes several forms of will — handwritten (be-ktav yad), witnessed, before a notary, and before a court — and we choose the form that best matches your situation and the location of your assets.
Cross-Border Estate Coordination
An Israeli will should not contradict a will you signed abroad. We review your existing US, UK, Canadian, South African or French wills, identify conflicts, and coordinate the documents so that each will governs only the assets in its jurisdiction. We work with your foreign attorney or tax advisor where helpful.
Succession Orders (Tzav Yerusha) and Probate (Tzav Kiyum Tzava’a)
When a relative passes away leaving Israeli assets, the heirs must apply to the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs (Rasham Le-Inyenei Yerusha) for a succession order if there was no will, or for a probate order if there was. We handle the entire process — gathering documents, dealing with the Israeli embassy abroad if needed, and obtaining the order that lets banks, the Tabu and the Companies Registrar release assets.
Foreign Wills Recognized in Israel
Israel will generally recognize a foreign will if it was validly executed under the law of the country where it was signed. We obtain Israeli probate of foreign wills, including the apostille and certified translation steps required for US and UK documents.
Estate Tax and Israeli Tax Considerations
Israel has no estate tax, but heirs may face capital gains tax (mas shevach) on inherited real estate when sold, and US citizens remain exposed to US estate tax even on Israeli assets. We flag the issues and coordinate with your tax advisor.
Trusts, Family Companies, and Disputed Estates
For larger estates we draft Israeli family-company structures and supervised trusts. We also represent heirs in inheritance disputes before the Family Court (Beit Mishpat Le-Inyenei Mishpacha) when wills are contested or when a sibling claims an unequal share.
Why an English-Speaking Israeli Lawyer Matters
A will is not the place for a translation app. The wording must precisely match Israeli inheritance law (Chok Ha-Yerusha), but you also need to fully understand exactly who receives what, and what happens if a beneficiary predeceases you or if your circumstances change. Drafting in English with a licensed Israeli lawyer means you make every decision with full understanding, and you sign a document that will hold up in an Israeli court fifteen or twenty years from now.
Who We Help
We work with Olim from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom who own Israeli property and want a local will to coordinate with their foreign one; with Anglosaxon retirees in Netanya, Ra’anana and Herzliya planning their estate; with returning Israelis with assets in two or three countries; with foreign citizens who own Israeli investment property and need an Israeli will; and with the heirs of relatives who passed away leaving Israeli assets and need probate or a succession order.
The Process — What to Expect
We start with a conversation about your family, your assets in Israel and abroad, and what you want to happen. We then draft a will, review it with you in detail in English, and refine it until it is exactly right. Final execution takes place in our Netanya office, with the required witnesses or before a notary depending on the form you choose. For probate or succession matters, the process is paperwork-driven and typically takes two to four months from filing to receipt of the order.
Get in Touch
To discuss an Israeli will, a cross-border estate plan, or probate of a relative’s estate, call our Netanya office at +972-72-221-7300 or use the contact form on this site. Initial consultations are in English and focused on understanding your situation before recommending any document.
