The Unit for the Location and Restitution of Unclaimed Property, a special division of Israel’s Ministry of Justice (under the Administrator General’s Office), plays a role in reuniting people with unclaimed assets in Israel. When property, such as parcels of land, old homes, or bank accounts, is left with no active owner, the government safeguards those assets through this Unit.
Its primary task is to manage and protect unclaimed property, and importantly, to locate the rightful owners or heirs so that these assets can be returned to their rightful owners instead of remaining with the state.
How Does The Unit Locate Heirs?
The Unit often conducts lineage research and even sends official letters worldwide to find potential heirs. If you or your family receive a notice from this Unit, it likely means there is unclaimed property in Israel that could belong to you and your family.
For heirs, this Unit’s work is excellent news – it creates an opportunity to recover a family property that might have been forgotten for decades. However, being contacted by the Unit is just the first step. You will still need to prove your entitlement to that asset through the proper legal channels and complete the task.
Proving Your Right to Property
This involves gathering documents (like birth and death certificates, wills, etc.) and obtaining Israeli inheritance or probate orders that establish you as the rightful heir. The Unit has an internal review process (a committee that examines your evidence) and will only release the property once they are convinced you are the right heir and you have completed all legal work. The unit cannot be your attorney and can only instruct you in the next steps.
All of this can seem not simple, especially if you live outside Israel, but that’s where we simplify, and our firm’s experience becomes invaluable.
How Our Israeli Law Firm Works Strategically
With over 20 years of proven experience in locating and reclaiming abandoned assets in Israel, our team has guided many U.S., U.K., and other international clients through this exact process. We specialize in locating unclaimed property in Israel and handling every step required to reclaim it. We provide a personalized, end-to-end journey – from verifying your family lineage with a comprehensive family tree and supporting documents, to filing the necessary applications in Israeli probate courts, and addressing the Unit’s requirements on your behalf.
We know how to solve Israeli bureaucracy, clear any challenges on the property, and address any questions the authorities might have. Our firm is proud of its proven track record in successfully reuniting heirs with their family’s legacy and assets. Clients often praise our responsiveness and personal guidance through what can otherwise be a complex.
Selling the Property After Restitution
Another essential aspect to consider is what happens after you reclaim the property. In many cases, heirs choose to sell the reclaimed property in Israel once it’s officially in their name. As an Israeli law firm specializing in real estate transactions, we help clients seamlessly transition from restitution to sale. This means that after we secure the inheritance orders and the Unit releases the asset, we can handle the sale of the property for you from start to finish. We coordinate all layers needed to sell an Israeli property – preparing the title transfer in the Israel Land Registry (Tabu), finding buyers, and ensuring all legal paperwork is handled to the T. We also take care of tax layers, employing strategies to aggressively minimize these taxes. Hence, you retain as much of your proceeds as possible. Our goal is to maximize the value of your inheritance and make sure the sale process is done the right way.
TL;DR: The Unit for the Location and Restitution of Unclaimed Property is there to help return forgotten assets to their rightful owners and offspring. With an experienced Israeli attorney at our firm by your side, what starts as a surprising letter about unclaimed property can end as a successful story of reclaiming your family’s legacy and turning it into a positive, tangible result. We combine in-depth knowledge of Israeli inheritance law with hands-on support, enabling you to move forward with confidence.
Contact Our Firm for A Complimentary Consultation
Our firm and I are here to form A to Z in Israel on your behalf – from the initial notice all the way through to selling the property – allowing you to recover what’s yours without unnecessary delay, efficiently and safely. It’s a rewarding process, and we’re proud to help clients worldwide benefit from Israel’s commitment to restituting unclaimed property as smoothly and beneficially as possible. Please call us at 888-923-0022 or use our online form for a free consultation with our Founder, Rahav D. Aharoni, Adv.
