Probate law in Israel is governed by the Succession Law of 1965 (‘Succession Law’). The Israeli probate courts, also known as the “Registrar” and “Family Court”, have jurisdiction over the estate of any person who at the time of his or her death was a resident of Israel, or who left property, assets, chattels, or real estate in Israel. The default presumption of the law is stated in Section 1 of the Succession Law, which is that a man’s estate passes on to his heirs upon his death. This includes his fiscal assets, property, real estate, copyrights, etc.

After a person passes away, the fate of their property must be decided. Succession law in Israel is highly complex and requires the guidance of an expert in Israeli inheritance law. We help international heirs to navigate through the highly complex Israeli inheritance process. Depending on the specifics of the case, the entire process can be accomplished quickly, or it can take time. Under Israeli law, the rules of inheritance are subject to the jurisdiction where the decedent (deceased) passed away and/or owned property at the time of his or her death.

How Assets Are Bequeathed in Israel?

Israeli Probate law stipulates that there are two different ways inherited assets may be bequeathed to heirs: either by will or by law.

If the deceased has left a will, the Israeli estate will be divided among the heir/s as stipulated in the will, unless an objection is submitted to the registrar and from there to court.

If the deceased hasn’t left a will, his/her death is termed “intestate”. At this point, the law becomes significantly more complex and requires a detailed examination by an experienced Israeli attorney to fully understand and distinguish the entitlements that each type of relative/heir receives under Israeli law. Israeli Probate Law provides a stipulated percentage of the estate to a deceased’s heirs according to their relationship with the deceased in a specified order of priority/preference.

Relatives of an individual who died intestate in Israel are entitled to inherit the following percentages of the Israeli estate:

• The deceased’s spouse at the time of death will get 50% of any real estate in the Israeli estate and 100% of all non-real estate assets.
  (Note: the surviving spouse is the only relationship mentioned here who isn’t related to the deceased by blood; this may also include a common-law spouse);
• The deceased’s offspring, including illegitimate and adopted children and their offspring, will get 50% of any real estate of the Israeli Estate and 0% of the non-real estate like a bank account, pension fund, chattels, cars, etc.
• The deceased’s parents, grandparents, and their offspring.

An Israeli Judge Plays a Crucial Role in Asset Distribution

The inheritance is structured to prioritize the deceased’s spouse and children. The spouse receives 1/2 of the estate, while the children receive the other 1/2, divided equally among them. This arrangement gives precedence to these heirs over the parents of the deceased and their offspring, and further over the grandparents of the deceased.

The spouse will inherit the entire estate only if the deceased has no children, siblings, or parents. Otherwise, the spouse is entitled to half the estate if the deceased is survived by children or parents and to two-thirds of the estate if the deceased is survived by grandparents, siblings, or other relatives.

As mentioned above, the spouse is also entitled to inherit 100% of the deceased’s movable property, including motor vehicles, which were part of the shared household. According to the Israeli Succession Law, the assets belonging to the surviving spouse are not part of the estate which is to be inherited. These assets may include up to half of the value of the couple’s assets due to the operation of the Spouses (Property Relations) Law 5733 – 1973, the principles of joint ownership of property, or a property relations agreement (for example, a prenuptial agreement or ‘prenup’).

Petitioning for a Succession Order Under Israeli Inheritance Law

When it comes to inheritance without an Israeli will, the process begins with a petition for a succession order. This petition, which can be submitted to the Registrar’s office in Tel Aviv if the deceased was not an Israeli resident, initiates the distribution of the estate to the heirs. The petition then moves to the family court, where a decree is issued. This decree, a valid judicial order, does not expire and can be enforced years after its issuance.

The probate court order, while not detailing the distribution of assets among the heirs, is crucial in determining the identity of the heirs and their respective percentage inheritance rights.

Learn more about Inheritance Laws in Israel.

A large number of documents, including the following, must accompany the probate petition:

• Drafting a probate petition from A to Z, including translation.
• Foreign law opinion regarding the Domicile of the deceased.
• A Succession Order petition alongside an affidavit signed by the petitioner, who must be one of the heirs, the estate manager, or a creditor of an heir. The petitioner’s declaration must be verified by an attorney, notary, judge, or head of the local council or your local Israeli consulate.
• An original death certificate. If the deceased passed away outside of Israel, an Apostille is required.
• Formal notices will be sent to all remaining heirs, notifying them of the Succession Order Petition, including the heirs above’ signatures or confirmation of delivery of the notices by registered mail.

Amending or Annulling an Israeli Succession Order

The Israeli Succession Registrar and the family court may amend a Succession Order (or a Probate Order, which is discussed in a separate article). Only if a court of law grants the order may that court annul or amend it. Any interested party may request to revoke a Succession Order; this right is not limited to the estate’s heirs. Our law firm, with its deep understanding and extensive experience in this area, is well-equipped to guide you through this process.

A significant scenario that can lead to the annulment of a Succession Order is the discovery of a will in Israel after the order is given. This underscores the importance of thorough estate planning. In such a case, the succession order may be annulled, and a probate order regarding the will must be requested.

Understanding your potential tax liabilities, especially if you reside in a country that imposes inheritance/estate taxes like the United Kingdom, is crucial. It’s important to note that Israel has no Estate/Death/Inheritance tax. To determine your tax liability, we strongly recommend consulting with our law firm.

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Consulting with an experienced Israeli inheritance lawyer will simplify the process and generate the desired results. Our law firm, with offices conveniently located in Tel Aviv, New York, Los Angeles, California, and Florida, is ready to assist you. We invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with our firm to discuss how we can successfully handle your Israeli estate matters. By doing so, you can rest assured that your inheritance or estate matters are in capable hands.

We submit and manage probate petitions to the Israeli courts weekly, representing international clients from the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, and Israel. Please contact us in the US or Canada at 888-923-0022 or in Israel at (972) 3.9055478 or (972) 50.7322688 to schedule a discussion regarding the specifics of your case.