A well-drafted will ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes and protects your family from disputes. Shoshi Arbib brings expertise in both Israeli inheritance law and practical estate planning. (Shoshi Arbib Law Office.)
A well-drafted will ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes and protects your family from disputes. Shoshi Arbib brings expertise in both Israeli inheritance law and practical estate planning.
Services Include
- Individual and mutual wills
- Inheritance disputes and mediation
- Estate planning advice
- Probate and estate administration
Types of Valid Wills in Israel
| Type | Requirements | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Handwritten | Entirely handwritten and signed by the testator | Simple estates; no witnesses required |
| Witnessed | Signed before 2 witnesses who are not beneficiaries | Most common; typed will acceptable |
| Before authority | Made before a judge, notary, or inheritance registrar | Highest validity; hardest to contest |
| Oral (deathbed) | Declared before 2 witnesses when death is imminent | Emergency only; recorded within 48 hours |
Mandatory Inheritance Share
Even with a valid will, a spouse and minor children are entitled to a mandatory share of the estate under Section 11 of the Inheritance Law. This amounts to approximately half of what they would receive under intestate succession, and cannot be waived by the will. Estate planning must account for this to avoid post-death disputes.
The Will Registry
Israel's Inheritance Registrar maintains a Will Registry (Rasham Hatzavaot) where you can deposit your will for safekeeping. Registration does not affect the will's validity but ensures the document is found after death — even if the original copy is lost or the testator's attorney is no longer in practice. Registration details are kept confidential during the testator's lifetime. We strongly recommend filing there in addition to keeping a copy with your attorney.
How to Create a Will in Israel — Step by Step
- Consult an estate planning attorney — An attorney who is also a CPA can help you assess your assets, understand your rights and obligations, and decide which type of will is most appropriate for your situation.
- Choose the will type — Decide between a handwritten will, a witnessed will, a will made before an authority (judge, notary, or inheritance registrar), or an oral deathbed will. Each type has specific formal requirements under Israeli law.
- Draft the will with precision — The will must clearly identify beneficiaries, specify exactly what each receives, and account for the mandatory inheritance share of a spouse and minor children under the Succession Law of 1965.
- Execute the will correctly — Sign before two non-beneficiary witnesses (witnessed will), in your own handwriting throughout (handwritten will), or before an authority such as the inheritance registrar at the Ministry of Justice.
- Register with the Will Registry — Deposit the will with the Inheritance Registrar (Rasham Hatzavaot) at the Ministry of Justice. Registration ensures the document is located after death and kept confidential during your lifetime.
What happens if someone dies without a will in Israel?
A person who dies without a valid will in Israel is considered to have died intestate, and their estate is divided among legal heirs under the Succession Law of 1965 — spouse, children, and sometimes parents — in proportions set by law. A properly drafted will is the only way to choose who inherits.
What makes a will legally valid under Israeli law?
The Israeli Succession Law recognizes four types of valid wills: handwritten (entirely in the testator's own handwriting), attested by witnesses (signed before two non-beneficiary witnesses), made before an authority (judge, notary, or inheritance registrar at the Ministry of Justice), or oral (only for those facing imminent death). A will failing formal requirements may be invalidated by the court.
Official References: Israel Ministry of Justice — Succession · Israeli Courts Administration · Israel Land Authority · National Insurance Institute of Israel · Israel Tax Authority
Shoshi Arbib Law Office — Attorney | CPA | Mediator, Netanya, Israel.
