Making a will in Israel
Israeli succession law recognises four forms of will, and the form you choose decides how easily the document can later be challenged. We draft wills, certify them as a notary, and explain in advance what will happen to each asset — property in Israel, accounts abroad, a business share.
Which forms of will are valid in Israel
Under the Succession Law, 1965, a will may be handwritten, made before witnesses, made before an authority, or made orally by a person on their deathbed. The handwritten will must be written, dated and signed entirely by the testator. The witnessed will needs two witnesses who are not beneficiaries. A will made before an authority — a notary, a judge or the Registrar of Inheritance — carries the strongest evidentiary weight, because the official confirms the testator’s identity and capacity at the moment of signing.
An oral will applies only to someone who believes death is imminent, and it expires one month after the circumstances pass.
Why clients choose a notarial will
A notarial will is treated as a will made before a court. The notary records that the testator understood the document and acted of free will, which removes the most common ground of challenge — a claim that the testator was not lucid or was pressured. For an elderly testator, or where the family situation is complicated, this is usually worth the extra step.
What we do
- Review the estate and identify assets that need special treatment: real estate, company shares, pension and insurance savings, foreign accounts.
- Draft the will in Hebrew, with a certified translation into English, Russian or Ukrainian if you need one.
- Certify the will as notary, in our office or at your home or hospital where the testator cannot travel.
- Deposit the will with the Registrar of Inheritance, if you want it kept in the state register.
Frequently asked questions
Does a will have to be written in Hebrew?
No, but it is strongly advisable. An Israeli court will accept a will in another language, yet it will require a certified translation, and every ambiguity of translation becomes a potential ground for dispute. Drafting in Hebrew with a certified translation for the family removes that risk.
What happens if there is no will?
The estate is distributed according to the statutory order set by the Succession Law: the spouse takes part of the estate together with the children, or with the parents and their descendants where there are no children. The statutory order rarely matches what people assume, which is why an estate without a will so often ends in litigation between relatives.
Can I include property located outside Israel?
You can, but the law of the country where the property is situated may take priority, particularly for real estate. In such cases we usually recommend a will in Israel covering Israeli assets and a coordinated will in the other jurisdiction.
Can a will be changed later?
Yes. A will can be revoked or replaced at any time while the testator is of sound mind, and the later document prevails. Any provision that purports to prevent the testator from changing the will has no effect.
How much does a notarial will cost?
Certification of a will before a notary is charged according to the official tariff of the Ministry of Justice, which is identical for every notary in Israel and updated on 1 January each year; VAT is added. Drafting the text is separate legal work and is quoted before we start.
Talk to us
Offices in Tel Aviv, 125 Menachem Begin Rd (Kiryat HaMemshala), floor E2, and in Ashdod, 6 HaGdud HaIvri St, Top Sea Mall, 20th floor, office 9. Sunday to Thursday, 09:00–18:00, by appointment. Phone 08-8648090, WhatsApp 058-764-8090, yoffe.law@gmail.com.
