Civil Lawyer in Israel
· By Adv. Reut Eliyahu, Advocate & Notary
Civil law in Israel governs disputes between individuals, families, property owners and businesses - unpaid debts, broken contracts, damage claims, business and partner conflicts, urgent injunctions and claims brought against you. Eliyahu & Co. represents clients in Israel and abroad in each of these, and Adv. Reut Eliyahu handles every matter personally.
Civil law in Israel at a glance
A civil litigation lawyer in Israel represents people and businesses in non-criminal disputes: money and contract claims, business conflicts, negligence and damage, injunctions, and defending a lawsuit. "Civil" here means private disputes between parties, as opposed to criminal cases brought by the State. Claims are heard by the Magistrates' Court (up to NIS 2,500,000) and the District Court, under the Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018. Israel has a single legal profession, so the same advocate handles a case from the demand letter through trial and appeal.
Talk to us about your matter →
Since 2007
Practising law in Israel
★★★★★
Google Business Profile
EN · HE · ES
Languages of service
Remote
Israel & worldwide
What does a civil lawyer in Israel do?
A civil lawyer in Israel represents clients in non-criminal disputes (money, contracts, damage and business conflicts) before the Israeli civil courts, under the Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018.
- Assessment and demand: the evidence, the remedy and a formal letter.
- Choosing the route: court, Execution Office, or negotiation and mediation.
- Urgent relief: an injunction or attachment when delay would cause harm.
- Judgment and after: collecting the judgment, or an appeal.
Send us the claim or letter you received, and we will tell you the deadline and the options. Tell us about your matter →
| Which court | Magistrates' Court up to NIS 2,500,000 on the day of filing; above that, the District Court (Section 51, Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984) |
|---|---|
| Small Claims Court | Up to NIS 39,900 in 2026, updated every year; a lawyer may represent a party only with the court's permission |
| Procedure | Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018, in force since January 2021 |
| Statement of defence | As a rule, within 60 days of service of the claim; the court may extend it (Regulation 9) |
| MAHUT meeting | One free meeting with a mediator in civil claims above NIS 40,000, with some exceptions (Regulation 37) |
| Expedited procedure | Money claims of up to NIS 75,000 (Chapter 12) |
| Court fee | 2.5% of a money claim, in two halves: on filing, and no later than 20 days before the first evidentiary hearing (Regulation 6, Courts Regulations (Fees), 5767-2007) |
| Limitation period | Seven years from the cause of action, as a general rule (Section 5, Limitation Law, 5718-1958) |
| Without a judgment | Cheques and bills, and liquidated sums of up to NIS 75,000, can be filed at the Execution Office (Sections 81A, 81A1, Execution Law, 5727-1967) |
| Breach of contract | Enforcement or cancellation, with damages in addition or instead (Section 2, Contracts (Remedies for Breach of Contract) Law, 5731-1970) |
| Negligence | A civil wrong under Section 35 of the Civil Wrongs Ordinance [New Version] |
Civil Legal Services - Eliyahu & Co. Law Office
Eliyahu & Co. is a civil, commercial and real estate law firm serving clients throughout Israel. The firm represents individuals, families, investors and companies at every stage of a civil dispute - from the first assessment and a demand letter, through negotiation and urgent applications, to a full trial, enforcement and appeal. Overseas clients are represented remotely.
These are the civil matters we handle. Where a matter has its own page, the link below the description takes you to it.
Civil Litigation in Court
Filing and defending claims in the Magistrates' and District Courts: pleadings, preliminary hearings, disclosure, affidavits, cross-examination, judgment and appeal. At the start we check which court and procedure apply and plan the timing, because each affects the cost and the length of the case.
Money Claims & Debt Recovery
Unpaid loans, bounced cheques, unpaid invoices and broken payment arrangements. Some debts go straight to the Execution Office without a judgment; others need a court claim first. We choose the route that fits the documents you hold, and then take the steps to collect.
Contract Disputes
A customer, supplier, contractor or partner who did not perform. Israeli law lets the injured party enforce the contract or cancel it, and claim damages. Cancellation is made by notice within a reasonable time after you learn of the breach, so the first letter is worth drafting with care.
Commercial & Business Conflicts
When the people who own or run a business fall out, or two companies end up in court or in arbitration, the dispute turns on the company documents, the agreements between the owners and what can be protected while the case runs.
Injunctions & Urgent Relief
When waiting for a judgment would cause harm that money cannot easily repair, the court can act at the start of the case with a temporary injunction or an attachment. These applications are prepared as a priority.
Torts, Negligence & Damages
Claims for loss caused by another's fault: negligence, property damage, nuisance from a neighbour, professional liability and unjust enrichment. Road and work accidents and other bodily injuries have their own page.
Defending a Claim
Not every client is the one suing. We defend individuals and businesses who received a statement of claim, a demand letter or an Execution Office warning - including clients abroad who learned of a case only after a judgment was given.
Cross-Border Civil Matters
An Israeli party on one side and a foreign client, contract or judgment on the other: service of documents abroad, security for costs, foreign law proved by an expert opinion, and enforcement of foreign judgments in Israel.
Not sure where your matter fits?
Tell us what happened and we will tell you where you stand. Call +972-74-704-7104 or write to us below.
Civil Litigation in Israel, Step by Step
Israel has no single "Code of Civil Procedure". Civil cases are governed by the Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018, in force since 1 January 2021 in place of the 1984 regulations, together with the Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984. The judge manages the case actively and pushes the parties to narrow the dispute early. The first question is always where the claim belongs.
Small Claims Court
For private individuals with small money claims, up to NIS 39,900 in 2026. A simple, fast procedure in which each side usually argues for itself; a lawyer appears only with the court's permission.
Magistrates' Court
Money claims of up to NIS 2,500,000 on the day of filing (Section 51 of the Courts Law). Most civil claims start here, including those of up to NIS 75,000 in the shorter expedited procedure.
District Court
Larger claims and certain subject matters, and appeals from the Magistrates' Court. A judgment the District Court gave as a first instance can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Claim and defence
The plaintiff files a statement of claim with the documents it relies on. The defendant then files a statement of defence within the time set by Regulation 9 - as a rule, 60 days from service.
MAHUT meeting
MAHUT is a compulsory information meeting with a mediator. In civil claims above NIS 40,000, with some exceptions, the parties attend one free meeting (Regulation 37). Attending is compulsory; continuing to mediation is voluntary.
Preliminary hearing
The judge defines the issues in dispute, sets the timetable for disclosure and evidence, and often proposes a settlement. Many cases end at this stage.
Evidence and trial
The court decides whether witnesses give their main evidence orally or by written affidavit (Regulation 67). Experts file opinions where needed, and witnesses are cross-examined in court. There is no jury: a professional judge decides. Closing arguments are usually filed in writing.
Judgment and enforcement
An unpaid judgment is collected through the Execution Office, which can attach bank accounts, wages and property. An appeal against the judgment is filed within 60 days of its service on the party (Regulation 137).
💡 Before any of this: most civil disputes begin with a demand letter, and many end there. The old "summary procedure" no longer exists; cheques and clear debts now go straight to enforcement or to the expedited track.
How long it takes: according to Courts Administration data, an ordinary civil case takes on average about 11 months in the Magistrates' Court and about 20 months in the District Court. Many end earlier, at the demand letter, the MAHUT meeting or the preliminary hearing.
Sued in Israel While Living Abroad
People who left Israel years ago still own property here, signed guarantees here, or have family and business ties here. When a dispute arises, the claim may be filed in Israel, and the first sign of it can be an email from a relative or a letter from the Execution Office. The dates matter, so it is worth acting as soon as anything arrives.
Service abroad
A claim against someone abroad is served under the Israeli court rules. Where that person lives in a country that is party to the Hague Service Convention (Israel joined in 1972), it can be served through the Convention. Whether and when you were properly served decides your deadline.
60 days to respond
As a rule, that time runs from the day you were served (Regulation 9). If it is not filed, the court may give judgment without hearing you. We check the dates first, and ask for more time where the rules allow it.
Setting aside a judgment
A judgment given without a defence is not always the end. The court that gave it can set it aside. If you were not properly served, that is usually enough; otherwise the court looks at why no defence was filed and, above all, whether you have a real defence on the merits. The application is due, as a rule, within 30 days of receiving the judgment (Regulation 131).
A client living in the United States was sued in Israel without ever receiving the statement of claim. The first he heard of it was a warning letter from the Execution Office, sent after a default judgment had already been given against him. We had the default judgment set aside, conducted the proceedings on his behalf, and the claim against him was dismissed in full.
Every case turns on its own facts. This case does not predict the outcome of another.
If you received court papers, a demand letter or an Execution Office warning from Israel, send us a copy. We tell you what it is, what the deadline is, and what can be done - and we tell you how to sign the power of attorney from where you are.
Civil Matters for Clients in Israel and Abroad
The legal service is the same wherever you are: the matter is handled in Israel, before the Israeli court or authority that has jurisdiction. What changes is how we work together.
Clients in Israel
Private individuals, families and businesses with a debt to collect, a contract that was broken, damage to their property or a claim filed against them. We meet at our Herzliya Pituach office or on Zoom, and act for clients throughout Israel. Every step is explained in Hebrew or English before it happens.
Clients anywhere in the world
You live abroad, and the other party, the property or the money is in Israel. We run the matter here and report to you in English, by phone, video, WhatsApp or email, at times that suit your time zone. We tell you at the start how to sign the power of attorney from where you are.
A court may order a plaintiff who lives abroad to deposit security for the defendant's costs (Regulation 157), and we raise that with you before filing. If the case turns on a foreign law, we arrange the expert opinion that proves it.
| Who decides | A professional judge. Israel has no jury trials. |
|---|---|
| Pre-trial discovery | Documents and written questionnaires. There are no US-style oral depositions. |
| Witness evidence | Main evidence orally or by written affidavit, as the court decides, then cross-examination in court (Regulation 67) |
| Legal costs | The losing party is generally ordered to pay the winner reasonable legal costs, often less than the costs actually incurred (Regulations 151-153) |
| Language | Proceedings are in Hebrew; foreign-language documents may need a certified translation, though English exhibits are often accepted |
| Lawyers | One profession: any member of the Israel Bar may appear in every court |
Related Practice Areas
Civil disputes often overlap with property, company and inheritance matters. A failed sale can become a co-ownership dispute; a shareholder conflict can turn on a contract; an estate can end in court. These pages cover the neighbouring areas.
Not every dispute fits neatly into a single category. A contract dispute may also involve unjust enrichment, property rights, control of a company or urgent injunctive relief. The first step is a careful assessment of the facts, the available remedies and the most effective path forward.
Civil Legal Experience Built Since 2007
Civil litigation is one of the firm's main areas of work, alongside contracts, money claims, damage claims, real estate and business conflicts. Clients receive direct legal oversight, a practical strategy and clear communication from start to finish.
Focused Civil Practice
Contracts, money claims, damage and business disputes, handled by the same attorney from the first letter to judgment.
Direct Attorney Contact
Adv. Reut Eliyahu handles your matter herself and answers to you directly.
International Client Capability
Representation for overseas individuals, families and businesses with a dispute in Israel.
Strategy Before Procedure
Every matter is assessed for leverage, timing, settlement options, evidence and exposure before anything is filed.
How Civil Lawyer Fees Are Usually Structured
Civil lawyer fees in Israel have three parts. The legal fee is set by the nature of the work and agreed in writing before it begins, stage by stage, plus VAT - there is no hourly meter. The court fee is 2.5% of a money claim, paid in two halves: on a NIS 200,000 claim that is NIS 5,000, with NIS 2,500 paid on filing and NIS 2,500 before the first evidentiary hearing. Costs at the end of the case: the court generally orders the losing party to pay the winner reasonable legal costs (Regulations 151-153), often less than the costs actually incurred.
Defined Legal Tasks
A demand letter, a legal opinion or a contract review - a clear task, quoted in advance.
Court Proceedings
Agreed before filing, according to the claim, the court and whether the other side is expected to defend.
Urgent Applications
Injunctions and attachments are prepared urgently, and the fee reflects that concentrated work.
Court Fees & Costs
Separate from the legal fee: the government court fee (2.5% of a money claim, paid in two halves), experts and translations. We tell you about them before they arise.
Want to know what your matter would cost?
No obligation. You get a quote before any work starts.
Adv. Reut Eliyahu
Founder & Managing Attorney · LL.B & MBA · Licensed Notary · Registered Arbitrator · Israel Bar member since 2007
Adv. Reut Eliyahu leads Eliyahu & Co. Law Office in Herzliya Pituach, with a practice in civil, commercial and real estate law. She represents clients in civil claims and defences, contract and money disputes, property conflicts, urgent applications, business disputes and cross-border matters with an Israeli side.
Clients work directly with her, from the first meeting to the end of the case. That matters in civil proceedings, where timing, procedural choices and the way documents are prepared can decide the outcome. Her training as a registered arbitrator shapes how she presents a case - what the decision-maker needs to see, and in what order. The firm serves clients in Israel and abroad, including the Jewish diaspora, overseas property owners and foreign businesses, in English, Hebrew and Spanish. About the firm →
What Our Clients Say
Reviews from the firm's clients
Real reviews from clients who trusted the firm with their legal matters in Israel, on its Google Business Profile.
The stars in this section are the rating on the firm's Google Business Profile. The rating at the top of the page is the visitor rating for this page only. They are two different measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from Israeli residents and international clients about civil disputes, lawsuits and legal representation in Israel.
A civil dispute in Israel? Start with a clear assessment.
Where you stand, which route fits, and a fee agreed in writing in advance - whether you are suing or being sued.
Sun-Thu 08:00-19:00 · Fri 08:00-13:00 (Israel time) · Phone, Zoom or fully remoteGet in Touch - Free First Consultation
Tell us briefly about your civil matter - who is involved, what happened and whether anything is urgent. We respond within one business day.
4 HaOgen St.
Herzliya Pituach, Israel
Sun - Thu: 08:00 - 19:00
Fri: 08:00 - 13:00
A civil dispute in Israel? Let's look at it together.
Money claims, contract and business disputes, urgent injunctions and claims brought against you, for clients in Israel and abroad - handled personally by Adv. Reut Eliyahu. Free first consultation, no obligation.
Israel office Sun-Thu 08:00-19:00, Fri 08:00-13:00 · Herzliya Pituach, by Zoom or fully remote · Fees agreed in writing in advance