Succession Order in Israel
Attorney-led filing for heirs in Israel and abroad — Eliyahu & Co. Law Office
What is a Succession Order in Israel?
A Succession Order (Tzav Yerusha) is the official legal document required in Israel when a person dies without a valid will. It formally establishes the legal heirs and authorises the transfer of Israeli assets — including real estate, bank accounts, and pension rights. The application is filed with the Israeli Registrar of Inheritance Affairs and, in most standard cases, does not require a court hearing. It is required whether the heirs reside in Israel or abroad.
When a person passes away in Israel without leaving a valid will, a Succession Order is required to formally determine the legal heirs and enable the transfer of assets in Israel — including real estate, bank accounts, and other rights. In most standard cases, the application is filed with the Israeli Registrar of Inheritance Affairs and does not require a court hearing.
Although the procedure may appear technical, delays frequently arise due to missing documents, foreign heirs, cross-border elements, name inconsistencies, or objections. This page focuses on attorney-led assistance with filing a succession order in Israel, for clients in Israel and abroad.
💡 Note: If a valid will exists, a Probate Order (Will Validation) is required instead. See our dedicated page: Probate (Will Validation) in Israel →
What Is a Succession Order Under Israeli Law?
A Succession Order (Tzav Yerusha) is a formal legal document issued by the Israeli Registrar of Inheritance Affairs or by the Family Court. It identifies the legal heirs of a person who died without a valid will, determines their respective shares of the estate, and serves as the legal basis for transferring assets in Israel — including property registered with the Israel Land Authority, bank accounts, and brokerage holdings.
Israeli inheritance law is governed primarily by the Succession Law, 5725-1965, which sets out a hierarchy of heirs: spouse and children first, then parents and siblings. Where no will exists, this statutory framework determines who inherits and in what proportions.
Why Our Firm
Eliyahu & Co. Law Office advises clients in civil and family law matters, including Israeli inheritance and succession proceedings. We assist heirs in Israel and internationally with structured filing, accurate documentation, and practical risk management.
Adv. Reut Eliyahu personally handles succession order matters. Clients receive direct attorney involvement, high availability, and clear communication in plain English — particularly important for international clients dealing with Israeli legal procedures.
What sets our firm apart:
✅ Adv. Reut Eliyahu personally handles every succession matter — no handoffs to junior associates
✅ Fluent English communication — critical for international heirs navigating an unfamiliar legal system
✅ Structured, checklist-driven approach — reducing supplementary demands and processing delays
✅ Cross-border experience — regularly handling apostilles, foreign document authentication, and coordination with overseas notaries
✅ Transparent fees and timelines — you know what to expect before we begin
Adv. Reut Eliyahu
Succession & Inheritance Law | Eliyahu & Co. Law Office
Eliyahu & Co. is a boutique law firm based in Herzliya, specialising in civil and family law. Adv. Reut Eliyahu is a licensed attorney (Israel Bar Association) and notary, with focused expertise in Israeli inheritance and succession proceedings, real estate transactions, and estate planning. Every matter is handled personally by Adv. Eliyahu from first consultation through final resolution.
We regularly assist heirs across jurisdictions — including clients in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, South America, and Australia — managing succession proceedings for Israeli assets entirely remotely where possible.
Most of our clients are long-term or referred by previous clients — a reflection of the trust we work hard to earn.
How we work: High availability and fast response · Structured preparation and early risk identification · Full transparency on timelines and fees · Clear, direct communication in plain English.
Scope of Legal Assistance
Our legal service covers the complete lifecycle of a succession order application in Israel — from an initial review of the family structure and heir relationships, preparation of all required declarations and affidavits, structured filing with the Registrar, management of the publication period, and handling of any follow-up requests.
Where complications arise — such as foreign heirs, deceased heirs with descendants, disputed family relationships, missing documentation, or objections — we provide full legal representation before the Registrar and, where necessary, before the Israeli Family Court.
Following issuance of the Succession Order, we can also assist with the subsequent steps: transferring title to real estate at the Israel Land Authority, handling bank account releases, and coordinating with relevant institutions to complete the estate settlement.
How the Succession Order Process Works in Israel
We review the family structure, identify all potential heirs, and assess whether any cross-border or documentary complications are present. We provide a clear checklist and a realistic timeline.
We guide you through collecting and authenticating all required documents — including the death certificate, photo ID for every heir, and foreign documents with apostille and certified Hebrew translations where applicable.
We prepare the application, declarations, and all supporting documentation. The application is filed with the Israeli Registrar of Inheritance Affairs, together with the required fees.
The application is published in the official gazette for a statutory period to allow any party to file an objection. We monitor this period and respond to any objections or Registrar queries promptly.
The Registrar issues the Succession Order, formally establishing the legal heirs and their shares. This order is then used to complete the transfer of assets — real estate, bank accounts, and other estate property.
We assist with the practical steps that follow: registering real estate in the heirs' names, releasing bank accounts, and coordinating with Israeli institutions to complete the process.
Required Documents
The required documents depend on the circumstances of the case and the heirs' locations. Early checklist preparation is key to avoiding delays.
📄 Death certificate — Israeli or foreign. Foreign death certificates typically require an Apostille and a notarized Hebrew translation.
🪪 Identification of all heirs — A valid, government-issued photo ID is required for each heir: an Israeli identity card (Teudat Zehut) for Israeli residents, or a current passport for heirs residing abroad. Missing or illegible IDs are one of the most common causes of processing delays.
🌍 Foreign documents — must be authenticated with an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) and accompanied by a certified Hebrew translation prepared by a licensed translator.
Succession Orders for Clients Abroad
We regularly assist heirs residing outside Israel who need a succession order for assets located in Israel. This often involves coordination of foreign documents, apostille formalities, notarized Hebrew translations, and representation before Israeli authorities — often without requiring the client's physical presence in Israel.
Common international scenarios we handle:
🇺🇸 US-based heir inheriting Israeli property or bank accounts
🇬🇧 UK resident managing an Israeli estate after a parent's passing
🌎 South American or European family coordinating foreign apostille documents for an Israeli succession application
🇮🇱 Israeli expats who need succession proceedings while living abroad
Common Pitfalls (and How We Prevent Delays)
In our experience, the most frequent sources of delay are entirely preventable with proper legal preparation:
⚠️ Name inconsistencies — Discrepancies between the deceased's name on the death certificate, the Israeli population registry, foreign IDs, and property records. These must be reconciled before filing.
⚠️ Incomplete authentication — Foreign documents without the required Apostille or certified translation will be rejected, adding weeks to the process.
⚠️ Missing or illegible heir IDs — Photo ID copies that are unclear, expired, or missing for any heir are among the most frequent causes of supplementary demands from the Registrar.
⚠️ Objections during publication — A third party may file an objection. Without legal representation, heirs often do not know how to respond effectively.
⚠️ Unclear asset status — Assets that have not been properly identified may not transfer smoothly even after the Succession Order is issued.
Our structured approach — beginning with a thorough pre-filing review — identifies and resolves these issues before they cause delays, reducing the overall timeline and avoiding frustrating back-and-forth with the Registrar.
Succession Order vs. Probate Order: What's the Difference?
Under Israeli law, the route for settling an estate depends on whether the deceased left a valid will:
✅ Succession Order (Tzav Yerusha)
For estates where the deceased died without a valid will. Heirs are determined by the Israeli Succession Law's statutory hierarchy.
📜 Probate Order (Tzav Kiyum Tzava'a)
For estates where the deceased left a valid will. The will is validated and given legal effect through the probate process.
Not sure which applies? Application for a Probate Order in Israel →
Ready to File a Succession Order in Israel?
Send us a brief description of your case — including where the heirs reside and whether foreign documents are involved. We will respond with a personalised checklist, expected timeline, and the correct legal route for your matter.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation →📍 Herzliya, Israel | 📞 074-704-7104 | ✉️ office@israel-law.co
Succession Order in Israel — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions we receive from heirs in Israel and abroad regarding the succession order process under Israeli inheritance law.
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