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Foreign Legal Opinion for New York Residents
New York City · Manhattan · Brooklyn · Queens · Long Island · Westchester · Buffalo · Albany
New York is the largest source of US clients for foreign legal opinions related to Israeli inheritance. When the deceased was domiciled in New York and left assets in Israel, the foreign legal opinion must address the New York Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) and the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act (SCPA) governing intestacy distribution, the validity of New York wills, and the rights of surviving spouses under New York's elective share rules. Apostille certification is obtained through the New York Department of State.
Our firm handles every step: drafting the opinion in Hebrew and English, obtaining Apostille for New York-issued documents (death certificate, will, court orders), and coordinating with the New York Surrogate's Court where simultaneous proceedings are needed. We work regularly with New York heirs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island and Westchester - entirely remotely, with no travel to Israel required.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for California Residents
Los Angeles · San Francisco · San Diego · Sacramento · San Jose · Beverly Hills · Orange County
California has the second-largest Israeli-American community in the US. When the deceased was domiciled in California and left assets in Israel, the foreign legal opinion must address the California Probate Code - including the community property rules, the rules of intestate succession under Sections 6400-6414, and California's special procedures for small estates. Apostille is obtained through the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.
The firm maintains a Los Angeles office at 5240 Premiere Hills, Woodland Hills for in-person consultations, with a US direct line at +1-310-735-4210. Adv. Reut Eliyahu personally handles California-related foreign legal opinions, including matters involving California Living Trusts and Revocable Trusts that hold Israeli assets - a complex sub-specialty requiring careful coordination between California law and Israeli inheritance procedures.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for Florida Residents
Miami · Miami Beach · Boca Raton · Fort Lauderdale · Tampa · Orlando · Jacksonville · Palm Beach
Florida is a major retirement destination for Israelis - particularly in Miami Beach, Aventura, Sunny Isles, Hollywood and Boca Raton. Many Florida residents own Israeli apartments they purchased decades earlier or inherited from family members. When the deceased was a Florida domiciliary, the foreign legal opinion must address the Florida Probate Code (Chapter 731-735, Florida Statutes), the homestead protections under Article X of the Florida Constitution, and Florida's elective-share statute.
Apostille certification is processed through the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee. We routinely coordinate with Florida-based probate attorneys for clients with parallel Florida proceedings, and provide all documentation suitable for IRS Form 8938 (FATCA) and FinCEN 114 (FBAR) reporting on inherited Israeli assets.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for Texas Residents
Houston · Dallas · Austin · San Antonio · Fort Worth · El Paso
Texas is a community property state - a feature that significantly affects how Israeli assets are characterized and distributed under Texas inheritance law. When the deceased was domiciled in Texas, the foreign legal opinion must address the Texas Estates Code (Title 2, Chapters 201-203 on intestate succession), the special community property characterization rules, and the Texas independent administration procedures that distinguish Texas probate from most other US states.
Apostille is obtained through the Texas Secretary of State. We work with Texas heirs in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio - entirely by Zoom, email and Apostille-certified Power of Attorney executed before a Texas notary.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for New Jersey Residents
Newark · Jersey City · Hoboken · Princeton · Teaneck · Lakewood · Englewood · Bergen County
New Jersey hosts large concentrations of Israeli families - particularly in Teaneck, Englewood, Lakewood and Bergen County. When the deceased was a New Jersey domiciliary, the foreign legal opinion must address Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes (Administration of Estates), the New Jersey rules of intestate succession, and the elective-share provisions under N.J.S. 3B:8-1 through 3B:8-19.
Apostille is obtained through the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The proximity to New York means many New Jersey heirs have assets and family members in both states - we routinely handle cases where the foreign legal opinion needs to address both jurisdictions.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for Illinois Residents
Chicago · Skokie · Highland Park · Northbrook · Buffalo Grove · Glenview
Illinois has a substantial Jewish and Israeli community concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area - including Skokie, Highland Park, Northbrook and Glenview. When the deceased was an Illinois domiciliary, the foreign legal opinion must address the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/), the rules of intestate descent under Article II, and the surviving spouse's renunciation rights.
Apostille is processed through the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield. We work with Illinois heirs entirely remotely - Zoom consultations are typically scheduled for early morning Israel time (4-7 PM CST) to accommodate Chicago business hours.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for Massachusetts Residents
Boston · Cambridge · Newton · Brookline · Worcester · Sharon · Framingham
Massachusetts has a significant academic and Israeli community - particularly in the Greater Boston area, Newton, Brookline and Sharon. When the deceased was a Massachusetts domiciliary, the foreign legal opinion must address the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MGL Chapter 190B), the rules of intestate succession in MGL c. 190B § 2-101 et seq., and the spousal elective share provisions.
Apostille is processed through the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts also recognizes Living Trusts created under M.G.L. c. 203E (the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code) - we provide foreign legal opinions on the validity of these Trusts in Israeli inheritance proceedings.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for Pennsylvania Residents
Philadelphia · Pittsburgh · Allentown · Lower Merion · Bala Cynwyd · Elkins Park
Pennsylvania has historic Jewish communities in Philadelphia (particularly the Main Line, Lower Merion and Bala Cynwyd) and in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill area. When the deceased was a Pennsylvania domiciliary, the foreign legal opinion must address Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries Code), the intestate succession rules in 20 Pa. C.S. §§ 2101-2114, and the elective share provisions.
Apostille is processed through the Pennsylvania Department of State. Pennsylvania also imposes a state-level inheritance tax that does not affect Israeli assets but is relevant for the overall estate planning context - we coordinate with Pennsylvania estate counsel where needed.
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Foreign Legal Opinion for Arizona Residents
Phoenix · Scottsdale · Tucson · Mesa · Tempe · Sun City
Arizona is a growing destination for Israeli retirees and snowbirds - particularly Scottsdale, Phoenix and Tucson. Like Texas and California, Arizona is a community property state, which affects how Israeli assets are characterized when the deceased was a long-term Arizona resident. The foreign legal opinion must address Title 14 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (the Arizona Probate Code), the intestate succession provisions in A.R.S. § 14-2101 et seq., and the community property rules in Title 25.
Apostille is processed through the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix. We work with Arizona heirs entirely remotely - the two-hour time difference from California makes scheduling consultations straightforward.
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Foreign Legal Opinions for All Other US States
All 50 states covered · Apostille via each State Secretary of State
Beyond the nine major states detailed above, our firm provides foreign legal opinions for residents of every US state. Each state has its own probate code, intestate succession rules, and procedural requirements that must be addressed in the foreign legal opinion. The Apostille is processed through the relevant State Secretary of State.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming