Adv. Reut Eliyahu, personally
Every file is handled by Adv. Eliyahu herself, not by a junior lawyer or an assistant. She drafts the will, meets you and runs the case from start to finish.
Israel office: Sun-Thu 08:00-19:00 · US line: Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 PT
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Inheritance & Estate Lawyer in Israel
🕒 Updated: · By Adv. Reut Eliyahu, Notary
Wills, succession and probate orders, contested wills and estate disputes. For families in Israel and abroad, since 2007.
If you are looking for an inheritance and estate lawyer in Israel, to write a will, to obtain a succession or probate order, to contest a will or defend one in court, or to deal with an estate that has assets and heirs in more than one country, you are in the right place. Eliyahu & Co. has represented heirs, executors, people making a will and parties to inheritance disputes since 2007, and every file is handled personally by Adv. Reut Eliyahu.
2007Member of the
Israel Bar since
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What does an inheritance lawyer in Israel do?
An inheritance lawyer in Israel drafts wills, obtains succession and probate orders from the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs, and releases the estate to the heirs: bank accounts, investments and property at the Land Registry. When a will is contested or the heirs disagree, the lawyer represents them in the Family Court.
Inheritance files hide risks that are easy to miss: a will drafted carelessly that invites an objection, a deceased who lived abroad for years and whose Israeli records are out of date, an heir overseas who does not know that something has to be done, or an estate that passes by law because nobody realized the deceased had a second citizenship. Any one of these can hold an estate up for years.
Eliyahu & Co. has worked in inheritance and wills since 2007, on both sides. We draft wills and obtain succession orders, and we also represent clients in the Family Court: objections to a will, disputes between heirs, claims to set a will aside and disputes over how an estate is divided. The files range from a young couple's first will to large estates with property in Israel and abroad.
Every file goes directly to Adv. Reut Eliyahu, the founder of the firm. She drafts the will, handles the application before the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs and appears in the Family Court when a file becomes a dispute. There is no team passing the file around and no junior lawyer reading your documents.
Israeli Inheritance Attorney
What You Get From Our Inheritance & Wills Practice
From planning to the courtroom
19 years in inheritance matters: from drafting a will and obtaining an order to objections, claims to set a will aside and disputes between heirs in the Family Court.
LL.B + MBA
Legal and business training together, which matters in estates that include property, companies and tax questions, and in negotiations between heirs.
Cross-border estates
A deceased who was a foreign citizen, heirs in another country, a will made abroad. These files are a core part of our daily work, including the foreign legal opinion when one is needed.
A notary in the office
Adv. Eliyahu is a licensed Israeli notary, so certifications and translations for the file are done in-house.
A flat fee, agreed in advance
A clear written quote before any work begins, with no surprises along the way. Most of our clients come by referral from former clients, lawyers and mediators.
You don't need to understand Israeli law. That is what we are here for.
An inheritance is confusing and sensitive, and more so when the process, the language and the distance are all unfamiliar. We carry the load: the documents, the authorities and, when needed, the court. The first consultation is free.
Probate & Succession Lawyer in Israel
Inheritance & Wills Legal Services in Israel
From planning a will, through the orders and the administration of an estate, to representation in inheritance disputes. Every service is handled personally, from start to finish.
Succession Order (Tzav Yerusha)
When the deceased left no will, a succession order divides the estate between the heirs under the Succession Law. We prepare and file the application, including files with heirs abroad.
Succession order in Israel →Probate of a Will (Tzav Kiyum)
When the deceased left a will, it needs a probate order. We handle the whole process, from reviewing the will to the order, including wills made abroad.
Probate in Israel →Writing a Will
A will tailored to you: before witnesses, before a notary, mutual, conditional, or with an heir after heir. A well-drafted will prevents objections and family disputes.
Wills lawyer in Israel →Contesting a Will & Disputes
Objecting to a will or defending it, claims to set a will aside and disputes between heirs, in the Family Court.
Inheritance disputes in Israel →Estate Administration & Transfer
After the order: releasing bank accounts and investments, registering inherited property at the Land Registry, and dividing or selling it between the heirs.
Property registration →Cross-Border Estates
When the deceased or an heir lived abroad, or the will was made in another country, the file needs extra care. We handle it for families in Israel and abroad.
Foreign legal opinion →What is the difference between a succession order and a probate order?
| Succession Order | Probate Order | |
|---|---|---|
| When it is needed | The deceased left no will | The deceased left a valid will |
| How the estate is divided | By law (the Succession Law) | By the terms of the will |
| Who inherits | The legal heirs: spouse, children, parents | The beneficiaries named in the will |
For the full process, documents, fees and timelines, see the dedicated pages: succession order in Israel and probate in Israel.
Wills & Estates Lawyer
Wills lawyer in Israel: how to write a valid will
Israeli law recognizes four kinds of will: a handwritten will, a will signed before two witnesses, a will made before an authority such as a notary or a judge, and in limited circumstances an oral will. Most people sign a will before witnesses or a notary, drafted by a lawyer so that it will stand up when it matters.
A will is also the best tool for preventing a dispute. Most objections we see start from a will that was written without advice: an unclear clause, a missing formality, or a gap that leaves part of the estate to pass by law. A will drafted properly closes those gaps in advance.
We draft every kind of will: a will before witnesses, a notarial will, a mutual will between spouses, a will with conditions, and a will with an heir after heir under Section 42 of the Succession Law, where the property passes to a first heir and, after that heir's death, to a second one. For people who live abroad and own property in Israel, we draft a will that takes both countries into account and saves the heirs a great deal of work later. Read more about wills and estate planning in Israel.
Estate Attorney in Israel
Working With Us, From the First Call to the End
Whether you need a will, an order or help in an inheritance dispute, this is what working with us looks like.
1
A first conversation
Free and without obligation. We listen, understand what you need and explain your options in plain English. You come away with a real picture of the situation.
2
A clear written quote
A written flat-fee quote that sets out exactly what is included. We start only after you approve it.
3
Personal handling by Adv. Eliyahu
From the start, your file is handled directly by Adv. Reut Eliyahu. She prepares the documents and is with you at every decision.
4
Regular updates
We update you at every significant stage and are available by phone, WhatsApp and email, so you always know where the file stands and what comes next.
5
Full representation if it gets complicated
If an objection, a dispute between heirs or a court case comes up, we are already there. The same lawyer stays with you in the legal proceedings.
6
Done properly, with peace of mind
The aim is not just to close a file, but to get you there with your rights secured and everything done correctly. You can always come back to us with any future question.
Inheritance Dispute Lawyer
Contesting a will in Israel: objections and inheritance disputes
A will or an application for a succession order can be contested in Israel by filing an objection with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs. Under Section 67 of the Succession Law, the objection period is at least two weeks from publication, and an objection may be filed until the order is granted. The file then moves to the Family Court.
Inheritance disputes are among the hardest cases there are: family relationships, emotion and significant sums of money. We represent clients in the Family Court in every kind of inheritance dispute, whether you are filing the objection or defending a will against one. Understanding the process in advance, what is possible, what is not and what the real chances are, makes all the difference. An objection must rest on a legal ground. Being unhappy with how the estate was divided is not enough.
The main grounds for contesting a will
Lack of capacity
The testator could not understand what a will is, because of dementia, mental illness or medication. Under Section 26 such a will is void. Medical evidence is needed.
Undue influence
Someone used the testator's dependence, weakness or trust to benefit from the will: a relative, a caregiver, a doctor. Under Section 30 the provision is void.
Defect in form
Missing witnesses, a missing signature or date, or another formal defect. Under Section 25 the court may overlook some defects when there is no doubt the will is genuine.
A later will
A later will that revokes the one submitted for probate. The later will prevails, provided it is valid itself.
Mistake or deception
The testator was mistaken about essential facts, or was deliberately misled, for example about who an heir is or what the estate includes.
Forgery or an unlawful provision
The will or the signature is forged, which usually requires a handwriting expert, or the will contains conditions the law does not allow.
Inheritance proceedings we handle in the Family Court
- Objection to a probate or succession order: filing the objection, or defending the will against it, including the evidence and the examination of witnesses.
- Setting a will aside: after an order is granted, an application to amend or cancel it under Section 72 of the Succession Law.
- Disputes between heirs: how the estate is divided, what a clause in the will means, or what to do with a property the heirs inherited together.
- Protecting the estate meanwhile: appointing an estate administrator under Section 78, and interim orders to preserve assets until the court decides.
Key terms in wills and objections
- Heir after heir (Section 42): the property passes to a first heir and, on that heir's death, to a second one. It must be worded precisely to be valid.
- Conditional heir: an inheritance that depends on a condition being met, or ends when it occurs. The condition must be lawful and possible.
- No-contest clause: a clause that removes an heir who contests the will. Israeli courts have recognized such clauses, but not without limits.
Nineteen years of representing both sides, those who object and those who defend a will, give us a wide view of these cases. We handle everything: an early assessment of the chances, the legal strategy, the evidence (medical records, witnesses, handwriting experts), the pleadings and the hearings, and mediation or settlement when that saves the family years of litigation. Read more about inheritance disputes and contesting a will in Israel.
Cross-Border Inheritance Lawyer
Complex Cross-Border Estates: Cases From Our Practice
Most succession orders are routine. The ones that are not usually share one feature: the deceased lived abroad for many years, and the Israeli records about them stopped matching reality long ago. The Registrar of Inheritance Affairs works from those records, so an application that ignores the gap is returned. For us these files are routine. Names and identifying details are left out to protect our clients' privacy.
Divorced years ago, still "married" in Israel
The situation: An Israeli who had lived abroad for many years divorced there, and his former wife later remarried. He died, and his children applied for a succession order.
The obstacle: In the Israeli Population Registry he was still listed as married. The registry does not change the details of a person who has died, so the record could not simply be corrected.
The result: We resolved it directly with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs. The application was not returned for further details and went through smoothly.
A divorce that Israel never heard about
The situation: A woman lived abroad for many years, married and divorced there, and later came back to Israel. Her former husband moved to a third country and remarried.
The obstacle: She died without ever reporting the divorce in Israel. To obtain the succession order, the family had to prove that she was not married, with documents that existed only abroad.
The result: We put together everything the Registrar required, and the succession order was issued without delays.
Estate Lawyer in Tel Aviv
Inheritance Lawyer in Tel Aviv, Herzliya and Central Israel
The office is in Herzliya Pituach, fifteen minutes from Tel Aviv. Meetings at the office, at your home or by Zoom. Choose an area:
Our Office in Herzliya Pituach
The firm is at 4 HaOgen Street, Herzliya Pituach. We handle every kind of inheritance file for families in Herzliya: wills, succession and probate orders, objections and estate administration. Many families here own property abroad or have relatives overseas, so a good share of the files involve a foreign element.
Meetings at the office, at your home, by Zoom, or a first phone consultation free of charge.
Estate & Probate Lawyer for Tel Aviv
Fifteen minutes from the office. We represent heirs and people making a will throughout Tel Aviv and the surrounding cities, from an inherited apartment in the north of the city to estates that include real estate and shares. Tel Aviv has many apartments owned by Israelis who live abroad, and many estates with several heirs who need a division agreement or a dissolution of co-ownership.
Representation before the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs and the Family Court in the Tel Aviv district is part of our daily work.
English-Speaking Families in Ra'anana & Kfar Saba
About twenty minutes from the office. Ra'anana has a large community of English- and French-speaking immigrants and dual citizens, so many of the files here involve a will made abroad, assets in two countries or relatives overseas. Working in English, with the law of both countries in mind, matters here more than anywhere.
Throughout Israel
We represent clients in inheritance matters throughout the country, from Haifa and the north to Beer Sheva and the south, including estates with property in several districts and heirs who live far from each other. Applications are filed with the branch of the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs that the file belongs to.
Inheritance Lawyer for Heirs Abroad
Israeli Inheritance Lawyer for Families Around the World
We work with heirs in every country. The Israeli process and our service are the same wherever you live. Choose a country:
Heirs in the United States
A typical case: a parent who lived in New York, Florida or California and left an apartment or a bank account in Israel. An American grant of probate or letters of administration do not release Israeli assets. The Israeli order is still required, and we obtain it for you.
You can reach us on our US line, +1 (310) 735-4210, during Pacific business hours.
Heirs in the United Kingdom
British families often assume that an English grant of probate covers everything. For assets in Israel it does not: an Israeli bank or the Land Registry acts only on an Israeli succession or probate order. A will made in England can be probated in Israel, and we work alongside your solicitor in the UK where needed.
Heirs in Canada
The provincial probate or certificate of appointment settles the estate in Canada, but not the part in Israel. An apartment, an account or pension rights in Israel need their own Israeli order, and we handle the Israeli side from start to finish.
Heirs in France
Many French families own property in Israel. When a parent dies, the French notaire handles the estate in France only. The Israeli part needs an Israeli succession or probate order, and we coordinate with the notaire so that the two fit together.
Heirs in Europe
We have represented heirs in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain. Whatever the local procedure, the Israeli assets need an Israeli order, and the service is the same wherever the heirs live.
Heirs Anywhere in the World
We represent heirs wherever they live, including South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay. Service is available in English, Hebrew and Spanish.
A will to write, an estate to settle, or an objection to consider?
One conversation will tell you exactly what needs to be done, how long it will take and what it will cost.
Flat Fee Inheritance Lawyer
How much does an inheritance lawyer cost in Israel?
The fee depends on the service and how complex the file is: a will, a succession or probate order, estate administration and a dispute are priced differently. We charge a flat fee, agreed in writing before any work begins, not a percentage of the estate and not an hourly rate. The first consultation is free.
✍️ Wills
A flat fee for the will, set once we understand what you want to achieve.
📜 Succession & Probate Orders
A flat fee for the whole application, from the documents to the order.
🏠 Estate Administration
Releasing accounts and registering property: a flat fee, and it can be part of the same quote.
⚖️ Objections & Disputes
Quoted according to the scope of the case, as a flat fee for the work described.
Israeli Inheritance Lawyer & Notary
Adv. Reut Eliyahu - Inheritance Lawyer & Notary
Adv. Reut Eliyahu
Founder of the firm · Notary · LL.B and MBA · Israel Bar member since 2007 · Registered arbitrator
"Inheritance is the most sensitive area I work in. When a family comes apart after a death, it is not only a legal matter, it is a human injury. My job is to help clients through it with less damage, more certainty, and without losing the relationships that matter to them."
Adv. Reut Eliyahu founded Eliyahu & Co. in Herzliya Pituach and has been a member of the Israel Bar Association since 2007 (License No. 47439). The practice covers inheritance and wills from both ends: planning, with wills and applications to the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs, and litigation, with objections, claims to set a will aside and disputes between heirs in the Family Court. The combination of legal and business training, a notary's license and full command of English allows a complete service for estates with assets abroad and heirs overseas, under one roof. About Adv. Eliyahu →
⚖️ Israel Bar License No. 47439
🎓 LL.B + MBA
🏛️ Notary
⚖️ Registered Arbitrator
🌍 EN / HE / ES
Inheritance Lawyer Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
Google Business Profile
Most of our clients come by referral
From former clients, lawyers and mediators. For us, that is the most meaningful sign of trust. Each review on the firm's Google Business Profile comes from a client who worked directly with Adv. Reut Eliyahu.
★★★★★Google Business Profile
Since 2007Member of the Israel Bar Association
Both sidesFiling objections and defending wills
0%Inheritance tax in Israel since 1981
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.
Israel Inheritance Law
Inheritance & Wills in Israel: Common Questions
Succession and probate orders
How long does a succession or probate order take in Israel?
When the file is complete and no one objects, the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs aims to issue a succession order within 50 days of filing, including the publication period, and a probate order within 40 days of receiving the original will. In practice, an uncontested order usually arrives within a few months. If someone objects, the file moves to the Family Court and takes longer. A file with heirs abroad follows a similar timeline once the documents are in order.
How do you probate an estate in Israel?
First, work out which order is needed: a probate order if there is a will, a succession order if there is not. The application is filed with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs with the supporting documents and the government fees. The Registrar publishes it so that objections can be raised, and if there are none, issues the order. With the order, the heirs can release the bank accounts and register property in their names.
How do you dissolve an estate in Israel?
Winding up an estate starts with a succession or probate order. After that, the bank accounts and investments are released to the heirs, pension and insurance funds are claimed, and inherited property is registered in the heirs' names at the Land Registry, or sold. When the estate has debts, assets that must be sold, or heirs who cannot agree, an estate administrator can be appointed under Section 78 of the Succession Law.
Is there inheritance tax in Israel?
No. Israel abolished inheritance tax in 1981. When an inherited property is later sold, capital gains tax (mas shevach) may apply, subject to exemptions. When there are assets abroad, particularly in the United States, France or the United Kingdom, foreign inheritance taxes can be significant and are worth planning for in advance.
Wills
How do I write a will in Israel?
Israeli law recognizes a handwritten will, a will signed before two witnesses, a will made before an authority such as a notary, and in limited cases an oral will. Most people choose a will before witnesses or a notary, drafted by a lawyer so that it will stand up later. If you live abroad and own property in Israel, a will that takes both countries into account saves your heirs a great deal of work.
What is an "heir after heir", and how is it different from a conditional heir?
With an heir after heir (Section 42 of the Succession Law), the testator leaves property to a first heir and sets out that on that heir's death it passes to a second heir. Both are named in advance. With a conditional heir, the inheritance depends on a condition being met, or ends when a condition occurs. Both need careful drafting to be valid.
When is a will not valid in Israel?
A will may be void if it was made by a minor or by a person declared legally incompetent, if the testator could not understand what a will is, if the required witnesses, signature or date are missing, if it was made under undue influence, if it contains unlawful conditions, or if it was forged.
What is a no-contest clause, and does it work in Israel?
A no-contest clause says that an heir who contests the will loses his share. Its purpose is to deter objections. Israeli courts have recognized such clauses, but not absolutely, and a court may intervene in cases of extreme injustice.
Estates with a foreign element
What if the deceased lived abroad or had assets abroad?
This is the classic case for a foreign legal opinion. When the deceased lived in another country, Section 137 of the Succession Law generally applies the law of that country, and a legal opinion explains that law to the Israeli authorities. Read more about the foreign legal opinion.
I live abroad. How do I get a succession order for a relative who died in Israel?
We handle the application in Israel for you. After a first conversation by Zoom or phone, we tell you exactly what we need from you, prepare everything else and follow the file until the order is issued. See our page on the succession order in Israel.
Objections, disputes and cost
When can I object to a will, and what are the chances?
An objection can be filed from the publication of the application until the order is granted, and the published period is at least two weeks. It must rest on a legal ground: lack of capacity, undue influence, a defect in form or forgery. Being unhappy with the division is not enough. The chances depend on the quality of the evidence, such as medical records, witnesses and expert opinions, so a professional assessment before filing is essential.
How much does an inheritance lawyer cost in Israel?
The fee depends on the service and its complexity: a will, a succession or probate order, estate administration and a dispute are priced differently, and a file with heirs abroad or an objection is more complex. We charge a flat fee, agreed in writing before any work begins. The government fees for an online succession or probate application are NIS 573 in 2026. The first consultation is free and without obligation.
Contact an Inheritance Lawyer
Need an Inheritance & Wills Lawyer? Talk to Us
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🇮🇱 Israel Office
+972-74-704-7104🇺🇸 US Line · Pacific Time
+1 (310) 735-4210💬 WhatsApp
+972-74-704-7104Email
office@israel-law.coOffice
4 HaOgen Street, Herzliya Pituach, Israel
Sun-Thu 08:00-19:00 · Fri 08:00-13:00 (Israel Time)
Meetings at the office, at your home or by Zoom
Languages
English · Hebrew · Spanish
You deserve experienced legal representation for your Israeli inheritance matter.
Succession orders, probate, will drafting, property transfer, inherited securities - one conversation can clarify everything. Free first consultation, no obligation.
Sun-Thu 08:00-19:00 · Fri 08:00-13:00 · In office, by Zoom, or remotely worldwide