Practice Areas

Israeli Succession for Heirs Living Abroad

These proceedings are typically required when a foreign resident has passed away leaving bank accounts or real estate in Israel. Israeli banks and the Land Registry do not release those assets on the strength of a foreign court order; without an Israeli succession order, a probate order or, where applicable, enforcement of a foreign judgment, accounts remain frozen, property cannot be sold and funds cannot be transferred. We assist heirs on a fully integrated basis: translating the necessary documents, such as death certificates; presenting the relevant judgments to banks; and handling the transfer of real property title according to its place of registration. The entire process can be handled remotely through powers of attorney.

How we run the file

1. 01We determine which route applies: a succession order, a probate order or enforcement of a foreign judgment, depending on the circumstances.
2. 02We assemble the complete file: death certificate, apostilles, powers of attorney and notarized translations.
3. 03We file and manage the proceeding before the רשם לענייני ירושה (Registrar of Inheritance Affairs) or the competent judicial authority, as the case may be.
4. 04We deal with banks, the Land Registry (Tabu) and the Tax Authority.
5. 05We coordinate the transfer of assets and funds abroad, meeting compliance and anti-money-laundering requirements.

Countries whose heirs we can represent

In Israel we can represent estates of citizens of the following countries, and provide legal opinions on succession matters in those jurisdictions:

• Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, United States, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
• Africa: South Africa.
• Europe: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain, Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland.

We issue legal opinions on inheritance law in each of these jurisdictions, useful for banks, courts, registries and heirs who need clarity on the application of local or foreign law to an estate.