Practice Areas

When a person passes away without leaving a will, the distribution of their estate is governed by the Inheritance Law, 5725–1965. The law establishes a priority order among heirs — spouses, children, parents, siblings — with each entitled to a defined share of the estate.

The legal process requires filing a petition for an inheritance order with the Registrar of Estates. The application is accompanied by identification documents, affidavits, and declarations, and may require publication in official records and locating unknown heirs.

Our firm guides families through every stage of the process — from submitting the petition, through managing potential objections, to receiving the order and distributing the assets. We operate with efficiency and empathy, understanding that this is a sensitive period for the family.

A will is the most important legal document a person can prepare during their lifetime. It allows one to express their wishes regarding the distribution of their assets after death, and to provide for their loved ones in a precise and thoughtful manner.

Israeli law recognizes several types of valid wills: a handwritten will, a will signed before witnesses, a will executed before an authority, and an oral will. Each type carries specific formal requirements that must be strictly observed for the will to be legally valid.

Our firm provides comprehensive consultation in drafting wills that reflect the testator's wishes, taking into account all assets, family relationships, and future goals. Following the testator's passing, we assist in submitting the will for probate before the Registrar of Estates and guide the heirs through every stage of execution.

Inheritance disputes are among the most complex and painful legal proceedings — they occur in the immediate aftermath of a loss and can fracture entire families. Disputes may arise from differing interpretations of a will, claims regarding the testator's mental capacity at the time of signing, allegations of undue influence, or disagreements among heirs over the value and distribution of assets.

Our firm represents clients both as challengers of a will or inheritance order, and as defenders of wills we have helped draft. We file pleadings, appear at hearings before the Registrar and in court, and conduct mediation and settlement proceedings where these can save time and costs.

Our experience in this field allows us to quickly identify the strengths and weaknesses of each position and formulate a legal strategy suited to the specific circumstances of each client.

A Durable Power of Attorney (DPA) is a legal instrument introduced into Israeli law in 2017, allowing any legally competent person to designate in advance who will make decisions on their behalf if they lose their legal capacity — whether due to illness, accident, dementia, or any other reason.

Unlike guardianship, which requires a court process and judicial appointment, a durable power of attorney takes effect smoothly in accordance with the grantor's wishes. It can include directives regarding personal matters (residence, medical care), financial and property matters, and matters relating to the person's physical wellbeing.

Our firm is certified by the General Guardian to prepare durable powers of attorney. We explain all implications to the client, draft the document according to their wishes and needs, and guide them through the registration process with the relevant authority.

A medical power of attorney allows a person to appoint a representative to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so themselves. Unlike an expression of will document, which contains specific directives, a medical power of attorney grants another person the authority to consider and decide based on changing circumstances.

This appointment carries critical significance in emergency situations and during hospitalization, as it allows medical staff to consult a designated responsible party when needed.

Our firm helps clients select the right representative, clearly define the scope of authority, and ensure the document is transferred to relevant medical personnel. We recommend combining the medical power of attorney with a durable power of attorney and an expression of will document for comprehensive coverage of all future needs.

The General Guardian is a government authority responsible for managing and safeguarding assets of individuals who are unable to manage their own affairs, as well as assets whose heirs are unknown or have not been located. In many cases, significant assets — bank funds, pension accounts, real estate — remain under the General Guardian's management for years or even decades.

The legitimate owners of these assets, or their heirs, are entitled to reclaim them — but the process involves complex bureaucracy and stringent evidentiary requirements. One must prove identity, family relationship, and sometimes conduct lengthy proceedings before the authority.

Our firm has extensive experience filing claims before the General Guardian and returning assets to their rightful owners. We assist in gathering documentation, managing correspondence with the authority, and representing clients in all required proceedings.

An Expression of Will document (also known as an "advance directive" or "living will") is a legal document that allows a person to state in advance their position regarding medical treatment to be administered if they become unable to make decisions. It forms part of the legal framework of the Terminally Ill Patient Law, 5766–2006.

In the document, one may specify, for example, whether they consent to life-prolonging treatments, surgeries, resuscitation, and more. It is also possible to appoint a healthcare proxy who will act in accordance with the stated directives.

Our firm assists clients in drafting a clear and consistent expression of will document that reflects their personal values and medical wishes. We ensure the document is properly prepared, registered with the appropriate authority, and accessible to medical staff when needed.

This specialized and sensitive field addresses the proceedings required when a deceased person's heirs include individuals whose whereabouts are unknown, who disappeared many years ago, or who perished in the Holocaust without their death being formally registered.

In such cases, a declaration of death may be required — a legal proceeding at the end of which the court declares the death of a person whose fate is unknown. Our firm has extensive experience handling such proceedings, which include gathering evidence, testimonies and historical documents, and representing clients before the court.

In addition, we assist in locating unknown heirs — sometimes entire generations of families separated and scattered across different countries. We use archival research, legal genealogy, and connections with international bodies to identify all those entitled to their share of the estate.

The Company for Location and Restitution of Holocaust Victims' Assets Ltd. is a government company established in 2006, tasked with locating assets that belonged to Holocaust victims and returning them to their legal heirs. These assets include various types — bank accounts, insurance policies, shares, real estate — that have remained unclaimed for many years.

The claims process with the company is complex and requires meticulous preparation: collecting documents from families scattered across the world, proving family ties to Holocaust victims, and often reconstructing a family tree based on surviving archival records.

Our firm specializes in such claims and is well-acquainted with the specific requirements and internal procedures of the company. We accompany families from the initial stage of eligibility inquiry through to the actual return of assets, with sensitivity and commitment to Holocaust remembrance.

Guardianship is a legal mechanism through which a court appoints a person (the guardian) to manage the affairs of another person (the ward) who is unable to care for themselves due to intellectual, cognitive, or other disability. Appointing a guardian is a judicial process requiring medical and legal evidence and subject to ongoing court supervision.

Israeli law recognizes the principle of every person's legal capacity and seeks to limit guardianship to focused areas only. Therefore, before pursuing guardianship, it is important to examine whether the required assistance can be achieved through a durable power of attorney — which is less intrusive and more respectful of the person's autonomy.

Our firm accompanies families in all aspects related to guardianship — from initial appointment, through ongoing management, to termination of guardianship when the person's condition improves. We always act with respect for the individual and their wishes, seeking the solution that least intrudes on their autonomy.

"Living will" is an informal term commonly used to describe a range of documents in which a person outlines during their lifetime their wishes regarding care in the final stages of life — whether through an expression of will document, a medical power of attorney, or a combination of both.

These documents address questions such as: What level of medical intervention is desired? Does the individual consent to surgeries, resuscitation, or mechanical ventilation? Where do they prefer to spend their final days — at home, in hospital, in hospice? Who will be authorized to make medical decisions on their behalf?

Our firm helps clients draft these documents precisely, legally, and practically, through open and sensitive conversations about topics that are difficult to discuss. We believe that proper future planning is an act of love toward one's family, and we are here to ease the process.

Following a person's passing, the estate administration process begins — the comprehensive set of actions required to gather the deceased's assets, pay their debts and taxes, and ultimately distribute the remainder among the heirs. Estate administration can be straightforward, but is often complex and lengthy, particularly when there are many assets, outstanding debts, multiple heirs, or disputes between parties.

The administrator, appointed by the court or by the heirs themselves, bears legal responsibility for their actions. They must maintain accounts, publish notices to creditors, submit reports to the court, and act in the best interests of all heirs without discrimination.

Our firm provides comprehensive estate administration services — from filing the application for administrator appointment, through ongoing legal advice to the administrator, to final asset distribution. We help families navigate the process efficiently and transparently, while maintaining positive relationships among all parties.

When a legal dispute does not reach an agreed resolution, professional representation before a court or other judicial body becomes necessary. Litigation in the areas of inheritance law, wills, and guardianship requires mastery of both substantive and procedural law, combined with courtroom experience.

Our firm conducts proceedings before the Registrar of Estates, Family Courts, and the District Court. We handle claims for the annulment of wills, inheritance disputes among heirs, guardianship petitions, claims against estate administrators, and more.

We believe the best way to represent a client in litigation is to combine strong legal defense with a realistic perspective on costs, risks, and potential outcomes. We operate with full transparency toward our clients so they can make informed decisions at every stage.

Real estate often constitutes the primary asset in a person's estate, and is therefore naturally intertwined with all areas of our practice. Our firm guides clients through sale and purchase transactions of apartments, homes, and land, as well as registration proceedings before the Israel Land Authority and the Land Registry (Tabu).

We assist with sale agreements, due diligence, preparation of powers of attorney for executing transactions, and filing cautionary notes. In addition, we handle properties that pass through inheritance and require legal organization and registration, sometimes after years of delay.

Our experience combining inheritance law and real estate law allows us to offer clients a comprehensive and integrated perspective — whether dealing with regularizing ownership of a multi-generational property, or advising on how to incorporate real estate into a will.