I am concerned that my widowed father is being exploited by a lady friend. A pal of his told me that my father had confided in him and told him that he signed papers at a lawyer’s office undertaking to transfer half of the rights in his home to this woman. We have heard horrendous tales of exploitation of elderly widowed men by “girlfriends” or “caregivers”. If we manage to talk sense into my father can he cancel this undertaking ?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 27 June, 2022Yes, most probably. Providing that the transfer of rights has not been effected at the Israel Lands Registry, then it remains an undertaking to make a gift, and, according to the 1968 Gift Act, is reversible in principle, although exceptions exist. If, for example, the donor has given up his right to retract the undertaking or the potential recipient can prove that his/her situation has worsened as a result of relying on the promise, then the undertaking cannot be reversed.