Knowledge Base

Inheritance

Home / I live in the United States. My great aunt , who lived in Israel, died recently. She was a very wealthy widow. I heard that she made a will several years ago which she deposited in court, and that I and two other relatives were beneficiaries. They are both alive but old and in poor health and will not do anything active about claiming on the will. Can I do anything about my possible inheritance without travelling to Israel ?

I live in the United States. My great aunt , who lived in Israel, died recently. She was a very wealthy widow. I heard that she made a will several years ago which she deposited in court, and that I and two other relatives were beneficiaries. They are both alive but old and in poor health and will not do anything active about claiming on the will. Can I do anything about my possible inheritance without travelling to Israel ?

By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 13 May, 2022

Yes. A relative living abroad can sign a power of attorney at an Israeli Consulate overseas appointing a lawyer in Israel to act on his behalf regarding a possible inheritance in Israel. Once the lawyer in Israel has received the power of attorney he can act to check via the Inheritance Register whether the deceased deposited a will. A national register is kept of deposited wills. If the will is found, then the lawyer can apply for probate (an order enforcing the will) on behalf of the beneficiary abroad.

* We hope you find our website useful and easy to use. Please note, however, that the information provided on it is not a substitute for personal legal counselling which is available upon payment.