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Careful Planning, Legal Protection, and Peace of Mind – Everything You Need to Know About Wills and Inheritance

The field of wills and inheritance is one of the most sensitive and significant aspects of a person’s life. Due to its complexity, it requires specialized expertise and extensive experience. Proper inheritance planning prevents family disputes, ensures that assets are distributed according to the testator’s wishes, and provides peace of mind knowing that the future is secured.

At Segal & Co. Law Firm, we offer comprehensive legal guidance in this field—from drafting personal and mutual wills tailored to each client’s needs, to managing complex estates and representing clients in inheritance disputes. Our expertise includes will execution, objections to wills, estate distribution claims, estate administration requests, and estate management. We work with professionalism, sensitivity, and strategic legal insight to protect our clients’ rights and achieve the best legal outcomes. Our firm remains up to date with legislative and judicial developments, ensuring that wills and inheritance cases are handled in line with the most current legal precedents.

Our Legal Services in Wills & Inheritance

Tailored Will Drafting

We specialize in drafting personal and mutual wills, carefully customized to each client’s circumstances. Our services ensure full legal accuracy, compliance with legal requirements, and minimization of potential disputes, guaranteeing that the testator’s wishes are carried out smoothly and exactly as intended.

We also advise on and draft wills for foreign residents (including Israelis) with assets in Israel and for Israeli residents (including foreign nationals) with assets abroad. Additionally, our firm specializes in inheritance planning for agricultural estates, addressing complex intergenerational property transfers.

Inheritance Orders & Will Execution

Our firm handles estate administration, including estates with multiple assets, liabilities, or heirs, ensuring full transparency and careful management. We also represent clients in challenging objections to legally executed wills, which, unfortunately, are frequently filed. Conversely, we assist in filing objections to wills based on fraud, undue influence, or lack of testamentary capacity, such as in cases involving dementia, Alzheimer’s, blindness, or severe illness.

Legal Representation in Inheritance Disputes

We provide legal representation and advisory services in complex inheritance disputes, including will challenges, will revocation claims, and conflicts between heirs. Our firm employs advanced legal strategies to achieve optimal outcomes, ensuring each client’s best interests are the top priority.

Strategic Inheritance Planning

We provide legal assistance in early estate planning, asset distribution during a person’s lifetime, and succession planning, ensuring family stability, fair distribution, and reduced potential conflicts.

Legal Consultation & Opinions in Inheritance Law

We offer comprehensive legal consultations and expert opinions on matters related to wills, estates, and estate management, tailored to clients’ legal or internal needs.

Family Mediation for Intergenerational Asset Transfers & Inheritance Disputes

Our firm provides sensitive and professional mediation for planning intergenerational asset transfers during parents’ lifetimes, ensuring family unity while considering financial, emotional, and tax-related factors.

We also mediate disputes between heirs or individuals claiming inheritance rights, seeking mutually beneficial solutions that preserve family harmony and prevent costly and prolonged legal battles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Inheritance law in Israel is governed by the Inheritance Law, 1965—a complex and lengthy legal framework. It defines the rules for estate distribution, intestate succession (in the absence of a will), and the formal requirements for drafting wills. The law also outlines who qualifies as an heir, the required procedures for drafting and executing wills, and the grounds for contesting them.
A will can only be contested after the testator’s passing and only on legally recognized grounds. Some valid reasons for contesting a will include: Formal defects (e.g., missing a date or improper signature) Lack of testamentary capacity (due to dementia, severe illness, or mental incapacity) Undue influence or fraud Forgery or coercion Improper involvement of a beneficiary in drafting the will An objection can only be filed after an application for a will execution order has been submitted and published in newspapers. The objection must be filed within 14 days of publication and before the court grants the order. Inheritance disputes must be handled by the Family Court, with legal representation by an attorney specializing in inheritance law. Tip: Stay Informed About Inheritance Proceedings The Israeli Registrar of Inheritance Affairs offers a notification service that allows individuals to register for alerts when someone applies for a will execution order or inheritance order related to a specific estate. Registration is valid for two years and helps heirs stay informed of relevant proceedings.
In Israel, only the Family Court can declare a will invalid. If a will is invalidated, the estate will not be distributed according to its instructions. Courts may annul wills for reasons such as: Lack of mental capacity when drafting the will Forgery, fraud, coercion, or undue influence Defective execution (e.g., failure to meet legal drafting requirements) For challenging or defending a will, it is crucial to seek expert legal representation in inheritance law.
Will forgery is a serious offense that can result in the will being invalidated and the forger losing their inheritance rights. While forgery is a criminal offense, prosecutors rarely pursue charges. Courts typically rely on handwriting and forensic experts to verify a signature’s authenticity.
Currently, Israel does not impose inheritance or estate tax. These taxes were abolished in 1981. Additionally, inheriting real estate in Israel is exempt from both purchase tax and capital gains tax. However, if heirs decide to sell the inherited property, they may be liable for capital gains tax, calculated based on the property’s value increase since its original purchase by the deceased. Additionally, if heirs wish to redistribute inherited assets in a way that differs from the will, they may incur tax liabilities. For foreign assets, heirs may be subject to inheritance tax under the tax laws of the country where the assets are located. To minimize unnecessary taxation, professional tax planning is recommended. Our firm specializes in international taxation and can assist with cross-border inheritance matters.
✅ Expert & Experienced Legal Team Our firm specializes in inheritance and wills law, providing highly skilled legal representation for estate matters. ✅ Deep Legal Knowledge & Strategic Approach We understand the legal and emotional complexities of estate management and handle every case with precision, sensitivity, and determination. ✅ Uncompromising Professionalism & Integrity We represent clients in will disputes, inheritance conflicts, and estate administration, offering creative and effective legal solutions. ✅ Up-to-Date Legal Expertise Our team stays informed of legislative and judicial developments, providing personalized legal advice tailored to each case. ✅ International Inheritance Assistance With expertise in international taxation, we assist in cross-border inheritance matters, ensuring seamless estate administration across jurisdictions.

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  • Office- 097441000
  • Amir-0544324482 | Yariv- 0526001947
  • Amir-0544324482 | Yariv- 0526001947
  • amir@segal-lawfirm.co.il

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*The information on this website is for general purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel For specific legal advice, please contact our firm directly.
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