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Wills & Inheritance

From careful estate planning to inheritance litigation — comprehensive guidance at every stage.

Will document with a red wax seal, antique key, classical portrait and pocket watch — Drafting Wills and Inheritance, Helen Robinsky Tal Law Office

Overview

The firm advises clients on every aspect of inheritance law — from early will drafting to full estate distribution and debt settlement. A precisely tailored will is the first line of defense against future disputes among heirs.

Key Benefits

What We Deliver

Will Drafting

Wills tailored to family and financial structure — including overseas assets and businesses.

Will Contests

Representation in contest proceedings with comprehensive evidence gathering.

Heir Disputes

Negotiation and representation in disputes over estate division.

Estate Administration

Administrator appointment, oversight, and debt settlement.

Early Planning — The First Line of Defense

Drafting a professional, precise will tailored to the testator's family and financial structure is the first line of defense against future disputes. The firm specializes in complex wills involving real estate, investment portfolios, family businesses, and overseas assets, accounting for tax implications, cross-border inheritance law, and anticipated disputes.

Representation in Probate and Disputes

When a dispute arises following a death, the firm represents clients in all required proceedings: inheritance orders, probate petitions, will contests, heir disputes, and negotiated estate divisions. The legal process includes a comprehensive evidentiary record — medical evidence, expert opinions, and witness testimony.

Professional Insight
Proper early planning minimizes disputes. When disputes still arise, deep litigation experience and substantive inheritance-law knowledge ensure genuine protection of the client's rights.

Firm Services in This Area

  • 1Complex wills (real estate, investments, businesses, overseas assets)
  • 2Inheritance and probate petitions
  • 3Will contests and heir disputes
  • 4Estate-division agreements
  • 5Estate administration and administrator appointment

If you are considering a will — or already have one — you may be surprised to learn that some provisions simply cannot be included. It is worth consulting before drafting such clauses.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I write a will that cannot be contested?
The safest path: a will in front of witnesses, drafted by an attorney, signed in the presence of two independent witnesses, with documentation of the testator's full mental capacity. For elderly or ill testators, attach a medical certificate or psychiatric opinion from the same day. Recording the signing on video is also recommended.
On what grounds can a will be contested?
The main grounds: undue influence on the testator, lack of legal capacity (dementia, mental illness), forged signature, formal defect in the drafting (missing witnesses, missing signature), or proof that the will doesn't reflect the testator's true intent. Each ground requires an evidentiary foundation.
How long do I have to file a will contest?
You must file a contest within 14 days from the publication of the probate application in the official records. Publication is in a daily newspaper, so it's important to subscribe to alerts at the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs. After 14 days, the contest will be dismissed for tardiness unless an exceptional reason is proven.
What happens if a person dies without a will?
The Inheritance Law (1965) sets automatic division: a spouse receives half the estate; the children share the remaining half equally. If there are no children, the spouse receives two-thirds and the remaining third goes to the deceased's parents. The rules differ if there are foreign assets or one party who isn't Israeli.
What's international inheritance, and what should I do if there are foreign assets or heirs abroad?
In a multi-state estate situation — assets in the US, former USSR, Europe — different laws apply that may conflict. You need to understand which countries have jurisdiction, which estate file to open in which country, and the tax regime. I specialize particularly in this area for families with ties to the US or CIS countries.
How much does drafting a will cost?
A simple will: 1,500-3,500 NIS plus VAT. A complex will (with a trust, foreign assets, companies, or children from a previous relationship): 4,000-15,000 NIS. The recommendation: don't economize on the will — what's saved now, heirs will spend many times over on litigation.

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