Depositing a will with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs

A person who wishes to ensure that his will will be found upon his death and preserved from the ravages of time can deposit it with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs. The Probate Deposit Service ensures that after the person's death, his will will be opened and delivered to the beneficiaries according to the will. A will can be deposited by hand, in witnesses, or before an authority. It is possible to deposit remotely online or by appearing at the offices by scheduling an appointment only 

• Anyone who has made a will by hand or by witnesses or before a notary public and wishes to deposit the will, while still alive, can deposit it with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs. After depositing the will, the testator is given the right to receive it back at any time.
• In a mutual will, a deposit must be made for each testator separately.
• Depositing a will remotely is a personal act and only the testator himself can make a deposit from his personal area. It is not possible to make a remote deposit for another person..
• A notary public can deposit a notarized will for a testator, if the testator wishes to do so, within 30 days from the date of making the will.
• ​Depositing a will with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs is optional and not mandatory. The will is valid even without deposit. For more information, visitProbate Guid. 
• The deposit of the will does not constitute confirmation of the validity of the will. Law

The Inheritance Law governs all matters of wills and inheritances in Israel. The law distinguishes between a situation in which a person makes a will and a situation in which a person dies without leaving a will.

In the event that a deceased person did not leave behind a will, it is the law that determines how his property will be divided among his heirs. Therefore, many people choose to make a will – a document that determines who will inherit their property and assets after their death, according to their wishes.

In inheritance law, there are 4 possible ways in which a person can make a will so that it is legally binding:

1. Handwritten will

​2. Testament  in witnesses

3. A will before an authority (including a notary)

4.  Oral will

צוואה בכתב

Handwritten will 

The law of inheritance allows any person to make a will in his own handwriting. A handwritten will will be written entirely by the testator's hand, bearing a written date in his hand and signed by him.

When making a handwritten will, keep in mind :

•  Making a handwritten will does not require the signature and/or approval of anyone other than the testator himself.

•    It is important to remember! A printed will cannot be considered a handwritten will.

•   All wills of this type must be written in the testator's handwriting, including date.

•   All wills of this type must be written in the testator's handwriting, including date.

Testament in witnesses

A testament in witnesses shall be in writing, it shall be stated on the date and signed by the testator in front of two witnesses after the testator has stated to both witnesses that this is his will. 

The witnesses shall certify at that time, by their signature on the face of the will, that the testator has declared and signed as aforesaid..

When making a will in witnesses, it should be remembered :

•    The witnesses cannot be family members or beneficiaries under the will.

•    There must be 2 witnesses (and there is no requirement that one of the witnesses be a lawyer, or that a lawyer approve or sign the will)..

•Insofar as the mitzvah is in isolation and/or hospitalization, members of the medical staff can also serve as witnesses.

•    The testator and witnesses must be present together at the time the will is signed.

•    The will can be printed or handwritten..

•    The testator must write the date of signing the will.

•    The testator must sign the will in front of2witnesses. The testator and witnesses must be present together at the signing ceremony.

The witnesses will sign the will, and declare that the testator signed and declared to them that this is his will.

צוואה בפני רשות (שופט

Will before an authority / notary public

A will can be made before a judge, kadi, judge, registrar of inheritance matters or notary..

When making a will before a notary, keep in mind :

• A notarized will can also be made without the need for the testator's physical signature.

•    No witnesses needed.

מידע חשוב לגבי כל סוגי הצוואות

Is there an obligation to deposit a will ?

A will that meets the conditions of the law, in terms of substance and form, is valid even without depositing it with the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs..

•  Be sure to write down the ID numbers of everyone mentioned in the will - including the testator and the winners..

•   It is important to remember that with respect to all types of wills - the winners under the will are not allowed to be involved in the process

- In order to effectively utilize the benefits of the will, over the absence of a will, such as tax advantages and savings in the process of transferring ownership of real estate assets, it is important to include correct identification details of the testator's real estate assets. 

Making and signing a will

•    Before making any types of wills, it is possible and preferable to obtain legal advice.

• In order to ensure that the will will will not be invalidated and will be executed after the death of the testator, it is advisable to keep it in a relatively visible place, or to give it for safekeeping by the beneficiaries according to the will, or by a trusted person / close friend, or by a professional trusted by the testator to bring the will into existence after death, for example, a lawyer or notary.

-All of the above is a general explanation and certainly does not replace legal advice tailored to the testator and each and every case. .

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