Lasting power of attorney and advance directives in Israel

For Families · November 4, 2026

The short answer

A lasting power of attorney (yipui ko'ach mitmashekh) is a document in which a person decides, while still able to understand the matter, who will act for them in personal, medical and property matters if they later cannot do so themselves, and on what terms. Unlike an ordinary power of attorney, it does not end when the principal loses capacity (section 32KF of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, 5722-1962). It can include advance directives (hanchayot mukdamot) that bind the attorney-in-fact. The principal signs in person before a lawyer who has completed the training run by the Administrator General (Apotropos Klali), and the document is deposited with the Administrator General. English speakers may know similar documents as an “enduring”, “continuing” or “durable” power of attorney; those are documents under other legal systems, and this page is about the Israeli one. Adv. Yona Schwebel is certified by the Administrator General to draft lasting powers of attorney. More on advance directives: Advance directives in Israel – what you can decide in advance.

1. What a lasting power of attorney is – and what it is not

An ordinary power of attorney – notarial, bank or general – ends when the principal loses capacity (section 14(a) of the Agency Law, 5725-1965) – just when it is most needed. The lasting power of attorney is the exception: under section 32KF of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, an agency under it does not end merely because the principal has ceased to have capacity.

It is also an alternative to guardianship. A court will appoint a guardian for an adult only if, among other things, there is no deposited lasting power of attorney for those matters and no less restrictive alternative (section 33A of the Law).

A lasting power of attorney is not a will: the attorney-in-fact may not make a will for the principal or designate beneficiaries of pension funds and insurance policies (section 32F(b)(6)). A joint bank account is not a substitute either – see the separate article.

2. Personal, medical and property matters

The power of attorney can cover personal matters – including welfare, place of residence and health – medical matters and property matters, all or some of them (sections 32A, 32B(b), 32M(c) and 32O). The principal chooses which matters are included.

Investment of the principal's money follows the principal's advance directives and, where there are none, the Legal Capacity and Guardianship (Investment of Funds by a Guardian or Attorney) Regulations, 5784-2024.

3. Advance directives

Advance directives are instructions the principal writes into the power of attorney about the attorney-in-fact's future decisions and acts in the matters it covers – personal, property and medical (sections 32M(b), 32LA and 32LB). They bind the attorney-in-fact (section 32LA(b)) and remain valid until revoked (section 32LB).

For example: where the principal would prefer to live, who is kept informed of medical decisions, and which accounts are managed and how.

One exception: directives under the Dying Patient Law, 5766-2005 are not part of the power of attorney. The attorney-in-fact may not do any act or express any wish under that Law (section 32F(b)(5)), and the provisions on advance directives do not apply to the medical treatment of a dying patient (section 32LC). Such directives are made separately, under that Law.

4. Who is appointed: attorney-in-fact, replacement and informed person

• Attorney-in-fact – acts for the principal once the power of attorney is in force. Where there are several, the default is that they act together, unless the principal has decided otherwise (section 32D).
• Replacement attorney – steps in if the attorney-in-fact's appointment lapses, for example on death or resignation (section 32E).
• Informed person – does not act for the principal. The attorney-in-fact reports to them on decisions and acts, at the times and in the manner the principal has set, and they may request information (section 32P(a) and (d)); they are also notified when the power of attorney comes into force (section 32S(a)(2)). The principal may instead provide for reporting to the Administrator General (section 32P(a) and (e)).

Eligibility is set out in section 32C. Among other things, the attorney-in-fact must be an adult, may not be the lawyer who drafted the document, and may not be someone who gives the principal paid medical, social or nursing care. Israeli citizenship or residence is not a condition, so a child living abroad can be appointed – a lasting power of attorney when the children live abroad.

5. Express authorisations and acts that need approval

The Law grades the attorney-in-fact's acts (section 32F). Some acts are allowed only if the document expressly authorises them, and some need prior approval.

In several cases the Administrator General does not consider the application and the applicant may take it to the court, including where the principal objects or where the application contradicts deposited advance directives (section 74A(d)–(e)). Acts involving a conflict of interest between the attorney-in-fact and the principal still need court approval (section 32F(g), referring to section 48).

6. Signing – in Israel and abroad

• The principal signs before a lawyer who has completed the Administrator General's training and has no personal interest (section 32N(a)) – according to the Administrator General, in person. The lawyer explains to the principal in plain language they understand, without the attorney-in-fact present (sections 32M(d) and 32N(c)). The principal does not sign by video.
• A principal living abroad may sign there, in person, before an Israeli lawyer who has completed the training. Consulates do not authenticate signatures on lasting powers of attorney.
• The attorney-in-fact signs their consent to serve (section 32N(d)) before a lawyer and, under the Administrator General's notice of 14.2.2022, also by video, with the lawyer watching the signature in real time. An attorney-in-fact living abroad may also sign before an Israeli lawyer where they live.

Language. The Law does not expressly require the document to be in Hebrew; the requirement follows from the prescribed online form (section 32M(a), and regulation 2(a) of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship (Lasting Power of Attorney, Advance Directives to a Guardian and Expression of Wishes) Regulations, 5777-2017). For a principal who does not read Hebrew, the lawyer explains in a language the principal understands (section 32N(c)), and the translation is recorded in the adjustments section of the document. The Administrator General has published official Arabic and English translations of the forms.

7. Deposit, entry into force and apostille

Deposit. The power of attorney is deposited with the Administrator General, and deposit is a condition of its entry into force (section 32Q). Deposit is online. The Law sets no deadline for deposit; the firm deposits the document shortly after signing. Until entry into force, the Administrator General sends the principal a reminder every three years (section 32KA(b)).

Entry into force. The power of attorney comes into force when the principal can no longer understand the matter it covers (section 32S(a)). For property matters, the principal may provide that it comes into force immediately or on a later date, even while still able to understand (section 32S(b)). The default is an expert opinion. The principal may specify another method, but not one that rests on the attorney-in-fact's decision alone. The attorney-in-fact files a declaration with the Administrator General, who issues a confirmation of entry into force. Entry into force does not remove the principal's legal capacity (section 32T).

Apostille. Where the power of attorney must be shown abroad, the attorney-in-fact produces, in their personal area on the government website, a confirmation of entry into force with a digital apostille, which is sent by email. The fee in 2026 is NIS 41 and is updated from time to time. Recognition of an Israeli document depends on the country where it is presented, and is checked in coordination with your advisers abroad.

8. Living abroad, and documents made abroad

Under section 77(b) of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, the validity and scope of a lasting power of attorney are governed by the law of the principal's domicile on the day it is made. The principal and the attorney-in-fact may be foreign residents, but where the principal is domiciled abroad, an opinion on the foreign law is required. The firm coordinates this with your advisers abroad.

A power of attorney made abroad under foreign law – whether it is called “enduring”, “continuing”, “durable” or “lasting” – is not a lasting power of attorney under Israeli law. To have such a document recognised in Israel, the Administrator General suggests applying to the Family Court for a declaratory judgment. What the foreign document does under its own law is a matter for your advisers abroad. For the most common case – is a US durable power of attorney valid in Israel?

9. How the process works

1. Introductory call. Who is in the family, who could serve as attorney-in-fact, replacement or informed person, where the assets are, and whether there is an earlier will or power of attorney, in Israel or abroad.
2. Meeting with the principal alone. An explanation of the options, and drafting of the advance directives and express authorisations. The draft is reviewed with the principal until it reflects their wishes.
3. Signing. The principal – in person; the attorneys-in-fact – before a lawyer or by video.
4. Deposit online with the Administrator General.
5. Coordination with the will. Reviewing how the power of attorney and the will fit together, and reviewing the beneficiaries registered in pension funds and life insurance – wills.

Fees: a clear written quote before any work starts. Families planning several documents together – for example powers of attorney for both spouses and wills, or planning for a child with a disability – can start with a Roadmap Meeting: 60 minutes, on Teams, or if needed at your home or at the office, in three steps – mapping; written recommendations with a clear written quote; drafting, signing and deposit.

10. Further reading

• A lasting power of attorney when the children live abroad
• Is a US durable power of attorney valid in Israel?
• Adding a child to the parents' bank account
• All articles on lasting powers of attorney

Frequently asked questions

Is an Israeli lasting power of attorney the same as an enduring, continuing or durable power of attorney?

Not under Israeli law. Those names belong to documents made under other legal systems. In Israel, the arrangement that survives loss of capacity is the lasting power of attorney under the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, 5722-1962 (section 32KF), made on the prescribed form, signed before a trained lawyer and deposited with the Administrator General. See is a US durable power of attorney valid in Israel?

Can a lasting power of attorney be signed from abroad?

Yes. A principal living abroad may sign there, in person, before an Israeli lawyer who has completed the Administrator General's training. An attorney-in-fact may sign before an Israeli lawyer where they live, or by video (Administrator General's notice of 14.2.2022). The principal does not sign by video. See a lasting power of attorney when the children live abroad.

Is there a deadline for depositing it after signing?

No. The Law sets no deadline for deposit (section 32Q of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law). Deposit is, however, a condition of entry into force, so the firm deposits the document shortly after signing.

Can it include end-of-life instructions?

No. Directives under the Dying Patient Law, 5766-2005 are not included in the power of attorney (sections 32F(b)(5) and 32LC of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law) and are made separately under that Law. Other medical directives can be included in the power of attorney.

Can the attorney-in-fact sell the principal's home?

Only with prior approval. Since 8.8.2025 (Amendment No. 21), an application is filed with the Administrator General under section 74A of the Law, and the Administrator General responds within 60 days of the application or of receiving all required documents, whichever is later (section 74A(f)); in the cases listed in the section the Administrator General does not consider the application and the applicant may take it to the court, for example if the principal objects or if it contradicts the advance directives.

I already deposited a lasting power of attorney. Can I add directives?

Yes, in an annex of advance directives. The annex is optional, and it can be added to a deposited power of attorney or changed. This route cannot add an attorney-in-fact or change how the document comes into force, and changing the directives in the power of attorney itself requires a new power of attorney. Adding an attorney-in-fact also requires a new power of attorney, as long as the earlier one has not come into force.

The above is general information on Israeli law only, current as of the date of publication, and does not constitute legal advice or a substitute for advice on your specific circumstances. Consult a lawyer before acting.

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