Making a will – from the first conversation to depositing the will.

Wills & Succession · October 22, 2026

The short answer

The firm drafts single wills and mutual wills for spouses, at a meeting in the office or by video. The will is signed before two witnesses, as section 20 of the Succession Law, 5725-1965 requires – at the office, witnesses from the firm – and where appropriate before a notary. Where the testator has assets or heirs outside Israel, the firm drafts an Israeli will coordinated with the foreign will. After signing, the firm assists with depositing the will with the Registrar for Inheritance Matters. Adv. Yona Schwebel is also certified by the Administrator General to draft lasting powers of attorney, and where needed the will and the power of attorney are considered together.

1. What the service covers

• Single and mutual wills. A mutual will for spouses is drafted under section 8A of the Succession Law, including provisions on revocation and “heir after heir” (section 42) – mutual wills.
• Signing before witnesses at the office. A will before witnesses is signed before two witnesses from the firm (section 20 of the Law). A minor or a person declared incompetent may not witness (section 24), and a provision benefiting a witness or the witness’s spouse is void (section 35) – the forms of a will.
• Will before a notary. Where the circumstances call for it, the will is made before a notary, who is treated as a judge for this purpose (section 22(g) of the Law).
• An Israeli will alongside a foreign will. A will covering the assets in Israel, coordinated with the will made in another country – Israeli and foreign wills.
• Testators abroad. Meetings by video, and arrangements for signing before witnesses where the testator lives.
• Depositing the will. Assistance with depositing the will with the Registrar for Inheritance Matters, including remote deposit under regulation 6B of the Succession Regulations – depositing and changing a will.

2. How the process works

1. First conversation. Who the family members are, what the assets are and where, who the heirs on intestacy are, whether there is an earlier will – in Israel or abroad – and whether there is a lasting power of attorney.
2. Draft. The draft is sent to the testator and reviewed with them until it reflects their wishes.
3. Signing. At the office before two witnesses; before a notary where required; or, for a testator living abroad, before witnesses where they live.
4. Deposit. If the testator chooses – deposit with the Registrar for Inheritance Matters. The fee for 2026 is NIS 126, and a deposit is exempt if no earlier will of the testator was deposited in the five years before it.
5. Updating. When circumstances change, a new will is made; a new will revokes the earlier one to the extent their provisions conflict, or to the extent it expressly revokes it (section 36 of the Law).

3. The four forms of will – in brief

4. Further reading

• The four forms of an Israeli will – what each requires, and what invalidates a will
• Mutual wills in Israel – what section 8A permits, and when they can be revoked
• An Israeli will alongside a foreign will
• Depositing, changing and revoking a will
• After a death in Israel – succession order, probate order, or no order at all?

Frequently asked questions

Must a will be drafted by a lawyer?

No. The Succession Law does not require a will to be drafted by a lawyer. It sets the forms of will and the requirements of each (sections 18 to 23), and voids a provision benefiting whoever drew up or witnessed the will (section 35).

I live abroad. Can I make an Israeli will?

Yes. Meetings take place by video, and signing is arranged before witnesses where you live. Under section 140 of the Succession Law, a will is valid in form if it is valid under Israeli law, the law of the place where it was made, or the other laws listed in that section.

Must the will be deposited?

No. Deposit with the Registrar for Inheritance Matters is optional (section 21 of the Succession Law). A deposited will is recorded in the national register, which the Registrar checks on every application for a succession or probate order (regulation 18 of the Succession Regulations).

Does the firm also act after a death?

Yes. The firm files applications for succession and probate orders with the Registrar for Inheritance Matters and deals with the estate – see what is needed after a death.

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. Fee amounts are those published in Reshumot at the date of publication and are updated from time to time. Consult a lawyer before acting.

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