An Israeli lasting power of attorney when the children live abroad — who can act, how they sign from there, and what the bank will ask.

Lasting POA · October 6, 2026 · 10 min read

The short answer

Children living abroad can be appointed, and they can sign without flying in. The law demands no Israeli citizenship or residence of the attorney; the principal signs physically before the certified lawyer in Israel, and the attorney signs by video conference or before an Israeli lawyer where they live. Three things need design: who fills which role — attorney, replacement or "informed person" — when distance makes quick action harder; exactly what the attorney is authorised to do at the bank, because that is where a general document hits a wall; and where the parent is domiciled — if the parent lives most of the year abroad, an Israeli document alone is not enough. There is no deposit deadline, but there is a good reason not to wait.

1. What a lasting power of attorney does — and does not do

A lasting power of attorney (ייפוי כוח מתמשך) is a document in which a competent adult decides in advance who will take decisions in their place — on property, personal matters and health — if and when they can no longer understand the matter. It takes effect only at that point, on a declaration to the Administrator General, and until then it is dormant. It is the alternative to a court-appointed guardian: the family receives authority to act without a court proceeding, and the Administrator General supervises only to the extent the principal chose.

What it is not: an "ordinary" power of attorney — notarial or a bank's own form — lapses when the principal loses capacity, at exactly the moment it is needed (section 32KE of the Law, as the Administrator General's Q&A confirms). Joint ownership of the bank account is not authority but ownership, and creates problems of its own — see the separate article. And a lasting POA is not a will: the attorney may not make a will for the principal or designate beneficiaries on provident funds and insurance (section 32F(b)(6)).

2. The roles — and which child fits which

The Administrator General puts the consideration this way: where a sole attorney lives abroad, "consider whether, practically, they will be able to act alone 'by remote control' in managing the principal's affairs, or whether an additional attorney should be appointed alongside them." Two further limits matter for a dispersed family: an attorney cannot delegate personal and medical decisions to anyone — only legal representation and property management (section 32F(f)); and the role cannot be handed over "temporarily until I am back from abroad" — a replacement is permanent. So if urgent medical decisions have to be taken in Israel, the person in Israel needs to be an attorney for medical matters, not merely an informed person.

Finally: attorneys cannot be added after deposit. A new document is needed, and only while the existing one has not taken effect. The line-up is decided once, and should be decided right.

3. Who is eligible

Section 32C of the Law: an adult; not themselves under guardianship or an activated lasting POA; for property matters — not an undischarged bankrupt and not a "severely restricted customer" under the Dishonoured Cheques Law, both at signing and when the document takes effect; not a paid provider of medical, social or nursing care to the principal; not the principal's paid landlord (unless a relative); and not the lawyer who drafted the document. No one may be attorney for more than three people unless they are their relative. Citizenship and residence are not conditions.

4. How the signing works when the child is abroad

This is where most of the confusion lies, so here it is by the source.

• The principal signs physically, before the lawyer who drafted the document and who is certified for this by the Administrator General (section 32N(a)). The lawyer meets the principal alone, explains the alternatives and the consequences, and satisfies themselves that the document reflects free will. There are no shortcuts here — no video, no consul.
• The attorney signs a consent to serve (section 32N(d)), and has two ways to do so without coming to Israel:
  • Video conference. Since 14 February 2022 the Administrator General permits the attorney to sign in a live video call (sound and picture) in which the lawyer watches the signature on the physical document in real time; a copy of the signed document is sent to the lawyer, and a lawyer's declaration about the video conference is attached to the online deposit. The notice stresses that this applies to the attorney only, not the principal.
  • Signing before an Israeli lawyer where they live. The law lets the attorney sign before any lawyer — not necessarily the certified one — and in the Administrator General's and the Bar Association's view an Israeli-licensed lawyer may witness the signature abroad as well. The signature goes on the same original the principal signed, and the certified lawyer is responsible for receiving it signed and verified and scanning everything as one document.
• Consulate — no. According to the Administrator General's Q&A, the Foreign Ministry does not verify signatures on lasting powers of attorney, so signing before a consul is not available. (A position published in the Q&A; worth checking whether it has changed.)
• The explanation to the attorney of their role and responsibility may be given remotely — by phone or video — even where the signature itself is made before another lawyer.
• Timing. Everyone need not sign at the same sitting, but a gap of days or a few weeks is what is reasonable; a long gap weakens the document.

5. The parent is the one living abroad? Section 77(b)

The reverse case is just as common: a parent who moved near the children in the US, comes to visit, and wants to "get it done" while in Israel. Under section 77(b) of the Law, the validity and scope of a lasting POA are governed by the law of the principal's domicile on the day it is made. Where the principal is domiciled abroad, the Administrator General asks that a foreign-law opinion be deposited with the document, showing that the domicile law has a comparable instrument — in validity, scope and the way it takes effect (not at the attorney's sole discretion). Without the opinion, it will be required in court when the document is to take effect. In other words: possible, but a two-legal-systems project, not a signature during a visit. For the mirror question — what a US power of attorney is worth in Israel — see the separate article.

6. Deposit — and why there is no "expiry date"

A lasting POA is deposited with the Administrator General as a condition of taking effect (section 32Q). Deposit is online, by the certified lawyer, with an electronic signature; the original paper document stays with the lawyer. Principal and attorney can see the document's status in their personal area, and the Administrator General sends the principal periodic reminders that it exists.

The law sets no time limit between signing and deposit — the Administrator General's Q&A says so in terms. Claims that a document not deposited within six months "expires automatically" do not reflect the law. Deposit immediately all the same: without deposit the document cannot take effect when needed; if the deposit is rejected for a technical reason, the principal can fix it while still competent; and a long gap raises doubt whether the principal still understood the matter on the day of signing.

7. Taking effect — when the attorney is far away

The document takes effect when the principal is no longer able to understand the matter for which it was given (section 32S). The default test is an expert opinion; the principal may prescribe another, but never "the attorney's decision alone". The attorney first notifies the principal, the relative they live with or the care-home manager, and anyone the principal named — then files a declaration with the Administrator General, online after identification or in person. Where there are several attorneys, each files. The Administrator General issues a confirmation that the document has taken effect, which is what is shown to the bank, the funds and the doctors; taking effect does not remove the principal's legal capacity (section 32T).

Two points for the attorney abroad: the online declaration requires identification in Israel's government system — an attorney without an Israeli ID should check in advance how they will file, and if necessary another attorney files in person; and if the principal has a joint account with a spouse, the document taking effect restricts the co-holder's activity too — another reason to say in advance what should happen to the joint account (see section 8).

8. What the attorney will be able to do at the bank — and what to write in advance

This is where general documents fail. Banks are bound to honour the law, but they read the document word by word and, according to the Administrator General, have become stricter about detail. The law itself grades the acts (section 32F):

The practical consequence: at the drafting meeting, write advance directives that answer the questions the bank will ask — which accounts, which acts, whether transfers abroad are allowed and up to what amount, what to do with funds and policies, and what becomes of the joint account with the spouse: keep it, split it, in what proportions. The Administrator General recommends this expressly, because no default has been agreed with the banks, and splitting a joint account without such an instruction needs court approval. When a bank refuses — establish the reason, check whether it stems from a missing authorisation, and contact the Administrator General, which handles such complaints.

For those who already deposited a general document: the Administrator General now allows an annex of advance directives — express authorisations and operational instructions — to be added to a deposited lasting POA through the lawyer who drafted it, without redoing everything. Attorneys cannot be added that way, nor the activation mechanism changed.

9. And after death

A lasting POA lapses on the principal's death. The property attorney may nevertheless continue to deal with certain property matters for up to 90 days — expenses the principal undertook in lifetime, reasonable funeral and mourning expenses, preserving an asset — as long as no one else has been lawfully put in charge, and unless the principal provided otherwise (section 32KD(b)). From there the law of succession applies — which order is needed, and what happens to the bank account.

10. A sequence for a dispersed family

• Decide the line-up: who is attorney (and for which matters), who is replacement, who is informed person. Check that all meet the eligibility conditions — including the "restricted customer" and bankruptcy tests.
• Check the parent's domicile. Resident in Israel — proceed; domiciled abroad — plan for a foreign-law opinion.
• The parent meets the certified lawyer, alone. Write advance directives "in the bank's language", including the joint account, the funds and transfers abroad.
• Explain the role to the attorneys abroad by video; they sign by video conference or before an Israeli lawyer where they live, within days of the parent's signature.
• Deposit online at once; confirm the status "deposit approved"; keep a copy with each attorney.
• Check in advance how the attorney abroad will identify in the government system when the day comes.
• Tell the parent the Administrator General's reminders will reach them — and choose the channel (SMS, email, post).

Frequently asked questions

Can a child who lives abroad be the attorney under an Israeli lasting power of attorney?

Yes. The law does not require the principal or the attorney to be an Israeli citizen or resident, and the Administrator General has confirmed this expressly. Its recommendation: where the sole attorney lives abroad, consider whether they can realistically manage matters 'by remote control', and appoint a second attorney or a replacement alongside them.

How does the child abroad sign the document?

The principal must sign physically before the certified lawyer who drafted the document. The attorney can sign their consent in two ways: by video conference — a live call in which the lawyer watches the signature in real time and attaches a declaration to the deposit (Administrator General notice of 14 February 2022) — or before any Israeli-licensed lawyer, including one abroad. Signing before a consul is not currently possible, according to the Administrator General.

Is there a deadline for depositing the document after signing?

No. The law sets no time limit between signing and deposit, and the Administrator General says so expressly in its published Q&A. Deposit promptly all the same — without deposit the document cannot take effect, and a long gap raises questions about the principal's capacity at signing. Claims that the document 'expires' after six months do not reflect the law.

What is the difference between an attorney, a replacement attorney and an 'informed person'?

The attorney acts for the principal after the document takes effect. A replacement attorney steps in if the attorney's appointment lapses — death, resignation, loss of eligibility. An informed person does not act for the principal: they are notified when the document takes effect and may demand reports from the attorney on decisions and actions, on the terms the principal set. It is the natural role for the sibling abroad who is not the attorney.

My parent lives in the US most of the year — can we sign an Israeli lasting POA during a visit?

Not automatically. Under section 77(b) of the Law, the validity and scope of a lasting POA are governed by the law of the principal's domicile on the day it is made. Where the principal is domiciled abroad, the Administrator General asks for a foreign-law opinion, deposited with the document, showing that the domicile law has a comparable instrument — failing which the opinion must be produced to the court when the document is to take effect.

Must the bank honour the lasting power of attorney?

Banks are bound to act according to the law and let the attorney act within the powers granted, but in practice they demand detail. Certain acts — gifts, loans, transactions between NIS 100,000 and 500,000, and any act in a pension product — require express authorisation in the document; transactions above NIS 500,000 and real-estate transactions require court approval. On a refusal, the Administrator General advises establishing the reason and contacting it.

Can an attorney be added or instructions changed after deposit?

Adding an attorney — no; a new document is needed, and only while the existing one has not taken effect. However, the Administrator General now allows an annex of advance directives to be added to a deposited document — for instance express bank authorisations that were omitted — through the lawyer who drafted it, without redoing everything.

The above is general information only, current as of the date of publication, and does not constitute legal advice or a substitute for advice on your specific circumstances. The Administrator General's guidance and the banks' procedures change from time to time and should be confirmed. Consult a lawyer certified to draft lasting powers of attorney before acting.

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