Do I Need to Visit Israel to Handle an Inheritance?

The Power of Attorney Solution

The single most important tool for non-resident heirs is the power of attorney (harsha'a in Hebrew). A properly executed and apostilled power of attorney gives your Israeli attorney the legal authority to act on your behalf for all purposes related to the estate, including:

• Filing applications with the court or Registrar
• Appearing in court proceedings
• Signing documents on your behalf
• Accessing and closing bank accounts
• Signing property transfer documents at the Land Registry
• Dealing with tax authorities

With a comprehensive power of attorney in place, your physical presence in Israel is typically unnecessary.

What Can Be Done Entirely Remotely

The following tasks can be handled entirely from abroad:

• The entire court/Registrar application process
• All correspondence with Israeli authorities
• Bank account access and fund transfer (to your foreign account)
• Land Registry property transfer (your attorney signs on your behalf)
• Tax clearance application and receipt

When a Visit to Israel Might Be Beneficial

While not legally required in most cases, there are situations where an in-person visit may be practically useful:

Inspecting inherited property. If you are inheriting real estate and want to assess its condition before deciding whether to sell or keep it, a physical visit is necessary. You can appoint a local property manager or surveyor as an alternative.

Complex or disputed estates. If there are family disputes or contested matters, being physically present for key meetings or hearings can sometimes facilitate resolution.

Personal belongings. If the deceased had personal effects, artwork, jewelry, or other tangible property you wish to retrieve, a visit will be necessary.

Opening a new Israeli bank account. If you want to open your own Israeli bank account to receive funds (rather than having them transferred directly to your foreign account), this typically requires an in-person visit to a bank.

Preparing the Power of Attorney

To grant a power of attorney to your Israeli attorney:

1. Your attorney will prepare the Hebrew-language power of attorney document
2. You sign it before a notary in your country of residence
3. The notarized document is then apostilled by the appropriate authority in your country
4. The apostilled document is sent to your attorney in Israel (courier or scan)

Different countries have different apostille authorities. In the US, this is the Secretary of State's office for the relevant state. In the UK, it is the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Important: The power of attorney must be comprehensive enough to cover all the specific tasks your attorney will need to perform. Your Israeli attorney will prepare a suitable draft.