Online Application for an Inheritance Order: The Complete Guide to Filing in 2026

An online application for an inheritance order is today the accepted way to obtain an order identifying the legal heirs when there is no will. This guide explains, step by step, how to file, which documents you need, what causes delays and when it is advisable to use a lawyer.

An online application for an inheritance order is a request filed through the online system of the Registrar for Inheritance Matters, when a person has died without a will, in order to obtain an order determining who the legal heirs are and what their shares in the estate are. This order is required for banks, insurance companies and the Land Registry to agree to transfer the deceased's assets to the heirs, and it is granted only after the documents have been reviewed and after a waiting period during which interested parties may respond.

Online Application for an Inheritance Order: What Is It and Who Is It For?

An inheritance order is an order issued by the Registrar for Inheritance Matters that determines who the legal heirs are of a person who died without leaving a will, and what share of the estate each of them is entitled to. The order is based on the provisions of the Succession Law, 1965, which defines the order of entitlement among family members.

The word "online" refers only to the method of filing. Instead of going in person to the Registrar's office and filling out paper forms, you can file the application, upload the documents and pay the fee through the Ministry of Justice online system, also known as the system of the Administrator General and the Registrar for Inheritance Matters.

The order itself is a document of very practical use. Without it, a bank will not allow funds to be withdrawn from the deceased's account, an insurance company will not pay out a policy in the deceased's name, and a pension fund will not transfer funds accumulated in the deceased's favor. The Land Registry (Tabu) also requires the order as a condition for registering an apartment or land in the heirs' names.

The difference between online filing and in-person filing

The main advantage of online filing is saving time and avoiding queues: there is no need to go to the office, and documents are uploaded as digital files. Nevertheless, it is the same legal proceeding in terms of content and review; only the interface is different. The following table sets out the practical differences between the two routes:

It is important to clarify a point that many competitors skip: this route is relevant only when there is no known will. If the deceased left a will, an application must be filed for a Probate order, which is a similar proceeding but with different documents and conditions.

Another question worth checking in advance is local jurisdiction: the application is filed with the Registrar's office in the area of the deceased's last place of residence, not necessarily according to where the filing heir lives. Where there is doubt, for example when the deceased lived in a care home in another area during the final period, it is advisable to check this with a professional before filing, because filing with the wrong office may cause the application to be returned.

Who may file an application for an inheritance order, and to whom is the order granted?

The right to file the application belongs in principle to anyone with a direct interest in the estate, usually one of the heirs. It can be filed by the heir personally, or through a lawyer who receives a written power of attorney to act on the heir's behalf.

The order of heirs when there is no will

The Succession Law, 1965, sets a general order of priority among family members when there is no will. Generally, the spouse and the deceased's children are in the first circle, and after them, depending on the specific family circumstances, the deceased's parents, siblings or grandchildren may also be entitled.

The division between the spouse and the children, and among the children themselves, depends on the specific facts of each case. In general, the law distinguishes between several situations: when the deceased left a spouse and children, the spouse receives the shared household movables and the family car, plus a share of the remainder, while the rest of the remainder is divided among the children. When the deceased left a spouse and parents but no children, the spouse receives a larger share of the estate, and the remaining share is divided between the parents. When there are neither children nor parents living, the spouse may be entitled to the entire estate. In addition to the division of property, there is also separate protection of the spouse's right to continue living in the shared residential apartment for a certain period, regardless of the question of formal ownership.

For illustration only, and not as a description of a real case: in a hypothetical family where the deceased left a spouse and two children, without a will, the spouse is entitled to the shared household movables and the car, plus a share of the remainder, while the rest of the remainder is divided between the two children in equal shares. Such a calculation changes in almost every case, depending on whether there are children from previous marriages, whether there are grandchildren who take the place of a parent who died before the deceased, and whether there are jointly held assets requiring a separate accounting before the estate is divided. For exactly this reason, a lawyer should examine the specific facts before filing, rather than relying on a general assumption.

The heirs' consent and what happens when it is missing

The application must list all known heirs, not only those who are convenient to locate. This applies even when an heir lives abroad, and even when contact with that heir is distant or infrequent. Omitting an heir, even in good faith, may expose the order to problems later on.

When one of the heirs is a minor or a legally incompetent person, separate attention is required, and sometimes the involvement of the Administrator General in the proceeding, to ensure that their interests are protected. Such a situation is examined individually and is not necessarily suitable for filing independently without advice.

When an heir lives abroad and cannot come to Israel, they can grant a power of attorney to a lawyer in Israel, or to a family member, to act on their behalf. A power of attorney signed overseas usually requires local notarial certification, and sometimes also an apostille, before it will be accepted in the online system. This step takes time, so it is advisable to start it early and not leave it to the last moment of filing.

After the application is filed, all known heirs receive official notice of it, so that they can review the details and respond if they have a claim, before the order is actually granted. This is a key point that ensures transparency in the proceeding, but also a possible source of delay when an heir ignores the notice or does not respond in time.

How to file an online application for an inheritance order: step by step

The online process consists of seven main stages. Knowing each stage in advance reduces delays and prevents the application from being returned for correction.

Identification in the online system

The first stage is secure identification in the Ministry of Justice online system, which serves both the Administrator General and the Registrar for Inheritance Matters. Identification is done using a secure method, such as a biometric identity card together with a suitable reader, or another approved digital identification method that is updated from time to time. Without valid identification, you cannot continue to the next stages.

Entering the details of the deceased and the heirs

In the second stage you enter the deceased's details: full name, ID number, date of death, and last place of residence. At the same time you must enter the details of all known heirs, including those living abroad. An important part of this stage is an explicit declaration that the applicant has no knowledge of a will left by the deceased. Such a declaration is a basic condition for filing an application for an inheritance order, rather than for a probate order.

Uploading the required documents

In the third stage you upload all the required documents to the system as digital files, usually in a legible scanned format. A full list of the documents appears in the dedicated section below, but it is important to know already at this point: a missing or illegible document is one of the most common reasons for an application being returned for correction.

Paying the online fee

After the documents are complete, a fee is paid within the system itself, using an online payment method. The fee amount changes from time to time, so the correct way to check the current amount is through the website of the Registrar for Inheritance Matters, rather than relying on a figure from an old source.

Notice to the heirs and publication of the application

After the application is received in the system, notice is sent to the other heirs listed in the application, so that they are aware of it. In certain cases publication is also required, allowing other interested parties, who do not necessarily appear in the application, to respond if they have a claim or relevant information, for example if they know of a will.

The waiting period and objections

The law sets a waiting period intended to allow anyone with a claim to file an objection before the order is granted. During this period the Registrar also checks the document file against the Population Registry, to verify that the details of the deceased and the heirs match, and that there is no duplication with another application filed in the same matter. If no objection is filed during this period and the matching check is successful, the proceeding moves toward issuing the order. If an objection is filed, the case may be transferred from the Registrar to the Family Court, and the proceeding becomes significantly longer and more complex, including the need for legal representation.

Receiving the digital order

Once the application is approved and there is no impediment, the Registrar issues the order digitally. The order is available for download directly from the online system, and can be sent to the relevant institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, without the need for a signed physical copy.

Which documents must be attached to the online application for an inheritance order?

The quality of the document file is the factor that most affects how quickly the application progresses. A complete and accurate file from the first submission significantly reduces the risk of delays.

When one of the heirs lives abroad, the documents coming from them, including an identity card or passport, usually require additional certification in the form of an apostille and a translation into Hebrew. This step takes time, so it is advisable to start it early and not wait until the moment of filing.

In more complex estates, where there are business assets, a private company in which the deceased was a shareholder, or assets registered outside Israel, the online system still accepts the basic application for an inheritance order, but in practice further work is then needed with the relevant institutions to realize the rights in those assets. In such cases it is worth seeking advice in advance, to understand which additional documents the banks or registration authorities abroad are likely to require, beyond the order itself.

What happens to the deceased's debts in the estate?

A question that comes up repeatedly at the start of the proceeding is what happens if the deceased had debts, such as a loan, an unpaid mortgage, or a debt to a supplier. The Succession Law, 1965, establishes a central principle: an heir is not personally liable for the deceased's debts beyond the value of the assets received from the estate. In other words, if the estate includes debts that exceed the value of the assets, the heirs are not required to pay the difference out of their own pocket; repayment is limited to the value of the assets received.

However, the order itself does not examine or decide the question of debts; it deals only with identifying the heirs and their shares. The question of what to do when it is known in advance that the estate has significant debts, and how to manage the distribution of assets in a way that protects the heirs, should be examined separately, sometimes before the application for the order is even filed. Where there is a real suspicion that the debts exceed the value of the assets, it is advisable to obtain legal advice before actually accepting the inheritance, and not only before it is distributed.

How long does the process take from filing to receiving the inheritance order?

There is no uniform number of days that fits every case, and any such claim is a promise that cannot be kept. Broadly, an application filed complete and uncontested, without an objection and without heirs who are hard to locate, tends to progress within a reasonable period, which depends, among other things, on the workload at that Registrar's office.

Several factors tend to lengthen the handling time:

• Missing or illegible documents that require the Registrar to request completion
• An heir who is hard to locate or does not respond to the notice sent to them
• An heir living abroad whose notice is delayed
• An objection filed by one of the heirs or another interested party
• A mismatch between the heirs' details and the Population Registry, requiring further examination

By contrast, a file submitted complete the first time, in which the heirs' details match the Population Registry exactly, and in which there is no dispute between the heirs over entitlement itself, tends to progress more easily and without unnecessary delays. It is important to remember that each file is examined on its own merits, and no timeframe should be treated as a guarantee of the outcome.

Which mistakes cause an online application for an inheritance order to be rejected or delayed?

Most delays in the process stem from a few recurring mistakes, which in most cases can be prevented with early planning:

• Mismatched identity details: A discrepancy between the details entered in the application and the actual identity cards, even a small error in a number or in the spelling of a name.
• Omitting a known heir: Leaving out an heir, even a distant one, may cause the application to be returned or expose the order to a problem later on.
• Filing with the wrong office: Filing the application with a Registrar's office that does not have local jurisdiction over the deceased's last place of residence.
• Late discovery of a will: If it emerges that a will exists after an inheritance order has already been granted, the order may be open to challenge, and this is a situation that calls for seeking advice promptly.
• Foreign documents without certification: Uploading a document issued abroad without an apostille or without an appropriate translation.
• Defective notice to an heir abroad: When notice to an heir living overseas is not delivered as required, this may delay the entire proceeding.
• Filing too early: Filing the application before the death certificate or another required civil document has been finalized.
• Treating a complex case as a simple form: When there are debts, business assets or a complex family, and the application is treated as if it were an ordinary form to fill out, without a preliminary legal review.
• Outdated contact details: An inactive email address or phone number, which prevents the applicant from receiving updates or requests to complete documents on time.

What is the difference between an online inheritance order and an online probate order?

The key difference is simple but important: Inheritance order Granted when there is no will, and the heirs are determined according to the order set out in the Succession Law. Probate order Granted when a will exists, and the Registrar examines and confirms that the will is the document that will govern the distribution of the estate.

Both proceedings are filed through the same online system of the The Registrar of Inheritance Affairs, but as the table shows, they require different documents and examine different legal questions.

If an additional will is discovered after an inheritance order has already been granted, this is a separate legal problem and must be addressed promptly. There is also the reverse situation: an heir who believes there is a defect in a will that has been submitted may file an objection, a proceeding with its own timelines that is explained in detail in the dedicated guide on the subject Objection to a will.

Anyone who wants to avoid such situations in advance can consult a separate guide on Depositing a will with the Registrar of Inheritance, which explains how to ensure that a future will is discovered and handled properly.

When is it worth using a lawyer to file the online inheritance order application?

In simple cases, such as a single undisputed heir with all documents available and clear, the application can be filed independently. However, there are situations in which legal assistance saves time and prevents complications:

• Heirs who live abroad, or heirs who are hard to locate
• Heirs who are minors or legally incompetent, who require separate treatment
• Complex families, second marriages or family estrangements
• Suspicion that an additional will exists that is not known with certainty
• An estate that includes business assets, debts, or assets outside Israel
• A dispute between the heirs over the filing itself or over the future distribution of the estate
• An estate that includes an apartment or land that will later need to be registered with the Land Registry

A lawyer who specializes in inheritance law can identify local jurisdiction issues in advance, prepare the document file correctly from the first filing, and prevent delays caused by technical errors. Where an objection is filed and the case is transferred to the Family Court, legal representation becomes essential to manage the proceeding.

At the office of Adv. Shay Zohar, every case begins with a personal meeting at the office in Ramat Gan, by prior appointment, before any actual filing. Adv. Shay Zohar, head of the office, and Adv. Eliyahu Richter, a colleague at the office, handle inheritance and family cases, examining the specific circumstances of the case, identifying potential problems early, and building the document file correctly. A meeting can be scheduled by phone or WhatsApp at 054-668-0699.

What do you do after the inheritance order is received?

Receiving the order is an important stage, but not the end of the road. The digital order is presented to the relevant bodies: banks, insurance companies, pension funds, and the Land Registry (Tabu), in order to transfer the deceased's assets to the heirs. In practice, the process with each body looks a little different:

• Bank: The heirs go to the branch where the deceased's account was held, present the order and their identity cards, and ask to close the account or transfer the funds according to the shares set out in the order.
• Insurance company and pension fund: That body's own claim form is usually required in addition to the order, and sometimes also documents relating to the beneficiaries named in the policy itself, if there are any.
• Land Registry: Registering a property in the heirs' names requires submitting the order, and sometimes also additional documents depending on the type of property, in order to update the registration according to the shares that were set.

An important point to understand: the order determines who the heirs are and what their relative share of the estate is, but it does not determine which physical assets go to which specific heir. When there are several heirs and an estate made up of several assets, for example one apartment and one bank account, a separate estate distribution agreement is sometimes required, specifying who actually receives which asset, in line with the shares set out in the order. For example, one heir may receive the apartment and another heir most of the funds in the bank account, so that the total value each of them receives reflects the relative share set out in the order. Such an agreement requires the consent of all the heirs, and in the case of real estate, registering the agreement later on also has significance.

Anyone who needs an additional copy of an existing order, or wants to check the status of an application that was filed, can do so through the same online system. More on how to do this appears in the guide Locating an inheritance order.

It is worth knowing that disputes between heirs can arise even after the order has been granted, for example over who receives which specific asset, or over the dissolution of joint ownership of a shared property. Such situations sometimes require separate legal handling and are not resolved automatically once the order is received.

Summary and next step in filing an application for an online inheritance order

An application for an online inheritance order consists of seven main stages: secure identification in the system, filling in the details of the deceased and the heirs, uploading documents, paying the fee, notifying the heirs, a waiting period for objections, and finally receiving the digital order. Each stage requires accuracy, and any small mistake can delay the entire proceeding.

This article provides general information only about the online procedure and does not constitute legal advice for an individual case. A case with unusual circumstances, such as heirs abroad, suspicion of an additional will, debts in the estate, or a family dispute, should be reviewed personally before filing.

If you are about to file an application for an inheritance order and would like to review your specific circumstances, you can schedule a personal meeting at the office of Adv. Shay Zohar in Ramat Gan. You can get in touch by phone or WhatsApp at 054-668-0699, and arrange an appointment in advance.

Frequently asked questions

How do you locate an application or inheritance order filed in the past?

You can check the status of an existing application and locate an order that has already been granted through the online system of the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs, using the details of the applicant or the deceased. A separate guide on the site, Locating an inheritance order, explains the steps for locating it in more detail.

Can an application for an inheritance order also be filed manually rather than online?

Yes, the application can also be filed manually at the Registrar's office, but online filing is administratively simpler and is the common route today. For the exact conditions, it is worth checking up-to-date information on the Registrar's website.

What is the difference between an inheritance order and a probate order?

An inheritance order is granted when there is no will, and determines the heirs under the Succession Law. A probate order is granted when there is a will, and confirms that the will is the one that governs the distribution of the estate. Both proceedings are filed through the same online system but require different documents.

How long can you expect it to take from filing the application to receiving the order?

There is no uniform timeframe. When the application is complete and there are no objections, the proceeding tends to move forward within a reasonable period. A file with an heir who is hard to locate, missing documents or an objection will take correspondingly longer.

What happens if one of the heirs objects to the application?

If an objection is filed, the case may be transferred from the Registrar to the Family Court for further examination, and the proceeding becomes longer and more complex. In such a case, close legal representation is strongly recommended.

Do you need a lawyer to file an online application for an inheritance order?

There is no formal requirement to be represented in order to file the application, but in cases involving heirs abroad, minors, debts or a dispute between the heirs, legal guidance is recommended to avoid delays and errors that cause the application to be returned.

Can an inheritance order that has already been issued be corrected if an error is discovered?

When an error is discovered in an order that has already been granted, for example an heir who was omitted by mistake or an incorrect identity detail, it is possible to apply to the Registrar for correction or cancellation of the existing order. This is a proceeding separate from the initial filing, and it usually requires explanations and supporting documents, so legal advice is recommended before filing such an application.

What happens if additional assets of the deceased are discovered only after the order is received?

The order, which is valid with respect to the assets known at the time of filing, continues to apply to additional assets discovered later, as long as they belong to the deceased's estate. At the same time, it is advisable to check whether the order needs to be updated or presented to the relevant body that manages the newly discovered asset, in order to complete the transfer to the heirs.

Can an heir waive their share of the estate in favor of another heir?

An heir may include in the application their consent to waive their share, or part of it, in favor of another heir, in writing and explicitly. Such a waiver affects the actual distribution of the estate, so it is advisable to draft it carefully, examining the legal implications that arise from it, rather than settling for a bare declaration.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice or a substitute for a personal review of the specific circumstances of the case. For tailored professional advice, please arrange a personal meeting at the office.

The information in this article is general and does not constitute legal advice or a substitute for a meeting with a lawyer. Every case is examined according to its own facts.