Inheritance Law — Divorce
Inheritance After Divorce in Israel
What Changes
Divorce ends spousal inheritance rights under Israeli law — but not all rights update automatically. Pension and insurance beneficiaries must be changed manually. Adv. Liron Elmaliach guides you through every step.
Divorce is one of the most significant legal events in a person's life — and it has direct consequences for inheritance rights. Many people assume that once a divorce is complete, everything is automatically sorted. In reality, the picture is more complex.
Israeli inheritance law draws a clear line at the moment of finalised divorce. But several arrangements — pension beneficiaries, life insurance designations, provident funds — sit outside that law entirely. They must be updated manually, and failure to do so can have serious financial consequences for your family.
Adv. Liron Elmaliach specialises in inheritance law and family law, and helps clients navigate the full picture of what must be done after divorce to ensure their estate goes exactly where they intend.
How Divorce Affects Inheritance Rights
Under the Israeli Inheritance Law, 5725-1965, a spouse is a statutory heir — entitled to a defined share of the estate regardless of whether a will exists. This right belongs to a "spouse" as defined by law. Once a divorce is fully finalised, the ex-spouse is no longer a spouse — and the statutory inheritance right ends with it.
Finalisation requires two elements: receipt of the get (the religious bill of divorce in Jewish law) and completion of the civil divorce through the Rabbinical Court or Family Court. Both are needed. A civil divorce without a get, or a get without civil dissolution, may not be sufficient to terminate the inheritance right in all circumstances.
Will provisions are also affected. The Inheritance Law provides that a bequest to a spouse becomes void automatically upon divorce — the testator does not need to amend or revoke the will. However, this automatic nullification applies only to clauses that directly benefit the ex-spouse. Other clauses remain valid.
What about the period of separation before the get? During separation — even if proceedings are underway — a spouse retains full inheritance rights. This is a frequently misunderstood point. If a person dies while legally married but separated, the surviving spouse typically inherits as if there had been no separation. This is why taking legal steps promptly matters.
What Does NOT Change Automatically After Divorce
The Inheritance Law governs statutory succession and wills — but many financial instruments operate under separate legal frameworks and are not affected by a change in marital status. This is one of the most important and overlooked aspects of post-divorce financial planning.
Pension fund beneficiaries: A pension fund pays out on death to whoever is designated as beneficiary in the fund's records. If your ex-spouse is named there, they will receive the funds — regardless of the divorce. You must contact the fund directly and submit an updated beneficiary form.
Life insurance beneficiaries: The same principle applies to life insurance policies. The policy pays the named beneficiary. A divorce does not automatically change that name. Review every active policy and update the beneficiary designation with the insurance company.
Provident funds and savings plans: Provident funds (kranot hishtalmut and gemel funds) with designated beneficiaries operate the same way. The beneficiary designation must be changed manually after divorce.
Children's inheritance rights: Children's rights are entirely unaffected by the parents' divorce. A child inherits from each parent independently. The divorce changes nothing about the parent-child inheritance relationship — children remain statutory heirs and named heirs in any will that includes them.
Frequently Asked Questions — Inheritance After Divorce
Answers to the most common questions about inheritance rights following divorce in Israel
Related Guides
Further reading on inheritance and divorce law in Israel
Protect Your Estate After Divorce
Inheritance After Divorce — Free Initial Consultation
Jerusalem — Adv. Liron Elmaliach