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November 25, 2024

Guide: How to Ensure the Distribution of Inheritance for Assets Abroad

A growing number of Israelis own assets and investments abroad, but many are unaware that an Israeli will may not always be sufficient for managing inheritance involving overseas properties. Differences in inheritance laws across jurisdictions can lead to legal challenges and make it harder for heirs to claim their rights.

May 28, 2024

What Are the Tax Aspects of Prenuptial Agreements in Israel?

Signing a prenuptial agreement has a critical impact not only on the division of property upon divorce, but also on the taxes a couple pays during marriage. It is important for couples to understand the economic advantages inherent in signing a prenuptial agreement and draw one up accordingly.

December 4, 2023

Making Aliyah or Returning to Israel – Maariv Interview with Liat Keisary and Amos E. Rosenzweig

One of the ramifications of the Israel-Hamas war is the growing interest of diaspora Jews and expat Israelis in immigrating to Israel. In Maariv’s article on the topic, Liat Keisary explains that most new immigrants are coming from countries such as the United States, England, and Australia, driving an increase in demand for the purchase of real estate properties in Israel. In addition, Amos E. Rosenzweig answers questions on the rights of returning residents and new immigrants to Israel.

November 12, 2023

Operation Swords of Iron: Rise in Diaspora Jews Purchasing Real Estate in Israel

Recently, and against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, there has been an increasing number of diaspora Jews purchasing apartments and properties in Israel. Along with other experts in the field, Liat Keisary, the head of our firm’s Private Clients Department, was interviewed by Ynet for an article on the subject. Liat explained that this trend, along with the weakening of the shekel, is expected to lead to a sharp increase in the purchase of luxury properties in Israel.

September 27, 2023

Married and Common-Law Couples – Division of Property

Unlike the laws applying to married couples in Israel, the “presumption of property sharing” arrangement prescribed in case law for common-law couples does not allow for an unequal division of property. An Israeli Supreme Court ruling clarified this recently and emphasized how important it is for common-law couples to draw up cohabitation agreements.

June 28, 2023

Representing a Billionaire in a Dispute with His Former Son-in-Law

A tumultuous seven-year family conflict ended with the issuance of a ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court. The Court ruled in our client’s favor that funds allocated by him for the benefit of his daughter and which were managed by his former son-in-law in various investments were meant to be held in trust and were not given as a gift, as the son-in-law claimed. The Supreme Court ruled that a trustee will be appointed to manage the trust in accordance with its goals, that the former son-in-law must return the funds to the trust, and that the trustee shall be entitled to take any action necessary to recoup all of the trust’s assets, including the funds the son-in-law allegedly embezzled. In addition, the Supreme Court ordered the son-in-law to bear our client’s legal fees and expenses amounting to NIS 1.25 million. Zohar Lande, Gal Livshits, Adi Shoham, Zohar Haim Levinger, and Liron Dahan provided representation in this matter.

August 11, 2022

Everything Foreign Residents Need to Know about Buying an Apartment in Israel

Buying an apartment in Israel can be an excellent transaction for foreign residents, even without lower purchase tax brackets, as long as they know the right way to proceed.

March 17, 2022

Russian Oligarchs’ Growing Interest in Israeli Real Estate

Liat Keisary, an expert in advising high-net-worth private clients, was interviewed by TheMarker about Russian oligarchs’ sudden interest in Israeli real estate. Liat detailed the difficulties these oligarchs now face in the wake of Russian sanctions in making payments and obtaining guarantees from banks in Israel.

November 17, 2021

Everything to Know about the Purchase Tax Hike on Israeli Real Estate Investors

Earlier this month, the Israeli Ministry of Finance approved the outline for a hike to the purchase tax imposed on real estate investors, once again, to tax brackets of 8% and 10%. The Ministry of Finance has since updated that the purchase tax hike will take effect on Sunday, November 28. The ministry’s goal with this move is to “dissuade” investors from purchasing investment apartments and lower the demands in the residential housing market.

September 14, 2021

Guardianship Struggle over Eitan Biran – Everything You Need to Know about Writing a Will

In recent days, the guardianship struggle over Eitan Biran, the young boy whose parents and little brother were killed in a cable railway disaster in Italy, has made headlines again. This sensitive event has aroused interest around the question of writing a will at a young age. Adv. Liat Keisary addresses this issue of concern for many parents in an interview with Israel Hayom.

May 6, 2021

Prenuptial Agreements - New Israeli Supreme Court Ruling

Up until now, the Israel Tax Authority interpreted the Real Estate Taxation Law so that spouses who signed a prenuptial agreement and maintained separate property were considered a single family unit for the purposes of real estate tax. 

February 28, 2021

Precedent-Setting Ruling on Court Expenses

In a precedent-setting ruling, a family court ordered the losing side in a family dispute to pay the winning side attorney's fees and court expenses in the extraordinary and unprecedented amount of NIS 2 million. This ruling indicates a sweeping change in the Israeli legal world, following new regulations that came into effect in January 2021.

August 10, 2020

Real Estate Investors: What to Know about Purchasing an Apartment Following the Decision to Lower Purchase Tax Rates

The Ministry of Finance has announced reduced tax rates for the purchase of an apartment for investment. How much will you pay and how can you choose the right tax payment route for you? Check out Liat Keisary’s guide for investors published by Mako.  

August 2, 2020

It Is Time to Come Back Home: Investors Can Now Enjoy a Reduced Purchase Tax

Israeli Minister of Finance Israel Katz’s plan to reduce purchase tax for investors has gone into effect. Until now, under plans advanced by the previous Minister of Finance, Moshe Kahlon, for lowering housing prices and pushing investors out of the real estate market, the purchase tax for investors went up from 5% to 8% for an apartment that was not the purchaser's sole apartment.

May 17, 2020

How to Arrange the Inheritances of Agricultural Farms

If you are the owner of agricultural land, you may find yourself wondering about the future of the family farm after your passing. You should know this is subject to laws, agreements, protocols, and regulations unique to the agricultural sector in general and to land in particular.

March 25, 2020

Israel Tax Authority Reliefs in Light of Coronavirus Pandemic

In light of the coronavirus pandemic affecting the economic market, the Israel Tax Authority has published several reliefs for taxpayers.

November 27, 2019

The End of Sanction-Free Voluntary Disclosure

The sanction-free voluntary disclosure procedure will come to a close at the end of 2019. Provided the Israel Tax Authority and the State Attorney’s Office decide not to extend this procedure, this may be the last opportunity to declare and report true income, and accordingly pay true taxes, without the disclosure being subject to criminal sanctions.

November 6, 2019

Lawsuit against Liquidating Company of Bank of North America

Our firm is representing private clients in a lawsuit against the liquidating company of the Bank of North America (disbanded in 1985), as well as against the administrator general and official receiver. The lawsuit concerns trust funds deposited in the bank by the deceased father of the family. The clients are represented by Advs. Zohar Lande and Shachar Rothschild of our Litigation Department.

October 2, 2019

Essential Legal Tools for the Period between Life and Death

Guardianship and an enduring power of attorney are two legal tools that allow for the appointment of an individual to take care of another person’s affairs when that person is no longer capable of taking care of him or herself and of managing his or her affairs independently.

July 31, 2019

Dramatic Decision on the Taxation of Trusts in Israel

The Tel Aviv District Court handed down a decision a few days ago rejecting the Israel Tax Authority’s (ITA) position on the conveyance of real estate properties to trusts. This decision dramatically changes the taxation of trusts in Israel.