Cohen Segelov & co

Cohen Segelov & co Advocates and Notaries

BUYER BEWARE!!!It’s that simple - buying property in Israel is different from buying property anywhere else.Purchasing r...
05/06/2026

BUYER BEWARE!!!

It’s that simple - buying property in Israel is different from buying property anywhere else.

Purchasing real estate in Israel is very different from buying property overseas for several reasons:

* There is no standard sale contract.
* The sale contract is the binding document of the transaction. If a term or provision is not included in the contract, it is generally not part of the deal.
* There is no single, central property registry in Israel. It is therefore essential to verify where the ownership rights to the property are recorded.
* All due diligence and property checks should be completed before signing the sale contract.
* Arrange your financing before signing. If you require a mortgage, obtain the bank’s approval confirming your eligibility and approved loan amount before entering into a binding agreement.
* Be aware of the taxes associated with the transaction. Property purchases in Israel are subject to acquisition tax, with rates varying according to the purchaser’s status.
* Make sure you fully understand what you are buying. For example, a “5-room apartment” in Israel typically consists of 4 bedrooms and a living room.
* Verify the exact location of any parking space or storage unit included with the property.
* Real estate transaction documents are generally drafted in Hebrew. Ensure that all documents are translated and fully explained to you before signing. Under Israeli law, claiming that you did not understand the documents because you do not read Hebrew is generally not a valid legal defense.

Advocates Lisa Segelov and Gidon Cohen of Cohen Segelov Advocates are experienced real estate lawyers with more than 30 years of expertise in Israeli real estate law. They specialize in assisting foreign residents, new immigrants, and returning Israelis with property purchases in Israel.

For further information, please contact us:
+972 3 613 4244 | www.cslawyers.co.il | [email protected]

The 5 Most Important Facts About an Israeli Enduring Power of AttorneyToday in Israel, every person has the right to dec...
01/06/2026

The 5 Most Important Facts About an Israeli Enduring Power of Attorney

Today in Israel, every person has the right to decide in advance who will care for them and how, in the event they lose the ability to make decisions independently, by preparing, signing, and registering an Enduring Power of Attorney (in Hebrew: Yipui Koach Mitmashech).

The 5 most important points regarding an Israeli Enduring Power of Attorney are:

* You can clearly define your wishes regarding your daily care and lifestyle, financial affairs, and medical treatment.
* It only comes into effect if you lose mental capacity.
* It must be registered with the Ministry of Justice in order to be legally valid.
* Only certified lawyers in Israel who have completed specialized training and received the required accreditation may handle this process.
* It is fully revocable, meaning that as long as you remain of sound mind, you may amend or cancel it at any time.

Both Advocates Lisa Segelov and Gidon Cohen of Cohen Segelov Advocates are qualified Israeli attorneys accredited in the preparation and registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your Enduring Power of Attorney.
Telephone: +972 3 613 4244
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cslawyers.co.il

Buying an Apartment in Israel 🇮🇱 The 6 Most Frequent QuestionsCan non-residents and foreigners buy real estate in Israel...
28/05/2026

Buying an Apartment in Israel 🇮🇱 The 6 Most Frequent Questions

Can non-residents and foreigners buy real estate in Israel?
Of course, as there are usually no restrictions on the purchase of real estate in Israel by non-residents.

What is “Tabu”?
Tabu is the term given to the Israeli Land Registration Office. Your property may be registered in the Land Registration Office, especially if it is private land. This is a matter for your lawyer to check.

What is the “Minhal”?
The Minhal is the Israel Land Authority. The majority of land in Israel is leasehold land (leases range from 49-99 years), and it is usually registered with the Minhal.

Do I need a lawyer for the purchase or sale of real estate in Israel?
It is imperative that a seller or buyer uses a specialized real estate lawyer to act on his/her behalf.

The role of the lawyer is not just an administrative one, as in other countries. In Israel, one’s lawyer needs to check the title of the property, the details of the registration, the potential taxes to be incurred, and the sale agreement.

The sale agreement is NOT a standard contract. A sale agreement is usually prepared by the seller’s/developer’s lawyer.

Can a foreigner get a mortgage from an Israeli bank?
Yes, however, you will be required to furnish documentation, including evidence of income.

What is a minimum down payment?
For a foreigner, Israeli banks usually require a down payment of 50% of the purchase price, as they will generally only approve up to 50% financing.

Advocates Lisa Segelov and Gidon Cohen of Cohen Segelov Advocates are specialized real estate lawyers and have more than 30 years of experience in real estate law in Israel. They specialize in assisting foreign residents, new immigrants and returning Israelis purchase property in Israel.

Please feel free to contact us on +97236134244; www.cslawyers.co.il

Are Ketuba rights enforceable?The Ketuba (Jewish wedding contract) is a document signed by the husband during the weddin...
25/05/2026

Are Ketuba rights enforceable?

The Ketuba (Jewish wedding contract) is a document signed by the husband during the wedding ceremony, in which he commits to compensating his wife with the amount stated in the ketuba in the event of divorce or widowhood. The purpose of the ketuba is to ensure that the wife will be properly provided for.

According to Halacha (Jewish law), the ketuba is a legally binding contract. This means that a wife may file a claim to receive the amount stated in the ketuba if her husband initiates divorce proceedings without justification, or if the divorce is by mutual consent. In Israel, the Rabbinical Court has sole jurisdiction over ketuba rights and may order the husband to pay the ketuba amount to the wife. This means that unless the husband can convince the Rabbinical Court that there is a valid reason not to pay the amount stated in the ketuba — for example, that the wife is not entitled to ketuba rights, or that a reduced amount should be paid — he may be legally obligated to pay the ketuba amount regardless of fault or blame on his part.

It should be noted that there are certain circumstances in which a woman may lose her right to receive the ketuba amount. In cases where the wife is entitled to money or assets as part of the division of property between the couple, the value of her share in the joint assets is often deducted from the ketuba amount. In many cases in Israel today, ketuba rights are waived for the reasons mentioned above.

Generally, courts outside of Israel do not enforce ketuba rights, although the ketuba is often used as a basis for negotiations during divorce settlement discussions.

It is important to understand that ketuba rights may be enforceable. Therefore, any man or woman going through divorce proceedings should plan his or her legal strategy in advance in order to achieve the best possible outcome regarding entitlement to, or release from, ketuba rights.

Cohen Segelov Advocates has more than 35 years of expertise in the area of family law.

Please feel free to contact us:
97236134244
[email protected]
www.cslawyers.co.il

Happy Shavuot! 🌾✨Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday filled with happiness, peace, and sweet moments togeth...
21/05/2026

Happy Shavuot! 🌾✨

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday filled with happiness, peace, and sweet moments together.

Can foreign residents get a mortgage from an Israeli bank?At Cohen Segelov Advocates, we are often asked by our foreign ...
21/05/2026

Can foreign residents get a mortgage from an Israeli bank?

At Cohen Segelov Advocates, we are often asked by our foreign resident clients who wish to purchase real estate in Israel whether they are able to finance the purchase by obtaining a loan/mortgage from an Israeli bank.

It is indeed possible for foreign residents to obtain financing for real estate transactions from Israeli banks. Typically, Israeli banks offer a loan/mortgage of up to 50% of the value of the property (as opposed to up to 75% of the property’s value for Israeli residents). However, the loan amount may vary depending on the bank providing the loan, as well as the borrower’s financial profile and income stability.

It is very important for an Israeli real estate lawyer to be involved from an early stage of the borrowing process, as the lawyer is required to conduct the necessary due diligence regarding the ownership rights in and to the property, negotiate the terms of the sale and payment schedule in coordination with the loan, carry out the required verification procedures, coordinate with the bank to ensure that all documentation is properly submitted, provide the necessary paperwork to the Israeli authorities, and ensure full compliance with all reporting requirements.

Cohen Segelov Advocates has more than 35 years of expertise in the field of real estate law, specializing in foreign resident clients.

Please feel free to contact us:
972-3-6134244 | [email protected] | www.cslawyers.co.il

The most important issues to deal with in a divorce agreement in Israel.In Israel, the most important issues that a divo...
18/05/2026

The most important issues to deal with in a divorce agreement in Israel.

In Israel, the most important issues that a divorce agreement should address are:

Child custody and visitation rights, which include:
(i) a schedule outlining when a child can stay with and see each of his/her parents, including summer vacations, weekends and special occasions.
(ii) Procedures for medical decisions.
(iii) Procedures for education decisions.

Child support: namely financial support for the child/ren covering their basic living costs, education costs, medical costs, pocket money and miscellaneous expenses.

Division of joint assets, including the division of social benefits, pensions and savings.

Payment of debts and liabilities, such as a mortgage, loans and credit card debts.

Obtaining a “get” (Jewish divorce): a Jewish couple must obtain this from the Rabbinical courts in Israel.

The divorce process is a complicated procedure, even if a couple can agree on most of the issues.

In cases regarding custody, maintenance and division of assets, legal proceedings can be conducted in the Family Court or the Rabbinical Court. Therefore, it is strongly advisable to seek legal advice in order to properly address these issues in the event that no agreement can be reached.

It is always worthwhile consulting an experienced family lawyer and having him/her prepare the divorce agreement.

Cohen Segelov Advocates has more than 35 years of expertise in the area of family law.

Please feel free to contact us: +972-3-613-4244, [email protected], www.cslawyers.co.il

What do I do when I receive a letter from the Israeli government asking if I am related to someone who has land in Israe...
14/05/2026

What do I do when I receive a letter from the Israeli government asking if I am related to someone who has land in Israel?

Our clients often come to us after receiving a letter from the Guardian General’s Office of the State of Israel confirming that she/he is a relative of someone who owns/owned property in Israel which has been deemed as “abandoned”.

Abandoned property is real estate belonging to a deceased person whose heirs haven’t come forward or an absentee owner.

The steps needed to claim “abandoned” property are:

1. Proof of ownership. In most cases the relative has died, so a probate order (if there is a will) or a succession order (if there is no will) must be obtained. The property will then be registered in the names of the heirs. In many instances, it is required to obtain multiple succession and probate orders.

2. Submit a formal request to the Unit for Location and Restitution of Unclaimed Property, including documents that prove ownership and/or proof of the relationship to the original owner. This is usually a complex and lengthy procedure requiring an experienced lawyer in this field.

Cohen Segelov Advocates and Notaries have the expertise necessary in both probate and succession law and real estate law that is required to handle such complicated cases - from establishing ownership rights to registration of such rights in the name of the client.

Cohen Segelov Advocates and Notaries also address the possible tax implications to ensure the protection of the interests of our clients.

Cohen Segelov Advocates and Notaries has more than 35 years of expertise in probate and real estate law in Israel.

Please feel free to contact us:
97236134244
[email protected]
www.cslawyers.co.il

A couple of any gender, religion or nationality who live together as a couple, share a common household, share financial...
11/05/2026

A couple of any gender, religion or nationality who live together as a couple, share a common household, share financial responsibilities and conduct a joint social life as a couple or family unit, without being formally married, are recognized as common law partners in Israel. The Israeli courts and state bodies recognize common law partners in almost all matters concerning inheritance, Bituach Leumi (national insurance), income tax and other rights even though it is not a “registered status” at the Ministry of the Interior.


In order to ensure the rights of the common law couple, it is strongly advised that the couple should sign a “Shared Living Agreement”. Having a Shared Living Agreement can ease the process by which a couple receives social benefits, and clearly establishes the rights and obligations within the relationship and for its dissolution in the event of separation.


Cohen Segelov Advocates and Notaries has more than 35 years of expertise in Israeli family law.

Please feel free to contact us: 97236134244, [email protected], www.cslawyers.co.il

How do you prove ownership of land in Israel?One of the most popular questions we face at Cohen Segelov Advocates and No...
07/05/2026

How do you prove ownership of land in Israel?

One of the most popular questions we face at Cohen Segelov Advocates and Notaries from our clients is: Will I receive a Certificate of Ownership/Deed of Ownership / Certificate of Title, after I have purchased an apartment in Israel as is the case in most Western countries?



In Israel, in most instances, our clients will NOT receive an ownership document once they have completed their purchase of property because 93% of Israeli land is state-owned and managed by the Israel Land Authorities ( the Israel Land Authority provides long term leases of 49-98 years rather than private ownership ).



Proof and verification of the kind of ownership rights in Israel is by means of registration. The type of registration will determine the kind of ownership rights, legal protections and potential restrictions of selling or transferring property.



In Israel, real estate can be registered in any of the following registries and each registry has its own implications:



Israel Land Registration Office= usually for full ownership or long term lease rights ( also known as Tabu).
Israel Land Authority for long term lease rights .
Housing companies ( in Hebrew known as Chevrat Meshakenet) for rights which in the future will be registered in the future with Tabu or Israel Land Authority .
Church-owned land.


Before purchasing property in Israel, it is imperative to determine where the real estate is registered as each type of registration affects the legal status of ownership as stated above.



Cohen Segelov Advocates and Notaries can ensure that your lifelong dream of purchasing an apartment in Israel will be fulfilled professionally, efficiently and with all the necessary legal searches and checks.



Cohen Segelov Advocates and Notaries has more than 35 years of expertise in Israeli real estate law.

Please feel free to contact us: 97236134244, [email protected], www.cslawyers.co.il

Address

Ramat Gan
Ramat Gan

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cohen Segelov & co posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category