Are stepchildren entitled to inherit under Israeli intestacy law?

Israeli intestacy follows a fixed order of relatives set out in Sections 10 to 16 of the Succession Law. The estate passes first to the surviving spouse together with the deceased's children and their descendants, and only moves outward to parents and siblings when there are no closer heirs. The word "child" in this scheme means a biological child or a child adopted under the Adoption of Children Law 5741-1981. A choreg (stepchild) who grew up in the household but was never adopted has neither a blood link nor an adoption order, so the statutory list simply does not reach them. The Registrar of Inheritance Affairs applies this order mechanically when issuing a succession order and has no discretion to add a stepchild on grounds of fairness or affection.

For blended families this is one of the most common and painful surprises, especially when a foreign parent assumed that raising a stepchild created an automatic legal tie. If you want a stepchild to inherit, the reliable route is a properly drafted Israeli will that names them as a beneficiary, because Israeli law allows almost complete freedom to leave assets to anyone. Relying on the other biological parent to pass things along later is risky, since once the estate vests in the legal heirs they are under no obligation to share it. Couples with children from previous relationships should also consider mutual wills or a trust so that the surviving partner cannot quietly redirect assets away from a stepchild after the first death. Acting while both partners are alive and competent is far simpler than litigating intentions afterward.

From the full guide: Inheritance Law in Israel for Foreigners: A Complete Guide

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