Can a creditor notify the Israeli Registrar of Inheritances to protect a claim before estate distribution?

The Israeli Succession Law obliges the estate administrator — and any heir who begins distributing estate assets — to pay creditors before making distributions. Section 104 of the Succession Law further provides that an heir who receives estate property before debts are paid becomes personally liable to creditors to the extent of the value received. A creditor who learns of a debtor's death should immediately submit a written claim to the Rasham HaYerushot (Registrar of Inheritances) and notify the attorney handling the estate. The claim should identify the creditor, the amount owed, the legal basis for the debt, and any supporting documents such as a contract, judgment, or promissory note. The Registrar is required to take the claim into account before approving any distribution of estate assets and may defer approval until the creditor's claim is resolved or disputed.

For foreign creditors, the practical challenge is discovering the death and acting quickly enough before an informal distribution takes place among cooperative heirs. An Israeli attorney can search the Probate Registry to determine whether a succession order application has been filed and can register the creditor's notice before any order is granted. Where a significant debt is involved, the attorney can also apply to the Family Court for appointment of an estate administrator who is legally obligated to settle debts before paying heirs. Heirs who receive estate assets after the creditor's notice was filed cannot claim to be bona fide recipients free of liability, and the creditor retains the right to pursue them individually up to the value of what they received.

From the full guide: Heir Liability for Estate Debts in Israel: What You Owe (and What You Don't)

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