Does an estate administrator in Israel have to post a guarantee before managing estate assets?

An estate administrator (menahel izavon) is an officer of the court, not simply an agent of the heirs. The appointment carries a duty to collect the assets, file an inventory of the estate, settle debts and taxes, and account for every shekel before distribution. Because the administrator controls money that belongs to heirs and creditors who may be scattered across several countries, the court is entitled to require security before handing over that control. The scale of the security tracks the risk: a modest estate handled by the sole heir may need nothing more than a signed undertaking, while a portfolio of apartments and bank accounts administered by a stranger to the family usually attracts a bank guarantee.

Foreign heirs run into this most often when they nominate a relative who lives outside Israel. Israeli courts have no practical way to enforce a judgment against an administrator with no local assets, so they compensate by demanding Israeli guarantors, an Israeli address for service, or cash security. Two workarounds are common. The first is appointing an Israeli attorney as co-administrator, which usually reduces the security the court asks for. The second is limiting the appointment to specific assets, such as a single bank account, so the guarantee is sized to that asset alone. Budget for the guarantee cost before you apply, because it is charged to the estate and it runs until the final account is approved.

From the full guide: Israeli Estate Administrator: A Complete Guide for Foreign Heirs

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