Forms of Wills

Can one make a handwritten will?

Yes – a will can be handwritten if the testator him/herself writes it, and it should be dated and signed in his/her own hand.

Can one make a will before witnesses?

Yes – it should be in writing, and bear the date and signature of the testator, who must sign it in the presence of two witnesses. They, too, must sign the will, and state that they saw the testator signing it.

Can one make an oral will?

Yes, someone who feels that he/she is going to die can make an oral will giving instructions about the fate of his property after his/her death, to two witnesses.

Are there other ways of making a will?

Yes, one can make a written or oral will before a judge, a court registrar, the Inheritance Registrar or a rabbinical court.  

Can one bequeath more property in a written will than in an oral one?
No! There is no connection between the amount or extent of property that the testator can bequeath and whether the will is written or oral. Both forms of will are equally capable of leaving unlimited amounts of property belonging to the testator.  

Do some forms of permitted have greater legal value than e.g. a will before witnesses compared to an oral will?

No ! All wills which are valid have equal legal validity. 

Can a form whereby a joint bank account is opened, and signed by the deceased, be regarded as a substitute type of will ?

No! There is no way of expanding the forms of will acceptable over and above what is stated in the Inheritance Law of 1965. 

Can instructions about who should be the beneficiary of a Kupat Gemmel savings account be regarded as a type of will?

No! The Inheritance Law of 1965 gives a closed list of recognized forms of will , which does not include this, and cannot be expanded. 

Can someone who is on his seriously ill and on his death bed make a handwritten will?

No, a person in this position cannot make a handwritten will, but must give an oral will, witnessed by two witnesses. The Inheritance Law of 1965 states that a person on his death bed wishing to make his will should do it in this manner. It is not possible to add other ways.