Most people know that it's important to prepare a will, but far fewer are aware of the next step: what to do with the will after signing it. Depositing a will with the Registrar of Inheritances is not mandatory, but highly recommended, especially when preparing an independent printed will and wanting to ensure it won't be lost, damaged, or disappear at the critical moment.
Is It Mandatory to Deposit a Will?
Legally, there is no obligation to deposit a will with the Registrar of Inheritances. A will can be valid even if stored at home, in a private safe, or with a trusted person. Depositing with the Registrar is an additional service designed to keep the will in an official, secure location and ensure it can be easily located when needed. It's important to understand: even without depositing the will, as long as it was properly executed and found after death, one can apply for a probate order and implement it. Depositing doesn't create a "more valid will," but makes it more secure and accessible.
Why Deposit a Will at All - Main Advantages
Depositing a will with the Registrar of Inheritances provides several important benefits for heirs and testators:
- Safe storage: The will is kept in the Registrar's safe, without risk of fire, loss, destruction, or deliberate "disappearance."
- Easy location after death: When applying for a probate order, the national registry is checked for deposited wills, so you're not dependent on someone finding it at home or knowing where you stored it.
- Enhanced will credibility: Depositing creates official documentation of the deposit date and testator's identity, weakening retroactive claims of forgery, "another later will," or document replacement.
- Reduced conflicts: When it's known a will is registered and deposited, it's much harder to claim "there was no will," "they lost it," or "this isn't the final version."
In simple terms: for those preparing a digital printed will independently, depositing is the step that provides an additional layer of security and greatly reduces the risk of future complications.
Who Can Deposit a Will and Where
Only the testator can deposit their own will, in person. It's not possible to send a family member, power of attorney, or messenger to deposit on their behalf. Depositing is conducted at the Registrar of Inheritances office according to the testator's place of residence. If the testator lives abroad but has property in Israel, depositing can be done at the office in the property's area. When dealing with a notarized will, the notary who prepared the will may deposit it online within a defined timeframe, according to guidelines.
How to Actually Deposit a Will - Step by Step
There are two ways to deposit a will:
In-Person Deposit at the Registrar's Office
- Schedule an appointment at the appropriate Registrar's office.
- Bring the original signed will and the testator's ID.
- Complete the "Will Deposit Request" form.
- Pay the deposit fee (the fee amount is updated periodically, usually several hundred shekels).
- Submit the will in a sealed envelope, marking it with the testator's details and deposit date.
- Receive official confirmation of the deposit, including a file number.
Remote (Online) Will Deposit
- Log into the government's personal area and submit a remote will deposit request.
- Pay the deposit fee online.
- Scan the signed will and upload a complete scan file to the system.
- Receive deposit confirmation and deposit number.
- Within a specified timeframe (usually up to 45 days), the original will must be transferred to the office – by mail, courier, or dedicated box – otherwise the deposit may be cancelled.
The online route is particularly suitable for those who prepared a digital will that you can then deposit through your software: create the will online, print, sign according to instructions, then easily complete online deposit.
How Will Deposit Integrates with Your Digital Service
The ideal combination for your user looks like this:
- Prepare a digital printed will through the system - with a guided questionnaire and clear format.
- Print the will and sign it according to the rules (handwriting/witnesses/before authority, depending on will type).
- Keep a copy in a safe place at home, and when needed - take an additional step and deposit the original with the Registrar of Inheritances.
Your software can reinforce this in several ways:
- Display a completion message: "You've finished preparing your will. To ensure it doesn't get lost, consider depositing it with the Registrar of Inheritances."
- Add a direct link to the official explanation about will deposit and the online form.
- Provide a well-organized print version adapted for scanning, so the user can easily upload it to the government system.
This way, the digital system handles the drafting and document creation stage, and the Registrar of Inheritances handles the official, secure storage stage - a combination that creates high confidence even without lawyer involvement.
Can You Change or Withdraw a Deposited Will?
Depositing a will is not a final step that cannot be reversed. The testator can, as long as they're alive:
- Withdraw the deposited will and receive the document back.
- Create a new will - and if valid, it will be the controlling will, even if not deposited.
It's customary, when creating a new will, to consider re-depositing the updated version and ensure the old will is either withdrawn or at least clearly marked as irrelevant, to prevent confusion between versions.
Who Especially Should Deposit a Will?
There are situations where depositing a will is almost "natural":
- Those concerned about family conflicts and worried someone might try to hide or destroy the will.
- Those without close family members who know their documents and want to ensure the will will be discovered in time.
- Those who prepared a complex will - unequal distribution, many assets, special instructions – and want to strengthen certainty that the correct document will be on the Registrar's desk.
- Users who prepare a digital will independently from home and want to add an official security layer beyond storing in a safe or drawer.
Depositing a will isn't mandatory for everyone, but for a large portion of your users, it can be an important "corner-closing" step on the path to real peace of mind.
Want Your Will Not to Get Lost?
After finishing preparing and signing your will, it's important to ensure it will be found when needed. You have two main options:
Home Storage / Private Safe
- Keep the will in a safe, dry place.
- Recommendation: Update one trusted person (family member / close friend) about the will's location.
- You can keep an additional sealed copy in a separate location.
Deposit with Registrar of Inheritances
- This is not mandatory but provides an additional security layer.
- The Registrar keeps the will in an official safe, and heirs will be able to locate it easily after death.
- Depositing can be done at the Registrar's office or online through the government personal area.