A will is not a one-time document that you write once and forget about - life changes, and the will must match current reality to prevent problems, conflicts or unwanted distribution in the future.
Updating a will is a relatively simple process, especially with a typed and independent will, but it's essential after any significant change in family, property, or relationships.
Why Update a Will at All
An old will can become a "time bomb": a deceased heir, a new descendant in the family, new assets not mentioned, or a distribution that no longer reflects your true wishes.
When this happens, the court or heirs must deal with interpretations, objections, or distribution according to inheritance law - exactly what you wanted to prevent in the first place.
Updating your will ensures the document is always relevant, saves your family grief, and allows you to control the fate of your assets for years to come.
Important to know:
Any new valid will automatically cancels all previous wills - no need to add a special cancellation clause.
7 Life Events That Require Immediate Update
Here's the most common list of changes that require a new will - check if any of these happened to you in recent years:
1. Marriage
Marriage automatically cancels an existing will according to inheritance law, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Updating ensures your new spouse receives their share as intended.
2. Divorce or Separation
Even if the will is still registered in favor of your spouse - it will be enforced that way even after divorce, unless you update it in advance.
Also important to change guardians if necessary. For a full breakdown of the legal pitfalls — including mutual wills, non-estate assets, and common court scenarios — see our complete guide to divorce and will updates.
Note: updating your will is not enough after a divorce. Pension funds, executive insurance, and life insurance sit outside the estate and are not controlled by your will — you must update their beneficiary designations separately. See the complete guide to pension and life insurance outside the estate.
3. Birth of a Child or Grandchild
A new child or grandchild not yet mentioned in the will may receive too little (or nothing at all).
Updating allows you to add them explicitly and establish provisions or protections.
4. Death of an Heir (Adult or Child)
If a major heir passes away, their share "falls" to other heirs according to law - not necessarily to whom you wanted.
An updated will transfers the share directly to who should receive it (their grandchildren, spouse, etc.).
5. Acquisition of Major Asset (Apartment, Business, Investment)
A second apartment, family business, or investment portfolio completely changes the estate balance.
Updating determines who gets what and how to divide it to prevent forced partnerships.
6. Significant Change in Family Relationships
Reconciliation with a sibling, estrangement from a child, or new relationship with a close friend - all justify adjustment.
A will reflecting the current situation reduces surprises and feelings of deprivation.
7. Relocation or Major Financial Change
Moving abroad, bankruptcy, major windfall, or inheritance - all change the picture.
Updating covers new assets and real financial situation.
The Real-Life Impact of Not Updating: Three Cases
Case 1: Marriage Voids the Will
Noa wrote a careful will at age 32, leaving her apartment to her sister. At 35 she married, but never thought to update the will. At 42 she passed away suddenly. Under Section 8a of the Israeli Inheritance Law, her marriage automatically voided the will written before it — because the will did not explicitly state it would survive a future marriage. Her estate was divided by intestate law: half to her husband, half to her parents. Her sister received nothing.
A 15-minute update to her will immediately after getting married would have changed everything.
Case 2: A Grandchild Born After the Will Was Written
Moshe and Chana wrote a will in 2010 dividing their estate equally among their three children. By 2024, two of those children had children of their own — but the third child had died, leaving behind a young daughter. Moshe passed away in 2024. Because the will named only his three children and included no substitute heirs, his deceased son's share fell into intestate succession — and under the law, it passed to the grandchild. Meanwhile, the living children received full shares as named in the will.
The outcome was legally correct but not what Moshe intended — and required a court proceeding to sort out. An updated will with substitute heirs named would have resolved this cleanly.
Case 3: The Sold Apartment
Rivka's will from 2015 left her Tel Aviv apartment specifically to her eldest daughter. In 2022 she sold the apartment and moved into assisted living, living off the proceeds. When she passed away in 2026, her will still referenced the Tel Aviv apartment — which no longer existed. The specific bequest failed. The cash proceeds from the apartment sale were not addressed in the will and fell to the basket clause (if one existed) or to intestate law. An updated will would have redirected the bequest to the actual assets she owned at death.
How to Update a Will - The Simplest Way
New Will (Recommended and Simple Solution):
Simply write a new will according to law (handwritten, witnessed, or before authorities) - it automatically cancels the previous one.
With a typed will, it takes 20-30 minutes: update details, print, sign - and mark the old one as invalid.
Codicil (Partial Amendment - Usually Not Recommended):
A separate document that corrects only one point, but must meet strict will requirements.
Complicated, can create confusion - always better to have a complete new will.
Practical Update Steps:
- Check what changed (new heir? new asset?).
- Write/print a new will with current date.
- Store safely and update recipients (who knows about the will).
- Keep old copy for future comparison only.
What Happens If There Are Two Conflicting Wills
The Rule: The latest legally valid will is the one that determines.
If dates are unclear or there's suspicion of forgery/influence - the court will decide in a long and expensive process.
Example:
A will from 2015 giving everything to children, and a will from 2025 favoring a grandchild. The new will wins if it's valid.
The Lesson: Always date clearly and update orderly.
How Often to Update? Practical Recommendations
Rule of Thumb:
- Every 3-5 years (routine check).
- Immediately after any of the 7 events.
- When you feel the situation has changed.
Most people need 3-5 updates in their lifetime - and it's much simpler with a digital typed will that updates easily and cheaply.
Summary: Will Maintenance - Insurance for Your Family
Updating your will is insurance for your family - every small change today saves major conflicts tomorrow.
If you've experienced one of the 7 events - now is the time to update.
An updated will expresses your true wishes, prevents surprises, and allows your family to grieve without battles.
Related Links
Frequently Asked Questions About Updating a Will
Does marriage automatically void my existing will in Israel?
Yes. Under Section 8a of the Inheritance Law, 5725-1965, marriage automatically cancels any will made before the marriage — unless the will itself explicitly states that it is intended to remain valid after marriage. This means that if you wrote a will before getting married and did not include such a clause, your entire will is effectively null and void from the moment you married. The estate would then be divided according to intestate succession rules, not your written wishes. To ensure your intentions are honoured, you must write a new will after marriage or ensure the pre-marriage will contains the explicit preservation clause.
How long does it take to update a will with I-Will?
Updating your will through the I-Will platform typically takes between 15 and 30 minutes from start to finish. You log in, review your existing information, make the necessary changes — whether adding a new heir, adjusting asset allocations, or updating personal details — and the system generates a new, ready-to-print document. You then print it, sign it in front of two eligible witnesses, and the update is complete. The new will automatically supersedes the old one; there is no court filing or lawyer involvement required for a standard update.
If I update my will, do I need to inform my heirs?
There is no legal requirement to notify anyone when you update your will. A will is a private document and you are under no obligation to share its contents or even its existence with your heirs. However, it is generally good practice to ensure that at least one trusted person — such as an executor, attorney, or close family member — knows that a will exists and where the original is stored. You may also choose to deposit the will with the Registrar of Inheritance Matters for safekeeping, which creates an official record without disclosing the contents. Informing heirs of the existence (though not necessarily the content) of a will can significantly reduce the risk of delays and disputes after your passing.
What happens to assets I acquire after writing my will?
Any asset you acquire after signing your will that is not specifically mentioned in the will — a new apartment, an inheritance you received, a business you started, a savings account you opened — will fall outside your will's explicit coverage. Without a residuary (basket) clause, these assets are distributed according to the default rules of intestate succession, regardless of what you intended. The solution is to include a residuary clause in your will stating that "all assets not explicitly mentioned shall be distributed to [named heirs] in [specified proportions]." This clause acts as a safety net, capturing everything you did not specifically list. Alternatively, update your will whenever you acquire a significant new asset so it is named explicitly.