Glossary
Glossaryof terms.
The terms that come up in meetings, documents and court decisions, in plain words. Each definition is general information, not legal advice.
Chapter I
Family
Family
- Request to settle a dispute (bakasha le-yishuv sichsuch)
- In most family disputes, the required first step before filing a claim. It is filed with the family court or a religious court and opens a limited period for trying to reach agreement. Practice area
- MAHUT meetings (mahut)
- Short for information, introduction and coordination. Mandatory meetings at the court support unit after a request to settle a dispute, where you learn about ways to resolve the conflict by agreement. Practice area
- Court support unit (yechidat siyua)
- A team of welfare professionals attached to the family courts and religious courts. It does not decide or represent either side. It helps the family reach agreements. Practice area
- Prenuptial (property) agreement (heskem mamon)
- An agreement between partners on how property will be divided if they separate. To be binding it must be approved by a family court or religious court. In some cases before the wedding, a notary or marriage registrar can certify it instead. Practice area
- Cohabiting partners (yeduim ba-tzibur)
- A couple who live together as a family and share a household without being married. Many laws give them rights similar to married couples, but not in every area, so a cohabitation agreement is worth considering. Practice area
- Balancing of resources (izun mashabim)
- The default rule for married couples with no prenuptial agreement. When the marriage ends, each spouse is generally entitled to half the value of assets built up during the marriage, excluding assets owned before it or received as an inheritance or gift. Practice area
- Child support (mezonot yeladim)
- Payment to cover the children's needs after separation. The amount depends on the children's needs and, in many cases, on both parents' incomes and how parenting time is divided. Practice area
- Spousal maintenance (mezonot isha)
- Support a husband may owe his wife while they are still married, until the divorce. Eligibility and amount depend on the personal law that applies to the couple and on the circumstances. Practice area
- Parenting time (zmanei shehut)
- The time children spend with each parent after separation. The term replaced the older visitation arrangements, and reflects that both parents keep raising the children. Practice area
- Parental responsibility (achrayut horit)
- A parent's rights and duties toward a child: education, health, where the child lives and other major decisions. The law calls it guardianship, and both parents generally share it, including after separation. Practice area
- Mediation (gishur)
- A process in which a neutral mediator helps the parties reach their own agreement. The mediator does not decide or represent either side, and what is said in mediation is confidential. Practice area
Chapter II
Inheritance
Inheritance and wills
- Witnessed will (tzava'a be-edim)
- A written, dated will signed in front of two witnesses, who confirm by signing that the testator declared it to be their will. This is the usual form for a will prepared by a lawyer. Practice area
- Handwritten will (tzava'a bi-ktav yad)
- A will written entirely in the testator's own hand, dated and signed by them. It is valid without witnesses, but more open to dispute. Practice area
- Mutual will (tzava'a hadadit)
- Wills that partners make in reliance on each other, usually each leaving the estate to the other. The law limits how such a will can be revoked, so it matters to agree in advance what happens if one partner wants to change it. Practice area
- Succession order (tzav yerusha)
- An order declaring who the heirs are and their shares when there is no will. The estate is then divided under the Succession Law. Practice area
- Probate order (tzav kiyum tzava'a)
- An order confirming a will, so the estate can be divided according to its terms. Without it, the will cannot be carried out. Practice area
- Registrar of Inheritance Affairs (ha-rasham le-inyenei yerusha)
- A Ministry of Justice office that receives applications for succession and probate orders, publishes them and issues the orders. If someone objects, the matter moves to the court. Practice area
- Renunciation of inheritance (histalkut me-izavon)
- An heir's waiver of all or part of their share, by written notice to the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs. It is possible only after the death and before the estate has been divided. Practice area
- Objection to a will (hitnagdut le-tzava'a)
- A claim by someone with an interest in the estate that a will is invalid, for example because of a defect in form, undue influence or doubts about the testator's capacity. It is filed after the probate application is published, within the set deadline. Practice area
Chapter III
Insolvency
Insolvency
- Opening order (tzav ptichat halichim)
- The order that opens insolvency proceedings. Collection proceedings against the debtor are generally frozen, a trustee is appointed, and restrictions are imposed, for example on leaving Israel. Practice area
- Trustee (ne'eman)
- A professional appointed in insolvency proceedings to examine the debtor's finances, collect creditors' claims and report with a recommended repayment plan. The trustee does not represent the debtor. Practice area
- Insolvency Commissioner (ha-memuneh)
- A Ministry of Justice unit, formerly the Official Receiver, that oversees insolvency proceedings. It issues orders on debtors' applications, decides various requests and makes recommendations to the court at key stages. Practice area
- Interim period (tkufat beinayim)
- The stage between the opening order and the economic rehabilitation order. The debtor makes monthly payments and files reports, while the trustee examines their situation and prepares a report. Practice area
- Economic rehabilitation order and repayment plan (tzav shikum kalkali, tochnit pira'on)
- The order given at the end of the interim period, setting a repayment plan: how much the debtor pays, for how long, and which assets are sold. A debtor who meets its terms can generally receive a discharge at the end. Practice area
- Discharge (hefter)
- Release from the remaining debts included in the proceedings, at the end of the repayment plan. Some debts are not discharged, such as child or spousal support debts and fines. Practice area
Chapter IV
Enforcement
Enforcement
- Warning notice (azhara)
- The first notice sent to a debtor after an enforcement file is opened. It sets out the debt and the deadline to pay or respond, so it should not be ignored. Practice area
- Attachment (ikul)
- An order that stops the debtor from using money or property so it can go toward the debt, for example a bank account, salary or car. Certain funds, such as some benefits, are protected from attachment. Practice area
- Objection to enforcement of a note (hitnagdut le-bitzua shtar)
- The way to defend yourself when a file is opened against you on a cheque or promissory note. An objection filed within 30 days of receiving the warning puts collection on hold, and the matter moves to court. Practice area
- Consolidation of files (ichud tikim)
- A debtor's request to merge several enforcement files into one, with a single monthly payment set by the registrar. Filing the request does not by itself stop the proceedings. Practice area
- Debtor of limited means (chayav mugbal be-emtza'im)
- A debtor the enforcement registrar has declared unable to repay within the period set by law. The declaration allows the debt to be spread over a longer time, but usually comes with restrictions, for example on credit cards, cheques and a passport. Practice area
- Claim of payment (ta'anat parati)
- A debtor's claim that all or part of the debt was paid after the judgment was given. The enforcement registrar examines the claim and can decide how much is still owed. Practice area
Counsel, with care.
It can start with a conversation.
A first meeting to understand where you stand and what your options are. In full confidence, with no obligation.