In short
- An enduring power of attorney lets you choose, in advance, who will manage your affairs if you can no longer do so yourself.
- It must be prepared on a dedicated online form by an Israeli lawyer specially authorised by the Administrator General, and deposited with the Administrator General – deposit is a condition of its validity.
- Israeli consulates do not certify enduring powers of attorney. Official guidance is that the person granting it signs in a physical meeting with the authorised lawyer – in practice, often during a visit to Israel.
- If you live abroad, there's an important legal point: the validity and scope of the document are governed by the law of your place of residence when you sign it.
What is an enduring power of attorney?
An ordinary power of attorney stops working exactly when it may be needed most: if the person who gave it loses the capacity to make decisions. An enduring power of attorney (yipui koach mitmashech) is designed for that situation. You sign it while you are able to, name one or more people you trust (the attorneys), and decide what they may handle – and it comes into effect only if and when you can no longer understand your affairs, or under another condition you set.
Before this tool existed, a court would usually appoint a guardian, not necessarily the person you would have chosen. The enduring power of attorney, introduced by an amendment to the Israeli Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, lets you decide for yourself. For a broader introduction to the types of POA, see what is a power of attorney.
What it can cover
An enduring power of attorney can cover one or more areas:
- Property and financial affairs – bank accounts, real estate, pensions and other assets;
- Personal affairs – for example where you live and day-to-day decisions;
- Medical affairs – consent to treatment and related decisions.
You can grant authority over all matters in an area or only some of them, appoint more than one attorney, and include advance instructions on how you want decisions to be made. You can also name people who must be informed about certain actions, adding a layer of oversight. Some actions still need court approval even under an enduring power of attorney.
How it is made: the formal requirements
The formalities are strict, and they are what make the document reliable:
- An authorised lawyer. The document is prepared by an Israeli lawyer who has completed dedicated training and been authorised by the Administrator General. A document limited to medical matters has some different rules.
- A dedicated online form. It isn't drafted as an ordinary document; it is filled in on the Administrator General's online system.
- Explanation and free will. The lawyer must explain the alternatives and the consequences to you – without the attorney present – and be satisfied that you understand and are acting freely.
- The attorney's consent. Your chosen attorney signs a consent after the role has been explained to them.
- Deposit. The lawyer deposits the document online with the Administrator General, and the original is then delivered to the Administrator General. Deposit is a condition of validity.
- Conflict-of-interest rules. The lawyer who prepares it cannot have a personal interest in it and cannot be appointed as your attorney.
Why you can't sign it at the consulate – and what that means abroad
Israeli embassies and consulates list the enduring power of attorney among the documents they do not verify. Unlike an ordinary power of attorney, it can't be signed at the consulate or before a foreign notary with an apostille. The person granting it signs before the authorised Israeli lawyer, and official guidance referred to by practitioners is that this is done in a physical meeting.
For Israelis abroad, this usually means planning the signing around a visit to Israel. The attorney you appoint has more flexibility: their signature may be given before another lawyer, and in some cases by video. Because the rules in this area have changed in the past, we'll confirm the current position when we plan your document.
Compare this with ordinary powers of attorney, where you can choose between the consulate and a local notary – see how to sign an Israeli POA abroad.
The key legal point for people who live abroad
The Administrator General's guidance makes two points that matter to people outside Israel:
- Residence and citizenship are not a condition. Neither the person granting the power nor the attorney has to be an Israeli citizen or resident.
- The law of your residence may govern. The Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law provides that the validity and scope of an enduring power of attorney are governed by the law of the grantor's place of residence on the day it was made (changes, limitations, cancellation and expiry are treated differently).
If you live in another country, this means an Israeli enduring power of attorney may need to be considered alongside the law of that country – and you may also need a separate local instrument for assets or care there. Get advice in both places. The guidance also suggests that if your only attorney lives abroad, you should think about whether they can really act "by remote control" or whether to appoint a second attorney in Israel.
Step by step
- Initial consultation (online). What do you want to protect, and who do you trust? Do you need property, personal and medical coverage, or only some?
- Choose your attorneys – and, if you wish, people to be informed.
- Prepare the instructions. We draft your wishes in clear language before the signing meeting.
- The signing meeting with the authorised lawyer, usually during your visit to Israel, including the explanation given to you privately.
- The attorney's consent, signed in Israel or abroad as the rules permit.
- Online deposit with the Administrator General and delivery of the original.
- Confirmation. The Administrator General notifies you and the lawyer once the deposit is accepted.
When it comes into effect
The document becomes effective when the condition you set is met – typically, a medical opinion that you no longer understand the matters concerned – and after the attorney gives notice through the Administrator General's system. The Administrator General's official service handles this activation step, and the confirmation can be issued with an apostille, which can help if the attorney needs to act in another country.
Alternatives
An enduring power of attorney is not the only option. Advance directives for the appointment of a guardian let you name a preferred guardian, whom the court then appoints. A statement of wishes records your preferences. For immediate needs, an ordinary general or special power of attorney may be enough. The right combination depends on your situation – which is exactly what the initial consultation is for.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sign an enduring power of attorney at the Israeli consulate?
No. Israeli missions abroad do not certify enduring powers of attorney.
Do I have to be an Israeli resident to make one?
No. According to the Administrator General's guidance, neither the grantor nor the attorney must be an Israeli citizen or resident. But if you live abroad, the law of your residence may govern the document's validity, so get advice.
Can my attorney live abroad?
Yes, but consider whether they can realistically act from a distance. Many people appoint an additional attorney in Israel.
Can I cancel or change it later?
Yes, while you have capacity, following the procedure set out in the law. If several valid documents cover the same matters, the most recent one deposited is the one that applies.
Does an enduring POA replace a will?
No. It covers your lifetime; a will covers what happens after death. Many people plan both together.
Official sources
- Administrator General – activation of an enduring power of attorney (Hebrew)
- Administrator General – questions and answers on enduring POA (Hebrew, PDF)
- Administrator General – guide for the attorney under an enduring POA (Hebrew, PDF)
- Legal Capacity Online – the Administrator General's deposit system
- Israeli mission page – services not provided, including enduring POA (Hebrew)
About the author: Adv. & Notary Rachel Shachar is an Israeli lawyer (Israel Bar license no. 43884) and notary who has run her own office since 2004 and works with many clients who live abroad.
Please note: this page gives general information about Israeli powers of attorney. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Requirements can change and can differ between institutions, so we always confirm the details for your specific case.