Israeli woman claimed neighbor bequeathed her property — court ruling

The Family Court in Nof HaGalil–Nazareth rejected a woman's lawsuit claiming that her neighbor verbally bequeathed her all his property shortly before his death. The court found that the deceased lacked legal capacity due to severe dementia, confirmed by a forensic examination. Additionally, formal requirements for a dying declaration were not met: the statement was not made simultaneously in the presence of two witnesses, and the written record was made later and not submitted to the registrar of inheritance matters. The plaintiff died during proceedings; her daughter continued the case. The deceased's cousin, living abroad, opposed the claim. The court ordered the daughter to pay 20,000 shekels in legal costs to the cousin. The inheritance will be distributed according to law, presumably to the relative.

The Family Court in Nof HaGalil–Nazareth rejected a lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed that her neighbor, shortly before his death, verbally bequeathed her all his property. The court concluded that the deceased lacked legal capacity due to severe dementia, as confirmed by a forensic examination. Furthermore, the court noted that the formal conditions for recognizing a dying declaration were not met: the expression of will was not made simultaneously in the presence of two witnesses, and the written record was only made later and not submitted to the registrar of inheritance matters. The plaintiff died during the proceedings, and her daughter continued the case. The deceased's cousin, who lives abroad, opposed the claim. The court ordered the plaintiff's daughter to pay 20,000 shekels in legal costs to the cousin. The inheritance will be distributed according to law, presumably in favor of the relative.