Do you need a real estate lawyer in Israel? What they do and when

In most Israeli property deals, there is no notary as in France: lawyers do the legal work. Buyer and seller each usually have their own.

What the buyer’s lawyer does

• Checks the Land Registry (Tabu) or Israel Land Authority extract, mortgages and liens.
• Checks the building permits and any planning issues with the municipality.
• Negotiates and drafts the sale contract, including the payment schedule.
• Files the purchase tax return and registers the caveat (he’arat azhara), then the ownership.

Fees

Fees are free to negotiate. They are often a percentage of the price or a fixed amount; ask for a written quote that says whether VAT is included.

And for a lease?

A lawyer is not required to rent, but having a contract checked is useful when the amounts are high, when the lease is long, or when you do not read Hebrew comfortably.

Buying new-build

For an off-plan purchase, the developer’s lawyer represents the developer. Use your own lawyer to check the guarantees, the technical specification and the delivery terms.

Find a real estate lawyer on Yad le Yad and contact them directly.