How much does it cost to translate a will?

Wills are priced by length, not as flat-rate certificates. If notarization is required, the regulated 2026 notary tariff is ₪251 plus VAT for the first 100 words of translation and ₪197 plus VAT for each additional 100 words up to 1,000, so a six-page will carries a meaningful notary fee on top of translation. Send the will through the quote form for an exact figure.

Can you translate a Hebrew will for probate in the United States or the UK?

Yes. US and UK probate courts typically accept a certified English translation with a translator's declaration of accuracy; some require notarization or an apostille on the notarial certificate. We check the specific court's requirement and certify accordingly.

Do you translate handwritten wills and codicils?

Yes. Handwritten (holographic) wills, codicils, marginal additions, and witness signatures are translated in full, with illegible passages marked as such. Probate forums expect a complete rendering of everything on the page, not a summary.

What happens if a beneficiary's name is spelled differently in the will and the passport?

We transliterate names to match the identity documents the heirs will file with, and note variant spellings where the will itself uses a different form. Inconsistent names are a common ground for requisitions from the registrar, so we resolve them before filing, not after.

How long does a notarized will translation take?

Depending on length, most wills are translated within 3 to 5 business days, plus the notarial certification. Rush handling is available when a probate deadline or court date demands it. Complex multi-page estates with trusts take longer; we give a firm date with the quote.

Will & Testament

Every word in a will carries legal weight. The translation must too.

A will translation is required when a will written in one language enters probate in another: foreign-language wills filed with Israel's Registrar of Inheritance or family court typically need a notarized Hebrew translation, while Hebrew wills probated abroad usually need a certified or notarized translation, depending on the foreign court's rules.

Wills are the most sensitive documents we translate. A single mistranslated bequest clause, a beneficiary name that does not match identity documents, or an ambiguous rendering of "per stirpes" language can trigger objections, delay probate by months, or hand opposing heirs an argument. Israeli probate of a foreign-language will generally requires a notarized translation, and a foreign will usually needs an apostille from its country of origin as well. We assign wills to legal translators who preserve the testator's exact dispositive language, keep defined terms consistent across the document, and deliver the certification level the probate forum actually requires.

Notarized or certified?

For probate in Israel, plan for a notarized translation of the entire will, including handwritten additions, codicils, and witness attestations, with an apostille on a foreign original where applicable. For probate abroad, a certified translation often suffices, but some courts require notarization plus apostille. Wills run long, and notary fees are per 100 words, so we confirm the required level with the receiving forum before you pay for more than the file needs.

Notarized translation Certified translation

Requirements by authority: Will & Testament

Receiving authority	Typical translation requirement
Registrar of Inheritance / Family Court (Israel)	Probate of a foreign-language will generally requires a notarized Hebrew translation filed with the probate application. English-language wills are sometimes accepted with a certified translation, but practice varies; we recommend confirming with the specific registrar's office.
Foreign probate courts (Israeli wills probated abroad)	A Hebrew will submitted to a probate court in the US, UK, or elsewhere typically needs a certified translation into the court's language, sometimes notarized with an apostille on the notarial certification. The court's local rules govern.
Banks and financial institutions releasing estate assets	Banks holding the deceased's accounts typically require the probate order and the will in their working language. Israeli banks want notarized Hebrew translations; foreign banks usually accept certified translations alongside the foreign probate grant.
Apostille on the original (foreign wills and probate orders)	A will or probate order issued abroad usually needs an apostille from the issuing country before Israeli authorities will rely on it. The translation is prepared after the apostille so the apostille itself is translated too.
Land registry (Tabu) for inherited real estate	Registering inherited property typically requires the inheritance or probate order; where the underlying will or foreign order is in another language, a notarized Hebrew translation is generally expected.

Requirements vary between authorities and change over time. We verify the current requirement with the receiving authority before work begins.

Certified or notarized will & testament translation, matched to the receiving authority, since 1999.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to translate a will?: Wills are priced by length, not as flat-rate certificates. If notarization is required, the regulated 2026 notary tariff is ₪251 plus VAT for the first 100 words of translation and ₪197 plus VAT for each additional 100 words up to 1,000, so a six-page will carries a meaningful notary fee on top of translation. Send the will through the quote form for an exact figure.
Does the Registrar of Inheritance require a notarized translation of a foreign will?: Generally yes. A probate application for a will written in a language other than Hebrew is typically filed with a notarized Hebrew translation, and a foreign will usually needs an apostille from the country where it was made. Practice can vary between registrar districts, so we recommend confirming with the office handling the file.
Can you translate a Hebrew will for probate in the United States or the UK?: Yes. US and UK probate courts typically accept a certified English translation with a translator's declaration of accuracy; some require notarization or an apostille on the notarial certificate. We check the specific court's requirement and certify accordingly.
Do you translate handwritten wills and codicils?: Yes. Handwritten (holographic) wills, codicils, marginal additions, and witness signatures are translated in full, with illegible passages marked as such. Probate forums expect a complete rendering of everything on the page, not a summary.
What happens if a beneficiary's name is spelled differently in the will and the passport?: We transliterate names to match the identity documents the heirs will file with, and note variant spellings where the will itself uses a different form. Inconsistent names are a common ground for requisitions from the registrar, so we resolve them before filing, not after.
How long does a notarized will translation take?: Depending on length, most wills are translated within 3 to 5 business days, plus the notarial certification. Rush handling is available when a probate deadline or court date demands it. Complex multi-page estates with trusts take longer; we give a firm date with the quote.

Translating Wills and Estate Documents Across Jurisdictions Hebrew → English English → Hebrew Russian → Hebrew

Receiving authority

Typical translation requirement

Registrar of Inheritance / Family Court (Israel)

Probate of a foreign-language will generally requires a notarized Hebrew translation filed with the probate application. English-language wills are sometimes accepted with a certified translation, but practice varies; we recommend confirming with the specific registrar's office.

Foreign probate courts (Israeli wills probated abroad)

A Hebrew will submitted to a probate court in the US, UK, or elsewhere typically needs a certified translation into the court's language, sometimes notarized with an apostille on the notarial certification. The court's local rules govern.

Banks and financial institutions releasing estate assets

Banks holding the deceased's accounts typically require the probate order and the will in their working language. Israeli banks want notarized Hebrew translations; foreign banks usually accept certified translations alongside the foreign probate grant.

Apostille on the original (foreign wills and probate orders)

A will or probate order issued abroad usually needs an apostille from the issuing country before Israeli authorities will rely on it. The translation is prepared after the apostille so the apostille itself is translated too.

Land registry (Tabu) for inherited real estate

Registering inherited property typically requires the inheritance or probate order; where the underlying will or foreign order is in another language, a notarized Hebrew translation is generally expected.