“According to the Torah’s laws of inheritance, a husband generally inherits his wife’s property, and a person’s sons – if he has any – are his sole heirs, each getting an equal share, except for the male firstborn who gets a double share. It is a common practice to leave a will by which a person’s estate is divided according to his or her own wishes, and not in accordance with the halacha. However, a secular will has no halachic validity since it takes effect after death, at which time a person has no halachic power to transfer his or her possessions.”
A Halachic will or Jewish Will ensures your estate distribution complies with Jewish law while respecting your personal wishes, allowing you to create your legacy.
How It Works
The Shtar Chatzi Zachor works by recording a symbolic debt to an heir that activates before death. This debt is waived if the heir follows the secular will. The debt is set higher than the estate’s value, ensuring heirs honor the secular will.
To create your legacy and adhere to Jewish law, use two documents:
A secular will drafted according to civil law.
A “Shtar Chatzi Zachor”, a Jewish legal document that enables one to arrange that a person who is not a halachic heir will receive a part of their estate. .
Steps to Create a Halachic Will
Draft a Secular Will: Outline your estate distribution according to civil law.
Create a Shtar Chatzi Zachor: Draft this document with rabbinic guidance to ensure compliance with Jewish law.
Note: Our Downloadable Halachic Will Document is available and closely adapted from the universally recognized entity in the space of Halachic will – the Beth Din of America
Your local Orthodox Rabbi will be able to answer any further questions you have about a Halachic Will. Your Rabbi will also be able to take you through the process of creating your own Halachic Will.
