Hi, I’m Miriam. I’ll walk you through it, one step at a time.
Informed decisions, and no hesitation to ask again
- Born in New York, raised in Israel, where I live today
- LL.B., Bar-Ilan University (2006)
- Member of the Israel Bar Association since 2007
- Private practice since 2013
- Certified Israeli notary and certified to prepare Enduring Powers of Attorney (2018)
- Licensed mediator, and a firm believer in peaceful resolution
Finding the right law office isn’t easy. It’s hard to know who will give you the service you need, with the care you expect.
I like to make informed decisions after hearing everything relevant from the people advising me, whether that’s a doctor or a financial adviser. So my first priority is giving my clients all the information they need, and making sure they know that with me, they can always ask again.
I chose these areas because I saw a real need among English speakers in Israel for reliable, friendly and accessible advice. I enjoy sitting down with clients, mapping out their needs together, and finding the most straightforward and cost-effective solution. Integrity matters more to me than anything: I’ll only recommend what truly suits you, and your interests always come first.
When your needs cross borders, I work with colleagues licensed in the US, UK and Canada, so you get one complete solution.
Away from the office, you’ll find me with my husband and three children, in the middle of a home improvement project, or reading on my Kindle.
Miriam
Five ways I take care of you and your family
Each one is handled personally, with straightforward, cost-effective solutions.
Wills & Estate Planning
Do I need a will in Israel? How do I write one? What happens if I don’t have one? I guide you, step by step, until it’s done.
Read more →Enduring Powers of Attorney
Choose who will make decisions for you if you can’t, and write the guidelines they’ll follow. Includes medical directives.
Read more →Probate & Inheritance
When a loved one has passed away: understand what comes next and get patient help through the process.
Read more →Notary & Apostille
Fully licensed notarization, certified copies and translations, proof of signature, and apostilles for use abroad.
Read more →Legal Translation & Proofreading
English ↔ Hebrew translation with precise legal terminology, and proofreading for firms and businesses.
Read more →You’ll feel so relieved once it’s done
For most of us, the idea of writing a will sits at the back of our minds for months, sometimes years. Often it takes the illness or death of someone close to us to prompt action. That hesitation is completely natural: a will asks us to picture our own mortality, and to imagine our loved ones carrying on without us.
But once your will is drawn up, signed and safely stored, you can finally stop thinking about it. I’ll guide you patiently through your options, step by step, until it’s complete. Then you can move on to the next thing on your list.
Schedule a consultationWhat if I die without a will?
Your estate is divided under the default rules of the Inheritance Law. Many people are surprised to learn that a spouse typically receives only half the estate, even where that includes the family home or a joint bank account, with the other half going to the children.
That suits some families. Most people want something different, such as leaving everything to a spouse first, and passing it on to the children afterwards.
How the law divides an estate when there’s no will
Married with children
The spouse inherits half; the children share the other half equally. The spouse also receives the family car and personal belongings.
Children, no spouse
The estate is divided equally among the children, or their children if a child has already passed away.
Married, no children
The spouse and the deceased’s parents share the estate; the split depends on how long the couple was married.
No spouse, no children
Relatives inherit in order: parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins.
General information only, not legal advice. Every family is different. Reach out and we’ll look at yours.
Decide today who will decide for you tomorrow
The kindest thing you can do for yourself and your family is to make your wishes known now. Even when your family has only your best interests at heart, they may not know what you would want. Writing it down spares them the guesswork and the tension.
An Enduring Power of Attorney can cover almost everything: financial, medical and personal. Appoint one person for it all or a different person for each area, and name backups, perhaps your spouse first, then your children. It’s your choice, so don’t leave it to someone else.
- Avoids the need for a court-appointed guardian (apotropus)
- Keeps you in control of who decides, and how
- Spares your family bureaucracy, like annual reports to the Administrator General
- Helps prevent conflict between family members
What about end-of-life decisions?
An Enduring Power of Attorney does not cover end-of-life decisions. A separate document is needed, governed by the Terminally Ill Patient Law. I can help you with that as well.
Support when someone you love has passed away
Losing someone is hard enough without the paperwork. After a death, you will often need an official order before their bank accounts, property or other assets can be dealt with. I’ll explain what comes next in plain language, take care of the process with you, and keep you informed at every stage.
There is no rush to understand it all at once. We take it one step at a time, and you can ask me as often as you need.
Book a 20-minute call- Applying for an inheritance order or a probate order
- Understanding what the will says and how the estate is divided
- Dealing with banks and other institutions
- Answering your questions as they come up, without pressure
Two kinds of order
If there is a will, the usual route is a probate order. If there is no will, an inheritance order sets out who inherits. Not sure which applies to your family? Just ask, and I’ll tell you.
Documents that authorities, banks and courts will accept
Many official documents need notarization before government agencies, foreign authorities, banks and businesses will accept them. I can help with:
- Irrevocable Power of Attorney (for a mortgage or property purchase)
- General Power of Attorney
- Certified translations and certified copies
- Proof of signature
- Certified wills and pre-nuptial agreements
- Apostille services
Sending a document abroad?
It will likely need an apostille: a government stamp that lets other member countries of the Apostille Convention recognize official Israeli documents. I’ll take care of obtaining it, or any other authentication you need.
For countries outside the Convention, such as Canada, there are extra steps. Not sure what you need? Just ask, and I’ll explain what’s required.
Precision in both languages
Legal translation takes deep knowledge of legal terminology, true fluency in both languages, and the ability to carry over the tone of the original. I translate in both directions between English and Hebrew, from standard government documents to long, complex agreements.
Typically: letters, court transcripts and judgments, wills, birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, contracts, financial reports, company bylaws and articles of association.
Where possible I quote by the word count of the source document, so you know the final cost before I begin.
Request a quote“Can you help me understand this?”
Sometimes you don’t need a full translation, just help with the key terms or the gist. I offer document overviews by phone, for a flat fee or an hourly rate.
Proofreading for firms and businesses
If your English or Hebrew is good but not mother-tongue level, I’ll polish contracts, letters, emails and reports so they use the right terms and nuance.
What clients say
I was quite nervous about the whole idea of a will. Miriam walked me through each step with amazing patience and I knew I had come to the right person. I didn’t always understand things after the first explanation. So she explained it again. And not once did I feel that I was being a pain.
Miriam’s friendly demeanor readily gained my trust as she patiently listened to my delicate situation. She explained Israeli inheritance law, and the banking survivorship probate process, in a clear and easily understandable way.
Miriam translated the content line-by-line and then explained each item to us in layperson’s terms. She is professional, has an eye for detail, and listens carefully to the needs of her clients.
Miriam was professional and thorough, patient and accommodating throughout our indecisiveness, and overall a pleasure to work with. We’ve used her twice and highly recommend her!
The first step is just a conversation
We start with a free 20-minute introductory Zoom. You tell me about your situation and what’s on your mind, I ask a few gentle questions, and we see together whether I can help. No pressure.
- Phone / WhatsApp(054) 635-3967
- Emailmiriam@miriamshatsky.com
- OfficesZarhin 13, Raanana
Chopin 1, Jerusalem - OnlineLinkedIn · Facebook
What happens next
We meet on Zoom. You share your circumstances and concerns, and ask whatever you like.
We go deeper. We look at the tools available to you and when each one applies.
You get it in writing. A summary of the steps ahead, plus a simple list of what to gather.
Reach me by phone, email or WhatsApp at any point. If a draft is hard to follow, for any reason, I’ll go through it with you in person or by phone until it’s 100% clear and says what you want.