Court Voids Will of Woman Who Left Entire Estate to Younger Manipulator
A Tel Aviv court voided a will leaving an elderly woman's estate to a younger man, ruling he manipulated her emotional vulnerability. The husband of 42 years was named sole heir.
A Tel Aviv Family Court recently voided a will in which an elderly woman left her entire estate to a younger man, disinheriting her husband of 42 years. Judge Esther Zhitnitsky-Rakover ruled that the beneficiary manipulated the woman's emotional vulnerability by faking romantic affection to take control of her assets.
The Relationship and the Disputed Will
The couple, who had no children, lived together for over four decades. Around 2012, they met a younger man whose mother worked at a nursing home. He began helping them with various chores, including apartment renovations. In September 2015, the wife signed a will leaving everything to him and barring her husband from remaining in their apartment after her death. When she passed away in July 2021, the beneficiary sought to execute the will, prompting the husband to file an objection.
The husband argued that the man and his family exploited their vulnerability and health issues. He claimed the beneficiary manipulated his wife into believing he desired her romantically, persuaded them to sell two apartments, siphoned funds from their accounts, and even made her buy a Lexus car worth approximately 300,000 shekels for his personal use. The beneficiary denied any romantic involvement or financial exploitation, claiming the woman viewed him like a son.
Psychiatric Evidence and Court Ruling
A pivotal piece of evidence was a psychiatric record dated 18 days after the will was signed. The woman had sought treatment for depression, mentioning a relationship with a married handyman to whom she was deeply attached, noting that her mood fluctuated based on his attention and that she had willed her property to him.
Judge Zhitnitsky-Rakover found the husband's testimony credible while dismissing the beneficiary's account as evasive and untruthful. The court concluded that severe undue influence and deception were used to manipulate the testator. Consequently, the will was voided, the husband was recognized as the sole legal heir, and the beneficiary was ordered to pay 250,000 shekels in legal costs. The judge also ordered that the verdict be forwarded to the Israel Police for further review.
