Law
Ashdod court awarded same-sex partner half of apartment inherited by son
The deceased, who died in 2019, bequeathed in her will her apartment to her only son, but her same-sex partner sued for half of it. Judge Efrat Gay accepted the claim and determined that the two lived as publicly known partners for at least 15 years and that the partner participated in financing the mortgage and household expenses. The son was also ordered to pay legal fees of 40,000 shekels.
· Source: Walla. Photo as published in the article
Ashdod District Court determined that the publicly known same-sex partner of a deceased woman is entitled to half the rights in an apartment she bequeathed in her will to her only son, after it was proven that the two lived as publicly known partners for at least 15 years and that he participated in financing the mortgage.
According to the report, the deceased died in 2019 and bequeathed in her will her apartment, which was purchased before the parties met each other, to her only son. The partner claimed that the two lived together as publicly known partners for 21 years, that he participated in mortgage payments and that he invested about 200,000 shekels in renovating the property. The son argued in contrast that the relationship between the two was merely friendship and a landlord-tenant arrangement.
Judge Efrat Gay accepted the partner's claim and determined that it was proven the two lived as publicly known partners for at least 15 years, in part based on joint trips, participation in family events and the inscription 'my wife' on a gravestone. It was further determined that the partner participated in financing the mortgage and household expenses, and the son was ordered to pay legal fees in the amount of 40,000 shekels.
In another case, the Supreme Court determined, by majority, that a woman is entitled to half an apartment registered in her husband's name alone and purchased four years before the marriage, after it was proven that the husband committed to sell the apartment to purchase a new shared apartment in its place.
Source: Walla
