Tel Aviv Court Upholds Equal Property Division Despite Woman’s Multi-Million Shekel Inheritance

A Tel Aviv district court ruled against a man’s request to exclude his ex-partner’s inherited luxury apartment rights from their property division following their divorce. The woman inherited a stake valued at approximately 150 million shekels in a high-end Tel Aviv building from her late father. The ex-partner argued for an unequal division due to the significant economic disparity and his medical condition, seeking to retain full control over his pension rights.

The court rejected his claims, emphasizing the legal principle of equal division of marital property, stating that inheritance is considered separate property and not subject to division. The judges noted that the man failed to prove exceptional circumstances warranting deviation from the "half and half" rule, especially since he retained substantial assets and had not sacrificed his career during the marriage.

The couple had been married for over 25 years, and the woman’s rental income from the building reportedly exceeds 100,000 shekels monthly, in addition to her employment income. The court expressed regret that the parties did not reach a settlement, highlighting that the proposed compromises would have required only minor concessions from the woman. The man’s legal team indicated they are reviewing the ruling and considering an appeal to the Supreme Court. Legal costs were set at 10,000 shekels payable by the man to the woman.