Kiryat Gat court annuls an Ethiopian immigrant's will — because it was never actually translated to Amharic for her

What happened

The Kiryat Gat family court, in a ruling by Judge Diana Passo-Vago, annulled a will made by an Ethiopian immigrant — a mother of five who arrived in Israel in 1998 and died in December 2021 at 93. The will, drawn up in May 2015, left the deceased's estate to a single grandchild, disinheriting the other children and grandchildren.

Why the will was annulled

The decisive point: the witness listed at the time of drafting as the Amharic "translator" — meant to ensure the deceased understood what she was signing — admitted in court testimony that he only signed the document and never actually translated it for her verbally. The court accepted the objection filed by the other heirs, fully annulled the will, and ordered the grandchild who stood to be sole beneficiary to pay 35,000 ILS in legal costs.

Why this matters for the community

The case highlights a real, recurring risk: legal documents (wills, contracts, agreements) signed without a genuine, full Amharic translation can later be annulled — even years after signing — if it turns out the signer didn't actually understand their content. It's a reminder of the importance of real legal translation, not merely formal sign-off, for any binding document.

What to do

If you're drafting a will, contract, or any binding legal document, make sure:

• There's a full, understood verbal translation — not just a formal "translator" signature
• You can request the presence of an Amharic-speaking lawyer or certified interpreter
• Tebeka (072-2424622) provides free legal aid, including on inheritance and wills

See also

• Tebeka — free legal aid
• Amharic-speakers' rights with authorities