When the Land Registry Fails: Supreme Court Holds It Accountable

The Israeli Supreme Court has clarified a crucial point for property owners: the Land Registry isn’t just a rubber stamp. It must actively ensure that all property records are accurate and protect against fraud.

The case involved a property in Holon. A forged inheritance order was used to register the land, and the rightful heir, Ziv Melech, only discovered it years later after multiple sales had taken place. He sued both the Registry and the lawyer who handled the documents.

The Court ruled that the Registry was negligent, assigning it 30% responsibility for the financial damage, the lawyer 50%, and Ziv 20% as contributory fault. The decision makes clear that preventing fraud and verifying documents is not optional—it’s central to the Registry’s role.

This ruling reinforces trust and accountability in Israel’s real estate system, ensuring that property owners can rely on accurate and secure records.