Alon Kraus & Co. assists Israelis dealing with administrative and bureaucratic matters before authorities and bodies in Germany. The service is administrative, organisational and coordinating support only, alongside expertise in Israeli law where the matter touches Israel. It does not constitute, and does not purport to constitute, legal advice on German law. Where advice or representation under German law is required, we refer to licensed lawyers, notaries and tax advisers in Germany and coordinate the work with them. Important legal notice: Germany’s Legal Services Act (Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz – RDG) provides that legal advice under German law is reserved to professionals licensed in Germany. We do not provide advice on German law. Our role is administrative and logistical support — organising documents, coordinating with authorities, language bridging and controlled routing to the appropriate professionals in Germany — as well as advice on Israeli law in every aspect touching Israel.
Who is this service for?
For Israelis living in or dealing with Germany, and for Israelis in Israel who have an administrative interest in Germany — for example inheriting a property in Germany, handling correspondence from a German authority, or coordinating documents across the two countries.
Document organisation and preparation
We help assemble and order the file of documents required by the German authority. Correct ordering and organisation of the file often saves repeated rounds with the authority.
Language bridging and communication
Many letters and demands arrive in formal German. We help you understand the content and formulate a substantive response, and coordinate professional translation where needed. The aim is that you do not get “lost” in bureaucracy because of a language barrier.
Routing to licensed professionals in Germany
When a question arises that amounts to legal advice under German law, representation before a German court, or German tax advice — we connect you with a licensed lawyer (Rechtsanwalt), notary (Notar) or tax adviser (Steuerberater) in Germany, and coordinate the flow of information and documents with them. We remain with you as the coordinating point of contact.
The Israeli aspect
Where the German matter also touches Israel — for example an Israeli heir to a property in Germany, tax implications in Israel, or a need for an Israeli power of attorney — here we act with full authority as Israeli lawyers.
How the process works, step by step
- Clarification call: you describe the administrative problem and pass on the relevant documents or letters. We map what we are facing and what is required.
- Action plan: we define the stages, the parties involved (authority, German lawyer, tax adviser) and the division of labour.
- Execution and coordination: we organise documents, bridge language, and coordinate with the German authority or professionals.
- Ongoing updates: continuous reporting until the administrative matter is resolved.
Terms worth knowing
- Bürgeramt — the local citizens’ office, handling resident registrations and various certificates.
- Finanzamt — the regional German tax authority.
- Nachlassgericht — the German probate court, which issues, among other things, the Erbschein (German certificate of inheritance).
- RDG (Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz) — Germany’s Legal Services Act, which defines who is authorised to give legal advice under German law.
- Apostille — an international certification authenticating a public document for use in a foreign country under the Hague Convention.
- Steuerberater — a licensed tax adviser in Germany — the authorised party for German tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do you provide legal advice under German law?
No. The service is administrative, organisational and coordinating only. Advice or representation under German law is provided solely by professionals licensed in Germany, and we coordinate with them.
So what do you actually do?
Organising and preparing documents, helping to understand authorities’ requirements, coordinating with the authority or the German lawyer, language bridging, and handling the Israeli aspects of the matter.
I have a letter in German from an authority and I don’t understand it — can you help?
Yes. We help you understand the nature of the request, what is required and when, and coordinate an orderly response or professional translation as needed.
I inherited a property in Germany. How can you assist?
We help organise the documents and coordinate with the Nachlassgericht and a German lawyer, and we handle the Israeli aspects such as tax and inheritance matters in Israel.
In which languages is the service provided?
Hebrew, English and German.
Need legal advice?
Talk to us now — we assist in English, German and Hebrew.