Israeli Legislation.com
LawAdministrative Law

Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984

חוק בתי המשפט [נוסח משולב], תשמ"ד-1984

Published: 1984-08-31Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-09-01 · Last amended 2026-07-29✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
Premium
Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter III: Registrars

Section A: Appointment

Appointment of Registrar [II/30, R/1]§
84.
(a)The President of the Supreme Court may, with the approval of the Minister of Justice, appoint a judge, or a person qualified to be appointed a judge of a Magistrate's Court, as Registrar of the Supreme Court, of a District Court or of a Magistrate's Court.
(a1)For the purposes of sections 2 and 3 of Basic Law: The Judiciary, a Registrar shall be regarded as if the Registrar were a judge.
(b)Notice of the appointment shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette) and once published, the appointment is not subject to appeal.
(c)In this Chapter –

"Registrar" means a person appointed as Registrar under this section and a person appointed as Senior Registrar;

"Senior Registrar" means a person appointed under section 84a.

Appointment of Senior Registrar§
84a.
(a)
(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 84(a), a Senior Registrar shall be appointed by the Minister of Justice pursuant to the selection of the Committee;
(2)For the purposes of the provisions of sections 5 to 7, 9, 11 to 14 of Basic Law: The Judiciary, and the provisions of sections 5, 7a, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16a to 24 and 46, a Senior Registrar shall be regarded as if the Senior Registrar were a judge.
(b)The number of Senior Registrars shall not exceed 20 percent of the number of established posts of judges serving in Magistrates' Courts; the Minister of Justice, with the approval of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset, may, by Order, change that number.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →

Section B: Powers of Registrars

Special powers [R/2]§
85.

Notwithstanding any law regarding rules of procedure and practice in civil and criminal courts, a Registrar shall have the special powers referred to in sections 85a to 90.

Power to hear certain civil actions§
85a.
(a)A Senior Registrar may hear and decide a civil action where the amount of the action or the value of the subject matter at the time of filing the action does not exceed NIS 75,000, and this even if the amount or value subsequently increased due to indexation, linkage, interest, legal costs and advocate's fees.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), a Senior Registrar shall not be entitled to hear the following:
(1)an action for compensation in respect of bodily injury or an action for indemnification or compensation for pension payments, benefits and any other expenses paid or to be paid in respect of bodily injury, including an action whose cause of action is under the Road Accident Victims Compensation Law, 5735-1975;
(2)an action in respect of which an application has been filed to certify it as a class action under the Class Actions Law, 5766-2006;
(3)a civil action that a Family Court is competent to hear pursuant to the provisions of the Family Court Law, 5755-1995.
Judgment where there is no defence [R/3]§
86.

In an action in which a defendant does not defend, including a claim in summary procedure in which leave to defend has not been granted, the Registrar may –

(1)require written evidence;
(2)give judgment ex parte against that defendant;
(3)set aside a judgment given under paragraph (2).
Agreed judgment [R/4]§
87.

In proceedings, whether at first instance or on appeal, in which the parties agree to the giving of a judgment in an agreed form, a Registrar may give judgment; and a Registrar may give such a judgment if the parties agreed on the substance of the matter but did not agree on the amount of legal costs, and the Registrar shall assess and determine the said costs in the judgment.

Striking out of proceedings [R/5]§
88.

A Registrar may, upon application or on the Registrar's own initiative, order, in accordance with the rules of procedure, that an action or appeal be struck out for want of prosecution.

Interim attachment [R/6]§
89.

A Registrar may grant an interim attachment order, and for that purpose – an order prohibiting the use of the attached property and for its preservation, and may set aside such orders.

Various applications [R/7]§
90.

A Registrar may hear, decide and direct as the Registrar sees fit in applications on any matter relating to the conduct of a proceeding, including the following matters, provided that in a matter where the decision is a decision under paragraphs (6), (9) and (10), a Senior Registrar alone shall hear and decide:

(1)the provision of security for the payment of legal costs, upon the application of a plaintiff, defendant, appellant or respondent, or of a person acting on their behalf;
(2)granting leave to sue as a pauper, deferral of payment of fees and exemption therefrom;
(3)extension of time for filing an appeal or an application for leave to appeal;
(4)refund of court fees paid by error or by reason of over-assessment or for another reason;
(5)payment of money from the court's funds;
(6)appointment of guardians ad litem;
(7)directions regarding the service of court documents, including substituted service;
(8)assessment of witnesses' fees and expenses and the obligation to bear them;
(9)urgent applications relating to the hearing of an action, appeal or other proceeding, all subject to the provisions of section 101;
(10)the appointment of an expert bookkeeper or auditor or other expert, where an expert opinion or report is required prior to the examination of any action or other proceeding, or before continuing therein if the examination has already commenced;
(11)an extension of time for pleading, leave to amend a pleading, discovery of documents and their inspection, and delivery of interrogatories;
(12)fixing a date for the public examination of a debtor under the Bankruptcy Ordinance [New Version], 5740-1980 (hereinafter – the Bankruptcy Ordinance).
Powers conferred by Regulations [R/10]§
91.

In addition to the provisions of sections 85 to 90, a Registrar may do anything in rules of procedure and practice that the Registrar has been authorised by Regulations to do; Regulations authorising a Registrar to do anything in rules of procedure and practice require the approval of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset.

92.§

(Repealed — תשנ״ה־3)

93.§

(Repealed — תשנ״ה־3)

94.§

(Repealed — תשע״ח־3)

Decision of Registrar as decision of court [R/11]§
95.

A judgment and any other decision of a Registrar shall have the same effect as a judgment or other decision of the court in which the Registrar serves as Registrar, all subject to section 96.

Appeal against decision of Registrar [R/12]§
96.
(a)A judgment of a Registrar of a Magistrate's Court or of a District Court shall, for the purpose of appeal, have the same effect as a judgment of the court in which the Registrar serves as Registrar.
(a1)Any other decision of a Senior Registrar shall, for the purpose of appeal, have the same effect as any other decision of the court in which the Senior Registrar serves as Senior Registrar.
(b)Any other decision of a Registrar who is not a Senior Registrar is appealable before the court in which the Registrar serves as Registrar, and the court may hear it with a single judge.
(b1)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), a decision of a Registrar on the question of whether a particular matter is an economic matter within the meaning of section 42b or an economic-administrative matter within the meaning of section 42c, or not, is not appealable; however, a decision of a Registrar that a particular matter is not an economic matter is appealable if the consequence of the decision is that the competent court is a Magistrate's Court; nothing in this subsection shall derogate from the right under law of a party to appeal a decision as aforesaid within the framework of an appeal against the judgment.
(c)A decision of a Magistrate's Court on appeal under subsection (b), except in categories of decisions determined by Order pursuant to the provisions of section 52(c), is appealable before the District Court, if leave therefor has been granted in the body of the decision or by the District Court or one of its judges.
(d)A decision of a District Court on appeal under subsections (b) or (c) against any other decision of a Registrar, except in categories of decisions determined by Order pursuant to the provisions of sections 41(c) or 52(c), is appealable before the Supreme Court, if leave therefor has been granted in the body of the decision, or by the President of the Supreme Court or another judge of the Supreme Court designated for that purpose by the President, or by the Supreme Court.
(e)A judgment of a Registrar of the Supreme Court is appealable before the Supreme Court, which shall hear it with a single judge.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →

Section C: Other Powers

Determination of agreed issues [R/13]§
97.

A Registrar may determine agreed issues for the court's decision, and shall note in the record the names of the parties or advocates who appeared before the Registrar and the agreed issues as aforesaid, but without prejudice to the power of the court to reformulate the issues in accordance with the pleadings.

Assessment of Court Fees [r/14]§
98.

Any question concerning the assessment of a court fee in an action, matter or proceeding shall be brought before the Registrar.

Assessment of Costs [r/15]§
99.

The Registrar shall be the costs assessor of the court in which the Registrar serves as Registrar.

Signing of Costs Orders [r/16]§
100.

A Registrar may sign costs orders of judgments and of other decisions of the court.

List of Cases and Notice of their Hearing [r/17]§
101.

A Registrar shall be responsible for drawing up the list of cases before the court and before judges in their chambers, in accordance with the directions of the President of the Supreme Court or the Deputy President, the President or Vice-President of a District Court or the President of a Magistrate's Court, as the case may be, and may, upon the application of a plaintiff or an appellant, or with the consent of the parties or their advocates, place in the list any action, proceeding or appeal for hearing and issue for that purpose the necessary notices.

Administration of Oaths and Receipt of Declarations [r/19]§
102.

Any oath or declaration may be given before a Registrar.

Additional Power [r/20]§
103.

Wherever it is stated in law that a certain act or thing may be done by an officer appointed for that purpose by the court, the Registrar may do it.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →

Section D: Miscellaneous Provisions

Application of Provisions [b/44]§
104.

The provisions of sections 68 to 79c and 81 shall apply to a Registrar and to proceedings before the Registrar in accordance with the powers vested in the Registrar under any law; however, a Registrar who is not a judge shall not be competent for criminal adjudication or for adjudication under section 72(a).

Registrar to Replace the Chief Registrar [r/21]§
105.
(a)The Registrar shall exercise every power conferred upon the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, of a District Court and of a Magistrate's Court and shall perform every function conferred upon them.
(b)Wherever it is stated in law that a certain document shall be filed with the Chief Registrar of the court, the document shall be filed with the office of the court.
Ethics and Discipline§
105a.

For the purposes of the ethics and disciplinary adjudication of a Registrar on account of the performance of duties as Registrar and for the purposes of suspension from the office of Registrar, a Registrar who is not a judge shall have the same status as a judge.

Disqualification§
105b.

For the purposes of a plea of disqualification against a Registrar, a Registrar who is not a judge shall have the same status as a judge, and the provisions of section 77a shall apply.

Notice of End of Tenure§
105c.

Notice of the end of a Registrar's tenure shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

Regulations [r/22, final part]§
106.

The Minister of Justice may make Regulations of procedure for appeals under this Chapter, and, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, also Regulations prescribing the powers and functions of Registrars in all matters relating to the procedure and practice of the courts.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →

Chapter III-A: Court Guard

Definitions – Chapter III-A§

106a.

In this Chapter –

"Court Guard personnel" means the Security Officer, the command staff and the security guards of the Court Guard;

"Security Regulation Law" means the Law for the Regulation of Security in Public Bodies, 5758-1998;

"Arrests Law" means the Criminal Procedure (Enforcement Powers – Arrests) Law, 5756-1996;

"Guard Powers Law" means the Powers for the Purpose of Maintaining Public Safety Law, 5765-2005;

"Penal Law" means the Penal Law, 5737-1977;

"prohibited article" means any of the following:

(1)a firearm – as defined in the Firearms Law, 5709-1949;
(2)an explosive – as defined in the Explosives Law, 5714-1954;
(3)a knife or penknife – as defined in section 184 of the Penal Law, and any other cold weapon;
(4)a hazardous substance – as defined in the Hazardous Substances Law, 5753-1993;
(5)a dangerous drug – as defined in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance [New Version], 5733-1973;
(6)any article, including a living creature, except for a guide dog, which is or the use of which is capable of harming public safety or order in the court; in this paragraph, "guide dog" – as defined in the Law for the Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Blindness Accompanied by Guide Dogs, 5753-1993;

"Security Officer" means a person appointed under sections 106c and 106f;

"weapon" – as defined in section 2 of the Guard Powers Law;

"command staff" means the command staff appointed under sections 106d and 106f;

"Search Ordinance" means the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Arrest and Search) [New Version], 5729-1969;

"authorised officer" – as defined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b) and (b1)(1) of the definition of "authorised officer" in the Security Regulation Law.

Court Guard and Its Functions§

106b.

The functions of the Court Guard are:

(1)to protect judges, Registrars and court employees, including by carrying out any action required for the purpose of ensuring their safety, including outside the precincts of the court;
(2)to maintain public order and public safety in the court, in its immediate surroundings and in the offices of the Courts Administration.

Security Officer and Functions§

106c.
(a)The Courts Administrator, with the consent of the President of the Supreme Court and the Minister of Justice, shall appoint a Security Officer, provided that no person shall be appointed as Security Officer unless the authorised officer has confirmed that the person meets the eligibility conditions prescribed in section 4(c) of the Security Regulation Law.
(b)The Security Officer shall serve as commander of the Court Guard and shall be responsible for the performance of the functions of the Court Guard under this Law, for the security of classified information in the possession of the courts and for the implementation of the directives under this Chapter.

Command Staff§

106d.

Command staff shall be appointed for the Court Guard, provided that no person shall be appointed to the command staff unless the authorised officer has confirmed in respect of that person that the person meets the eligibility conditions prescribed in sections 4(c) and 5(b) to (d) of the Security Regulation Law, with the necessary modifications.

Court Guard Security Guard§

106e.

The Security Officer may authorise a person as a Court Guard security guard, if the person has met the eligibility conditions prescribed in section 8(1) to (7) of the Guard Powers Law.

Court Guard Personnel – State Employees§

106f.

Court Guard personnel shall be State employees and, in addition to the provisions of sections 106c to 106e, the provisions of the State Service (Appointments) Law, 5719-1959 shall apply to their appointment.

Search and Seizure Powers and Ancillary Powers§

106g.
(a)For the purpose of performing the functions of the Court Guard under this Law, a Court Guard personnel member shall have the following powers in the court and in its immediate surroundings:
(1)to give instructions to any person who disturbs public order or who behaves in a violent manner or in contravention of the provisions of law applicable in the court, or to any person in respect of whom there is a reasonable concern that the person will so behave;
(2)to require a person to provide the person's name and address and to present an identity card or other official document identifying the person;
(3)to conduct a search without a judicial order on the persons of those entering the court, and also in vehicles, baggage and other goods upon entry into the court if this is required for the purpose of maintaining public safety or for the purpose of compliance with the provisions of section 256 of the Penal Law; in this paragraph, "search on the body" means a search on the surface of a person's body, in the person's clothing or in the person's belongings, which is not an external search or an internal search as defined in the Criminal Procedure (Enforcement Powers – Body Search and Taking of Identifying Particulars) Law, 5756-1996;
(4)to conduct a search on the person's body or in the vehicle even other than at the time of entry into the court, provided that a reasonable suspicion has arisen that a person is unlawfully carrying a weapon, is about to make unlawful use of a weapon, or that a weapon held unlawfully is in the vehicle;
(5)to seize a prohibited article discovered in the course of a search under this section; an article seized under this paragraph shall be transferred as soon as possible to the Israel Police and Chapter IV of the Search Ordinance shall apply to it, with the necessary modifications;
(6)to require that an article which is not needed by the person carrying it at that time be deposited in the court for as long as the person is in the court.
(b)A search on a person's body under this section that involves physical contact shall be conducted by a person of the same sex as the person being searched, unless this cannot be done in the circumstances of the matter and a delay in the search would involve an unreasonable risk to public safety, including the safety of a person.
(c)No person may be required to expose in public parts of the body that are ordinarily concealed, except in order to prevent an imminent and certain danger to public safety.
(d)If a person refuses to comply with the instructions of a Court Guard personnel member under this section, the Court Guard personnel member may act in the following ways, and may also use reasonable force for that purpose:
(1)to prevent that person from entering the court, to prevent the bringing of baggage or other goods into the court, or to prevent a vehicle from entering the court;
(2)to remove from the court that person, the baggage, the other goods or the vehicle;
(3)to detain that person until a police officer arrives, if there is a concern that the person will flee or if the person's identity is unknown; the provisions of sections 72 to 74 of the Arrests Law shall apply to a detention under this paragraph, with the necessary modifications.

Power of Detention and Arrest§

106h.
(a)If a Court Guard personnel member has a reasonable suspicion that a person is unlawfully carrying a weapon in the court or in its immediate surroundings, is about to make unlawful use of a weapon, or is about to commit an offence liable to endanger a person's safety, public safety or State security, the personnel member shall have powers of detention against that person; the provisions of sections 67(a) and 72 to 74 of the Arrests Law shall apply to a detention under this section, with the necessary modifications.
(b)If a Court Guard personnel member has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has committed an arrestable offence as defined in section 23(a)(7) of the Arrests Law in the court or in its immediate surroundings, and the circumstances enumerated in sections 23(a)(1) or 23(a)(3) and also the circumstances under section 23(b) of the Arrests Law are present, the personnel member is empowered to arrest that person and to hand the person over to a police officer as soon as possible, but no later than six hours after the arrest; the provisions of sections 23(c) and 24 of the Arrests Law and also section 19 of the Search Ordinance shall apply to such an arrest, with the necessary modifications.
(c)If the court has ordered the arrest of a person under the provisions of sections 13, 17 and 21 of the Arrests Law, or if the court has ordered the immediate imprisonment of a person upon the giving of the sentence, a Court Guard personnel member is empowered to carry out the arrest and to hand the person over to a police officer or a prison officer, as the case may be, as soon as possible and no later than six hours after the arrest.
(d)The command staff, and in their absence – the Court Guard personnel member in charge of operating the guard unit in the court at the time of exercising the power under this section, shall have the powers vested in the officer in charge under section 27(a) and (b) of the Arrests Law, with the necessary modifications.

Application of Powers in respect of the Administration of Courts§

106i.

The powers vested in a court guard officer under sections 106g and 106h shall be vested in him, mutatis mutandis, also in respect of the Administration of Courts.

Security Operations outside the Court§

106j.
(a)For the purpose of protecting judges, registrars and court employees, as referred to in section 106b(1), a court guard officer shall have the powers under this Chapter, mutatis mutandis, also when carrying out security operations for them outside the court, including when escorting vehicles.
(b)The exercise of powers outside the court under this section shall be carried out, to the extent possible, in the close vicinity of the person being protected and with maximum regard for the need to protect the privacy of those around him.

Identification of a Court Guard Officer§

106k.
(a)A court guard officer shall not make use of the powers vested in him under this Chapter except while performing his duties and when both of the following conditions are met:
(1)he is openly wearing a badge identifying him and his role and is wearing court guard uniform in the colour and form directed by the Security Officer for this purpose, provided that such uniform does not appear to be a police uniform;
(2)he holds a document signed by the Security Officer attesting to his role and his powers, which he shall present upon request.
(b)The duty of identification under subsection (a) shall not apply if its fulfilment is likely to cause any of the following:
(1)frustration of the exercise of the power by the court guard officer;
(2)harm to the security of the court guard officer or to the security of another person.
(c)Once the circumstance by reason of which the court guard officer did not fulfil the duty of identification as referred to in subsection (b) has passed, the court guard officer shall fulfil his duty as aforesaid, as early as possible.

Power of the Authorised Officer to Issue Professional Instructions§

106l.

Nothing in the provisions of this Chapter shall derogate from the power of the authorised officer to issue professional instructions to the court guard in all matters relating to physical security operations as defined in the security regulation law, and for this purpose sections 10 to 11 of that law shall apply, mutatis mutandis.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →
← 1…678 →

Page 7 of 8

Read the entire law on one page — continuous text, no page breaks, plus PDF downloads.