Mediation · Greece
Find a mediation lawyer in Greece who understands your dispute
Explain your situation once, without cost, and we match you with a Greek lawyer who negotiates on your behalf and can litigate if talks fail. Clear next steps, one point of contact, no obligation.
- Free matching with a Greek lawyer, usually within 24–48 hours
- One professional for both the settlement talks and the court file
- Confidential enquiry — you decide whether to go ahead
No obligation. You share your case, we propose a lawyer, you choose.
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Mediation in Greece
Why clients look for a mediation lawyer in Greece
When a disagreement with a business partner, an employer, a former spouse or a fellow heir is heading towards the Greek courts, a negotiated settlement is often the calmer route — but it only works with the right professional beside you. A mediation lawyer in Greece does two things at once: they explain the legal position you would realistically hold before a Greek court, and they prepare and lead the negotiation or mediation itself. Greek law frames the lawyer as a public functionary who defends clients before every court, authority and public service and who provides legal advice and opinions, so the same professional can build your file and represent you if the talks collapse. Here you describe your problem once, for free, and we match you with a Greek lawyer who handles your type of dispute.
Greece in practice
How disputes and settlements work in Greece
Greek civil procedure, family law and succession law each create their own pressure points, and any settlement you reach has to fit within them. Below is how the framework actually works in Greece, taken from official sources, so you can judge what you are negotiating about.
Who may act for you in Greece
Practising law in Greece requires membership of one of the country’s Bar Associations. Under Article 4 of Law 4194/2013, a person becomes a lawyer after passing the nationwide bar examinations, obtaining an appointment decision of the Minister of Justice published in the Government Gazette, taking the statutory oath and being entered in a Bar register. Unregistered representation is not an option.
The lawyer’s statutory role
Article 1 of the Code of Lawyers describes the lawyer as a public functionary whose office underpins the rule of law, and states expressly that legal practice is not a commercial activity. A lawyer represents and defends clients before every court, authority and public service and gives legal advice and opinions — a mandate that covers negotiation and mediated talks, not only litigation.
If talks fail: the Greek court structure
Greece follows the continental civil-law model. Civil disputes begin before the Magistrates’ Courts or the Courts of First Instance, with appeals heard by the Courts of Appeal. The Court of Cassation (Areios Pagos) reviews only the legal correctness of decisions, does not re-examine the facts, and its rulings are not formally binding precedent. Administrative justice sits separately under the Council of State.
Time limits that make early talks worthwhile
Greek law allows long periods for some claims and very short ones for others: twenty years for general civil claims, five years for commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims, and five years for tort claims subject to a twenty-year absolute limit. Dismissal challenges must be brought within three or six months. Delaying a negotiation can cost you the claim itself.
What legal work costs
A lawyer’s fee is freely agreed in writing with the client under Article 58 of the Code of Lawyers, covering the whole matter or specific steps, and fees carry 24% VAT. Without a written agreement, the statutory scale based on the value of the matter applies. Judicial stamp duty of 4 or 8 per mille is generally payable on civil claims, plus a 30% surcharge allocated to the TAXDIK fund.
Family, property and succession disputes
A consensual divorce in Greece is no longer pronounced by a court: since Law 4509/2017 the marriage is dissolved by a notarial deed signed by both spouses and their respective lawyers. In succession matters, forced heirship reserves half of the intestate share for descendants and the surviving spouse, while EU Regulation 650/2012 governs cross-border estates and allows a choice of national law.
Key time limits — Litigation & Dispute Resolution
| Matter | Time limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| General civil claims | 20 years | The residual period applies to claims not covered by a shorter statutory rule. |
| Commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims | 5 years | Invoices, fees and recurring payments fall under the shorter five-year period. |
| Tort (delict) claims | 5 years, with a 20-year absolute limit | After twenty years the claim is time-barred in any event. |
All figures and procedural statements on this page are taken from official sources — the Greek Ministry of Justice, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, the Greek Ministry of Labour, the Greek Bar Associations and the European e-Justice Portal — current as of 2025.
- National justice systems — Greece (e-Justice Portal)
- Plenary of the Presidents of the Greek Bar Associations — the legal profession
- Greek Civil Code — Ministry of Justice
- Costs of proceedings — Greece (e-Justice Portal)
- Divorce and legal separation — Greece (e-Justice Portal)
- Succession and EU Regulation 650/2012 — e-Justice Portal
- Termination of an open-ended employment contract — Greek Ministry of Labour
- Inheritance tax for Greek citizens abroad — Independent Authority for Public Revenue
Common situations
Why a Greek dispute stalls without legal guidance
Most people who contact us are not looking for a fight; they want to know where they stand and whether talking is still worthwhile.
You cannot tell whether mediation or litigation is the better route
A negotiated settlement and a court judgment lead to very different places in Greece, and the choice is hard without a view of your legal position. Waiting for clarity is itself a decision, because several Greek claims expire within months.
The other side already has Greek counsel
A company, insurer or former spouse who has instructed a Greek lawyer negotiates from a prepared file. Matching yourself with a lawyer who knows Greek practice and procedure levels the ground before any meeting takes place.
You live abroad and cannot attend anything in person
Non-residents often assume a Greek dispute cannot be handled from another country. Representation before Greek courts, authorities and public services is part of a lawyer’s statutory mandate, so your case does not depend on your physical presence.
What matching gives you
One lawyer, from the first conversation to a possible judgment
We do not sell legal advice ourselves. We find the Greek lawyer who fits your matter and put you in direct contact.
One lawyer, both routes
Your matched lawyer advises on your legal position and can take the case before a Greek court if the negotiation fails. You are not left searching for a second professional halfway through the dispute.
Advice before you concede anything
You learn how Greek law treats your claim — limitation periods, costs, the evidence a court would expect — before you agree terms with the other side or sign anything.
Confidential by profession
Greek lawyers are bound by legal professional secrecy and are characterised by statute as public functionaries cooperating in the administration of justice, which shapes how your information is handled.
Fees agreed in writing
Under Article 58 of the Code of Lawyers the fee is set by written agreement covering the whole matter or specific steps, with 24% VAT. Where no written agreement exists, the statutory scale applies.
Cross-border matters
Clients matched into Greece from across Europe
Many of the people we match with Greek lawyers live outside Greece but own property, run a company, inherit an estate or face a family dispute there. Tell us your country of residence and the Greek element of your case, and we look for counsel who is used to working across borders.
Frequently asked questions
Mediation and legal representation in Greece, answered
What does a mediation lawyer in Greece actually do?
They advise you on how a Greek court would most likely see your dispute and then handle the negotiation or mediation itself. Under Article 1 of the Code of Lawyers, a Greek lawyer represents and defends clients before every court, authority and public service and gives legal advice and opinions, so the same professional can prepare your file and litigate if talks fail.
How much does it cost to instruct a lawyer in Greece for a mediation?
Fees are freely agreed in writing with your lawyer under Article 58 of the Code of Lawyers, and they carry 24% VAT. Without a written agreement the statutory scale based on the value of the matter applies. Low-income applicants may qualify for free legal aid under Law 3226/2004. Being matched through this page costs nothing.
Do I have to be in Greece to be represented?
No. A Greek lawyer represents clients before every court, authority and public service, so distance does not prevent you from instructing one. For some transactions you may need to act through a lawyer holding a notarised special power of attorney, and only lawyers, bailiffs and notaries may conduct searches at the land registries and cadastral offices.
What happens if mediation fails — are there deadlines I could lose?
Yes, and they vary widely. General civil claims can be pursued for twenty years, but commercial, professional-fee and tort claims are limited to five years, with a twenty-year absolute ceiling for torts. A dismissal must be challenged within three months for invalidity or six months for severance. Early advice protects those positions.
Can negotiated settlement help in a Greek divorce?
It can shape the terms, but the legal route matters too. Since Law 4509/2017 a consensual divorce in Greece is not pronounced by a court: the marriage is dissolved by a notarial deed signed by both spouses and their respective lawyers. Only contested divorces go before the courts, where two years of separation create a presumption of irretrievable breakdown.
Who is allowed to practise as a lawyer in Greece?
Membership of one of the Greek Bar Associations is compulsory. Under Article 4 of Law 4194/2013 a person becomes a lawyer after passing the nationwide bar examinations, obtaining an appointment decision of the Minister of Justice published in the Government Gazette, taking the statutory oath and being entered in a Bar register.
Free matching
Tell us about your dispute in Greece
Describe in a few lines what happened, what you want to achieve and whether the other side has already instructed a lawyer. We will match you with a Greek lawyer who handles your type of matter. The matching is free, and you decide afterwards whether to proceed.