Wills & Succession · Greece
Find trusted wills lawyers in Greece
Greek succession law is codified, restricts what a will can achieve, and applies to property situated in Greece whoever owns it. Tell us about your estate and we match you with a Greek-qualified lawyer who handles wills and succession work. Free to use, with no obligation to instruct.
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Why this matters
Wills and succession in Greece: what is different
If you own property in Greece, have family there, or are dealing with the estate of someone who died in the country, the rules that apply are Greek — and they work differently from those in many other European states. Finding the right wills lawyers in Greece early usually saves time, cost and family friction later. Our platform matches you with a Greek-qualified lawyer whose practice covers testation, succession and estate matters, whether you are drafting instructions from abroad or already facing a dispute over a reserved portion. There is no charge to be matched, no obligation to instruct, and your enquiry is sent only to lawyers who handle this area of law. You describe your situation once; we do the searching.
Greece in practice
How wills and succession actually work in Greece
Greek succession law sits in the Civil Code, which entered into force in 1946 and is now codified by Presidential Decree 456/1984. Statutory law is the primary source of law, and the Supreme Court ensures its uniform interpretation. These are the points that most often shape a will or an estate file in Greece.
Forced heirship limits what a will can do
Greek succession law restricts freedom of testation. Descendants and the surviving spouse — and the parents where there are no descendants — are entitled to a reserved portion (nómimi moíra) equal to one half of the share they would receive on intestacy (Articles 1825–1846 of the Greek Civil Code). The forced heir acquires that right automatically and takes part as a true co-heir, not as a mere creditor.
Lifetime gifts can be brought back into the estate
Gifts made in the ten years before death are added back to the estate when the reserved portion is calculated. That means a transfer of assets during your lifetime can be reduced if it exceeds what the forced heirs are entitled to, so timing and documentation matter when you plan an estate in Greece.
Property in the estate: notarial deed and registration
In Greece, transferring or encumbering immovable property requires a notarial deed, and ownership passes only once that deed is registered with the competent Land Registry or Cadastral Office — registration is constitutive, not declarative (Articles 1033 and 1192 of the Civil Code). Failure to observe the notarial form renders the transfer incurably void, and only lawyers, bailiffs and notaries may conduct searches at the registries.
Tax and renunciation deadlines
Two deadlines dominate estate administration in Greece. The inheritance tax return must be filed within nine months where the death occurred in Greece, or one year where it occurred abroad. A beneficiary who wants to renounce the inheritance must do so within four months, extendable to one year for those living abroad. Missing these periods has consequences, so early advice is worthwhile.
Cross-border successions and choice of law
Greece applies EU Regulation No 650/2012 to cross-border successions. As a general rule, the law of the deceased’s habitual residence governs the succession as a whole, but a testator may elect the law of their nationality instead (professio juris). That option matters for non-Greek nationals who own Greek property, given the forced heirship rules. Greece also recognises the European Certificate of Succession.
Who may practise and represent you
Membership of a Bar Association is compulsory to practise law in Greece. Under Law 4194/2013, a lawyer is admitted after passing the nationwide bar examinations, receiving a ministerial appointment published in the Government Gazette, taking the statutory oath and being entered in a Bar register. The Code of Lawyers treats the lawyer as a public functionary exercising the profession as a co-operator of the administration of justice.
Key time limits — Inheritance, Probate & Wills
| Matter | Time limit | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Inheritance tax return | 9 months (death in Greece) / 1 year (death abroad) | The return is filed with the tax authority and sets the rhythm of the whole estate file. |
| Renunciation (disclaimer) of inheritance | 4 months (extendable to 1 year if abroad) | A beneficiary who does not wish to accept the estate must formally renounce it in time. |
Country data comes from official Greek and EU sources — the Ministry of Justice, the Athens Bar Association, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue and the European e-Justice Portal — and should be checked against current practice before you act.
- Greek Civil Code — Ministry of Justice (codification of succession, property and limitation rules)
- European e-Justice Portal — National justice systems: Greece
- Athens Bar Association — the legal profession in Greece (Law 4194/2013)
- European e-Justice Portal — Succession and EU Regulation 650/2012
- Independent Authority for Public Revenue — inheritance tax for non-residents
- Independent Authority for Public Revenue — tax obligations arising from loss of life (renunciation of inheritance)
Common problems
What usually brings people to us
Most enquiries about Greek wills and estates begin with one of these three situations.
You cannot tell who is entitled to what
Greek forced heirship reserves half of the intestate share for certain family members. When a will ignores that, relatives often discover the problem only after the death, and positions have already hardened.
A will drafted abroad may sit uneasily with Greek rules
Cross-border estates raise the question of which national law applies. Under EU Regulation 650/2012 the law of habitual residence normally governs, but a choice of nationality is possible — and the interaction with Greek property has to be planned.
Estate deadlines run whether you are ready or not
Inheritance tax returns and formal renunciations are subject to fixed periods in Greece. Beneficiaries living abroad have little room to delay, and missing a period can remove options that were open at the outset.
Why use our service
How we help you find the right lawyer
We are not a law firm. We are a matching service that saves you the research, the cold calls and the guesswork.
Specialists, not generalists
Every lawyer we match you with handles succession and estate work in Greece, including forced heirship, notarial deeds and cross-border files, so you are not explaining the basics from the beginning.
Matched within 24–48 hours
You submit one short description of your situation. We review it and put you in touch with a lawyer who takes this type of matter, usually within one to two working days.
No cost to be matched
Comparing wills lawyers in Greece through our platform is free. You decide whether to instruct, and any fee arrangement is agreed directly with the lawyer in writing.
Support across borders
Many of our clients live outside Greece. The lawyers we work with handle instructions in English or Greek, work with notarised powers of attorney and coordinate with notaries, registries and tax advisers.
Cross-border matters
Where our clients come from
Greek succession files frequently involve families spread across Europe, and EU Regulation 650/2012 makes the country of habitual residence relevant. These are the jurisdictions we most often see connected to Greek wills and estates.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about wills in Greece
What is the reserved portion (nómimi moíra) in Greek succession law?
Descendants and the surviving spouse, and the parents where there are no descendants, are entitled to a reserved portion equal to one half of the share they would receive on intestacy (Articles 1825–1846 of the Greek Civil Code). The forced heir acquires it automatically and participates as a true co-heir. Gifts made in the ten years before death are added back when the reserved portion is calculated.
Can I choose which law governs my estate in Greece?
Greece applies EU Regulation No 650/2012 to cross-border successions. As a general rule, the law of the deceased’s habitual residence governs the succession as a whole, but a testator may elect the law of their nationality instead. That choice is often relevant for non-Greek nationals who own property in Greece, given the forced-heirship rules.
How long do I have to renounce an inheritance in Greece?
Renunciation must generally be made within four months, a period that can be extended to one year for beneficiaries living abroad. The inheritance tax return follows a separate timetable: nine months where the death occurred in Greece and one year where it occurred abroad. Both periods run from the date of death.
How do I find wills lawyers in Greece if I live abroad?
Start by describing the estate, your relationship to the deceased and any property involved. We match you with a Greek-qualified lawyer who handles succession work. Many clients then grant a notarised special power of attorney so the lawyer can act with the Land Registry, Cadastral Office, notary or tax authority on their behalf.
What do wills lawyers in Greece charge?
Under Article 58 of the Code of Lawyers, a lawyer’s fee is freely agreed in writing with the client and may cover the whole matter, part of it or specific acts. Where there is no written agreement, the statutory scale based on the value of the matter applies. Fees carry 24% VAT. Free legal aid under Law 3226/2004 is available to applicants who meet the income conditions.
Where are inheritance disputes decided in Greece?
Civil disputes, including inheritance matters, are heard by the Courts of First Instance and on appeal by the Courts of Appeal. The Court of Cassation (Areios Pagos) has a dedicated inheritance chamber and reviews only the legal correctness of lower decisions — it does not re-examine the facts. Greece follows the civil law model, so statutes, not binding precedent, are the primary source of law.
Free matching
Tell us about your Greek estate
Describe your situation in a few lines — a will you want to make, an estate you have inherited, or a property in Greece that has to be transferred. We will match you with a lawyer who handles this work, at no cost and with no obligation.