Property & Real Estate Law · Greece
Match with Property & Real Estate Law lawyers in Greece
Buying, selling or inheriting Greek property involves notarial deeds, cadastre registration and strict deadlines. We connect you with an English-speaking, locally licensed lawyer who handles the full transaction from title search to registration—without hidden surprises.
- Notarial deed and cadastre registration handled correctly
- Local lawyer familiar with the Greek Civil Code and Land Registry
- Free matching with no obligation—first response within 24–48 hours
No advice, just matching with a licensed Greek lawyer.
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Property & Real Estate Law in Greece
Why you need a local lawyer for Greek property matters
Greek property law follows the continental civil law tradition, where transfer of ownership is not complete until a notarial deed is registered with the Land Registry or Cadastral Office. Whether you are buying a holiday home, inheriting family land, or resolving a boundary dispute, mistakes can be costly and difficult to undo. Our service matches you with Property & Real Estate Law lawyers in Greece who understand the Greek Civil Code, local cadastre procedures and the practical realities of each region. They handle title searches, draft and review notarial deeds, calculate transfer tax, and ensure registration is constitutive not merely declarative. Because every matter is different, we do not offer legal advice ourselves; we connect you with a licensed lawyer who will assess your situation and explain your options clearly in English.
Local legal landscape
How property law works in Greece
Greece follows the continental civil law model, with the Civil Code at the centre of private law and notarial deeds plus Cadastre registration as constitutive for immovable property transfers. Only lawyers, bailiffs and notaries may conduct land registry searches, and bar membership is compulsory for legal practice. Below are the core mechanics and statutory deadlines you will encounter.
Constitutive notarial deed and registration
In Greece, ownership of immovable property passes only when a notarial deed is registered with the competent Land Registry or Cadastral Office (Articles 1033 and 1192 of the Greek Civil Code); the registration is constitutive, not merely declarative. A 3% Real Estate Transfer Tax must be paid before the deed is signed, and failure to observe the notarial form makes the transfer incurably void.
Who may practise and represent you
Practising law in Greece requires membership of a local Bar Association under Law 4194/2013 (the Code of Lawyers). The lawyer is a public functionary and not a commercial service provider. Although a lawyer is no longer mandatory for executing a notarial deed transferring property, representation in litigation is generally required, and a party may act through a lawyer holding a notarised special power of attorney.
Key limitation periods
The Greek Civil Code provides a general 20-year limitation period for civil claims, while commercial and professional fee claims are subject to five years. For real property, adverse possession (usucapion) requires ten years ordinary or twenty years extraordinary possession. These deadlines affect when a claim can be brought or an ownership right established.
Costs and legal aid
Court fees are set by statute and generally include a proportional judicial stamp duty of 4 or 8 per mille depending on the claim, plus a 30% surcharge for the TAXDIK fund. Lawyers’ fees are freely agreed in writing; without an agreement, the statutory scale applies. Low-income persons and certain disabled applicants may qualify for free legal aid under Law 3226/2004.
Forced heirship and cross-border successions
Greek succession law restricts freedom of testation through forced heirship: descendants, the surviving spouse and, where there are no descendants, parents are entitled to a reserved portion equal to one half of their intestate share. Gifts made in the last ten years before death are added back. EU Regulation 650/2012 allows a non-Greek owner to elect their national law, but Greek forced-heirship rules still affect Greek real property if Greek law applies.
Key time limit — Property & Real Estate Law
Adverse possession (usucapion) of real property — 10 years (ordinary) / 20 years (extraordinary). Continuous possession of immovable property can lead to ownership after these statutory periods.
The country-specific information on this page comes from official Greek and European e-Justice sources, verified against the Greek Civil Code, the Code of Lawyers and the Land Registry/Cadastre rules, retrieved in 2025.
Common problems
You are not alone
Greek property transactions and inheritances often go wrong when handled without local expertise.
You are buying a property without a local title search
A preliminary contract or verbal agreement is not enough in Greece. Without a Land Registry search and notarial deed, you may never acquire ownership and could lose your deposit.
You inherit Greek property but do not know the forced heirship rules
As a non-Greek heir, Greek forced heirship can limit your share. Gifts made in the last ten years are added back, and deadlines to renounce or accept are short.
A boundary or construction dispute is not resolved promptly
Without a lawyer who understands the civil-law system and local cadastre, a dispute over boundaries or building permits can drag on and become very expensive.
Why it matters
What you gain with a matched lawyer
A local lawyer removes the guesswork from Greek property law.
English-speaking local representation
You work with a licensed Greek lawyer who explains notarial deeds, cadastre registration and transfer tax obligations in clear English, so nothing is lost in translation.
Title search and deed drafting in one place
Your lawyer searches the Land Registry or Cadastral Office, drafts the notarial deed, pays the transfer tax and registers the transaction, so ownership passes properly.
Clear guidance on forced heirship and cross-border successions
If you inherit Greek property, your lawyer explains the reserved portion, the re-calculation of lifetime gifts and the possibility of electing your national law under EU Regulation 650/2012.
Transparent matching, no hidden costs
We do not charge you to be matched. You receive a lawyer who sets fees by written agreement or statutory scale, and who can advise on legal aid eligibility if relevant.
Where we match
Property lawyers across Europe
Our network also covers these European countries, so you can handle cross-border property matters with confidence.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
What do Property & Real Estate Law lawyers in Greece do?
They handle title searches, notarial deed drafting and review, cadastre or Land Registry registration, transfer tax, lease or construction disputes, and inheritance issues affecting Greek real estate. They also represent you in court if a dispute arises.
Is a notarial deed enough to transfer property in Greece?
No. Ownership passes only when the notarial deed is registered with the competent Land Registry or Cadastral Office; until then the transfer is not completed and may be void.
Do I need a Greek lawyer to buy property in Greece?
Although a lawyer is no longer mandatory for executing a notarial deed transferring property, legal representation is generally required for litigation, and only lawyers, bailiffs and notaries may conduct land registry searches.
What are the forced heirship rules for Greek real estate?
Greek law reserves half of the intestate share for descendants, the surviving spouse and, where there are no descendants, parents. Gifts made in the last ten years before death are added back when calculating that reserved portion.
What deadlines apply to property-related claims in Greece?
The general civil limitation period is twenty years; commercial and professional fee claims are five years; adverse possession requires ten or twenty years. Other deadlines apply to inheritance tax and renunciation.
How much does it cost to be matched with a Property & Real Estate Law lawyer in Greece?
Our matching service is free. You pay only the lawyer’s fee, which is freely agreed in writing or fixed by statutory scale if there is no agreement; court fees and taxes are separate and set by statute.
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Ready to move forward with your Greek property matter?
Tell us briefly what you need—buying, selling, inheriting or disputing Greek real estate—and we will introduce you to a licensed local lawyer who handles your case with clarity and discretion. No obligation, no charge for the matching.