Intestate succession in Greece: who inherits when there is no will (rules from 16 September 2026)
Law 5303/2026 reordered the Greek intestate succession ranks, strengthened the surviving spouse and gave cohabiting partners rights for the first time. Here is the new order of succession.
The six ranks
Where there is no will or inheritance contract, the Civil Code calls heirs in six successive ranks (Articles 1808–1818). A rank is called only if no one in the preceding rank inherits; within a rank, descendants of a predeceased relative step into his or her place (succession per stirpes).
First rank: descendants and spouse
The children of the deceased inherit in equal shares, grandchildren taking the place of a predeceased child. The surviving spouse takes one-third of the estate where there is one child and one-quarter where there are two or more children (Article 1810(1)). Under the old law the spouse always took one-quarter.
Second rank: parents, siblings and spouse
If there are no descendants, the parents and siblings of the deceased inherit in equal shares, children and grandchildren of predeceased siblings taking their place per stirpes; half-siblings take half the share of full siblings. The share of a predeceased parent accrues to the siblings or, if there are none, to the surviving spouse. The spouse takes one-half of the estate alongside this rank (Articles 1809–1810).
Third rank: the spouse alone
If there are no relatives of the first two ranks, the surviving spouse takes the entire estate (Article 1811). Under the old law grandparents shared the estate with the spouse; they are now called only where there is no spouse.
Fourth rank: grandparents and their descendants
Grandparents of both lines inherit in equal shares; if a grandparent has predeceased, his or her children and grandchildren (the deceased’s uncles, aunts and first cousins) step in per stirpes, and failing them the share passes to the other grandparent of the same line (Article 1813). The former rank of great-grandparents has been abolished.
Fifth rank: the cohabiting partner
New in 2026: if neither a spouse nor any relative inherits, the estate passes to the person who was permanently cohabiting with the deceased outside marriage for at least the last three years, or without time limit if they had children together. The partner must apply to the court of the succession within the renunciation period – four months, or one year where the deceased lived abroad or the heir resided abroad – and the court, after summoning the State, confirms that the conditions are met (Article 1817(3); Article 812A of the Code of Civil Procedure).
Sixth rank: the State
Failing all of the above, the Greek State inherits (Article 1818).
Additional rights of the spouse and partner
Irrespective of rank, the surviving spouse takes the household effects as a préciput and may use the family home free of charge for one year after the death (Article 1810(2)–(3)). Instead of an inheritance share, the spouse may ask the court for a usufruct over estate assets (Article 1810(4)). These rights are lost if divorce or dissolution proceedings were pending at death; where the deceased had filed for divorce on a valid ground, the spouse also loses the forced share (Article 1812). Where there is no spouse, the préciput and the one-year right to the home pass to a cohabiting partner of three years’ standing or with common children (Article 1817(1)–(2)). Finally, a person who cared for the deceased without pay for at least six months in the last three years is entitled to a statutory legacy, payable before any other legacy (Article 1819).
How we can help
We advise heirs in Greece and abroad on their entitlements, the acceptance or renunciation of an inheritance and the time limits that apply.
Updated October 2026. This article reflects Law 5303/2026, applicable to successions opening on or after 16 September 2026, and is for general information only; it does not constitute legal advice.
* The information is accurate to the best of our knowledge as at the time of writing. We have no obligation to update it. We accept no responsibility against any third party who is not a client of the firm and has not signed the terms of our engagement.