Civil Law

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Validity of Wills under the New Greek Inheritance Law

Posted by Niki Plyta

[vc_row triangle_shape="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] A comparative review of the provisions governing the validity of wills shows that no substantial changes have been introduced between the previous and the new Greek inheritance law. The most significant change concerns the broadening of the concept of a testamentary disposition, which now covers not only wills but also inheritance contracts. Otherwise, the rules governing the validity of wills remain essentially unchanged. The drafting or revocation of a will before the new inheritance law enters into force, i.e. before 16 September 2026, continues to be governed, as regards form and the testator's capacity, by the law previously in...

06 Jul 2026

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Inheritance Rights of a cohabiting partner” / “de facto partner”

Posted by Angeliki Spyridon

in Family Law, Special topics

The recent recognition, under Law 5303/2026, of inheritance rights in favor of a person who was in a stable and permanent common-law relationship with the decedent constitutes one of the most significant developments in Greek inheritance law. The legislature, taking into account contemporary forms of family cohabitation, provides specific protection to the surviving partner, both through rights to certain assets and through the possibility of participating in intestate succession. This protection is not identical to that afforded to a spouse, nor does it lead to a complete equivalence of the two institutions. However, the surviving cohabitant now acquires substantive rights, which,...

06 Feb 2026

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Heirs’ Legalization in Greek Banks: Required Supporting Documents

Posted by Niki Plyta

Based on our experience, we have compiled a list of the supporting documents that are usually required by Greek banking institutions for the identification and legalization of natural persons acting as heirs. General Supporting Documents: Special Power of Attorney for heirs residing abroad (in accordance with the form required by the relevant bank); Application for identification/legalization (provided by the relevant bank) police identity card or passport of the heirs; Tax Identification Number (TIN – AFM) of the heirs; Death Certificate of the account holder or holder of negotiable instruments; Certificate of next of kin; Certificate issued by the Court of First...

18 Sep 2023

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The operation of trust under Greek law

Since Article 1923(1) of the Hellenic Civil Code states that the testator may oblige the heir to surrender the inheritance acquired or a percentage thereof to another (the beneficiary under trust) after a specific event or a specific point in time. As is clear from this provision, in addition to making a person his direct heir who immediately acquires the inheritance after his death, the testator can also designate an indirect general successor, the beneficiary under trust, who is heir subject to a deadline/condition precedent, which is met after the death of the testator, which corresponds to a deadline/condition subsequent...

18 Sep 2023

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The rules of intestate succession under Greek law

Where there is an inheritance under Greek law without a will (intestate succession) there are six ranks which are used to determine who is called upon to inherit the estate first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, so that they can either accept or relinquish the inheritance. If the first rank is called, the ranks below will be disqualified. In other words, if the heirs of the first class are called upon to inherit, the heirs in second, third, fourth, and other ranks are excluded. If the heirs of one rank decline or forfeit their inheritance in any manner, the...

18 Sep 2023

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Legal guardianship under Greek law

Legal guardianship is regulated by Articles 1666 to 1694 of the Hellenic Civil Code and is defined as responsible handling of issues of legal importance for an adult who has such manner of disease (mental or intellectual disorder or physical disability) that de facto he is unable to handle his own affairs. It must be ordered by a court (and therefore no person can be placed in legal guardianship on the basis of the private will/intention of another) which alone can determine its form and extent. The Single-Member Court of First Instance at the assisted person’s normal place of residence...

18 Sep 2023

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Executor of will : who can this person be, and what are his powers?

Article 2017 of the Hellenic Civil Code states that an executor for the will is only to be appointed by the testator and only if there is a will. Appointment is made exclusively by the testator of the estate and cannot be dependent on the opinion of a third party (such as an heir). The appointment of the executor of the will cannot be done by means of an inter vivos deed entered into by the testator but only by the will and consequently in that regard it follows the terms and conditions under which a will is valid. Article 2018...

15 Sep 2023

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Conditions under Greek law for the validity of a will which has been made abroad

In the case of a will which was prepared in a country other than Greece, what needs to be clarified is the applicable law under which the validity of the will is ascertained. According to Article 11 of the Hellenic Civil Code, a legal transaction is formally valid in procedural terms if it is in accordance with either the law governing its content or the law of the place where it is entered into or the national law of all the parties. An example of such a transaction is a will. Under the provisions of Article 28 of the Hellenic Civil...

15 Sep 2023

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Rules governing the publication of wills under Greek law