Heirs’ Legalization in Greek Banks: Required Supporting Documents

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 Instance of the place of the deceased’s last residence (issued within the last three (3) months prior to the identification process), certifying that the heirs’ inheritance rights have not been challenged;
• Certificate issued by the Court of First Instance of the place of the deceased’s last residence (issued within the last three (3) months prior to the identification process), certifying that the heirs have not renounced the inheritance.

 

Additional Supporting Documents in the Case of Intestate Succession (inheritance without a will):

• Certificate issued by the Court of First Instance of Athens, acting as the General Registry of Wills pursuant to article 808 of the Greek Code of Civil Procedure, certifying that no will has been published.

 

In the case of Testate Succession (inheritance with a will), the following additional documents are required:

• Copy of the will;
• Minutes of the publication of the will;
• Certificate of non-publication of another will;
• Notarial Deed of Acceptance of Inheritance (if already executed).

Note: In the event that a Certificate of Inheritance (Κληρονομητήριο) has been issued, the above-mentioned certificates may be replaced by the Certificate of Inheritance, provided that it is accompanied by a recent certificate confirming that it has not been revoked, annulled, amended, or withdrawn.

Tax Clearance Requirements:

Where the amount to be released exceeds EUR 1,500, a certificate pursuant to article 105 issued by the competent Tax Office is required, certifying that:

• the relevant inheritance tax return has been filed; and
• the inheritance tax due has been paid; or
• no tax liability has arisen.

The inheritance tax return must be digitally validated through the myProperty platform, bearing a certification that no tax is due, and must be accompanied by a solemn declaration (statutory declaration) by the heir(s) stating that the information contained in the said inheritance tax return has not been modified.

The declaration must bear:

• certification of the authenticity of the signature by a competent authority, or
• a digital authentication of the signature.

Where the amount to be released exceeds EUR 40,000, in lieu of the certificate of non‑renunciation of inheritance and the certificate of non‑publication of a will, the following additional documents are required:

• Court Order issued by the Court of First Instance in the jurisdiction where the deceased had his/her residence at the time of death, certifying the heirs’ inheritance rights;
• certificate issued by the Clerk of the Court of First Instance in the same jurisdiction, certifying that the above Court Order / Certificate of Inheritance has not been revoked, amended, withdrawn, or declared invalid (to be issued after the lapse of twenty (20) days from the publication of the Court Order/ Certificate of Inheritance).

 

 

* 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.