Greek Inheritance Lawyer

We are well aware that the passing away of a loved one already entails enough trouble, and our task is to avoid adding to it. Therefore, we are used to acting promptly, sensitively and carefully to avoid adding worry to an already delicate moment.

We understand from professional experience the problems that can arise at such a difficult time, and we can also guide you in creating a binding will that truly represents and enforces your last wishes, whether it is a handwritten will, a notarized will, or a secret will.

No matter where you are located or reside, we will help you deal with any matter related to Greek inheritance law and the complexities of acquiring an inheritance in Greece. We have been handling inheritance law in Greece for 20 years and have really strong experience in the field.

These are only a handful of examples of what can surface once someone actually looks. The point is not that every case involves all of this, it is that you usually cannot tell which of these problems apply to your case until a lawyer checks, and by the time you find out, a legal deadline may already be running. This is the point where legal advice becomes necessary rather than optional.

When You Actually Need a Greek Inheritance Lawyer

Some inheritance cases are genuinely straightforward: a single heir, a clear and uncontested will, no property, no debts. Most cross-border cases are not that simple, and the cost of getting something wrong, or missing a deadline, is usually far higher than most people expect.

Turning to a Greek inheritance lawyer for legal representation is particularly helpful if:

• You live outside Greece and cannot easily deal with Greek authorities, notaries, or courts in person
• You do not speak or read Greek, and every relevant office, notary, and court operates in Greek
• You are unsure whether a will exists, or whether one that does exist is legally valid
• The estate includes real estate, and the title needs to be traced, verified, and registered in your name
• Other heirs disagree about the estate, contest a will, or have already taken possession of assets
• You do not know the full extent of the deceased’s assets, including any debts, in Greece
• You are approaching the deadline to accept or renounce the inheritance and are not sure which option protects you
• You are not sure what to do next, and would rather confirm you are handling things correctly than find out later that a step was missed
• You want to prepare a valid will in Greece now, to make things easier for your own heirs later

What Happens Once You Instruct Us

The exact steps depend on whether an inheritance is ultimately accepted, renounced, or contested, but most cases we handle from abroad follow a similar sequence:

1. Initial review. We review the available information, including your relationship to the deceased and what is known about the estate, and advise you on what is involved and what the case is likely to require.
2. Power of attorney. You sign a power of attorney, typically before a notary, lawyer, or Greek consulate in your own country, so we can act on your behalf in Greece without requiring your physical presence.
3. Fact-finding. We locate and verify the deceased’s assets in Greece, including real estate and bank accounts, and check for any existing will, debts, or encumbrances that could affect the decision to accept or renounce.
4. Deciding whether to accept or renounce. Based on what we find, we advise you on whether accepting is in your interest, or whether renouncing the inheritance is the safer course, particularly where the estate may carry more debt than value.
5. If you accept, we prepare and execute the Acceptance of Inheritance Deed before a Greek notary, obtain the certificate of inheritance, and register the transfer at the competent Land Registry or Cadastre.
6. If you renounce, we file the renunciation of the inheritance with the competent court within the applicable deadline, so the inheritance passes to the next heirs in line rather than to you.
7. Tax and next steps. Once the inheritance is registered, we handle the inheritance tax filing on your behalf. If you later decide to sell rather than keep the property, we can also guide you through selling inherited property in Greece.

Timelines vary considerably. An uncontested case with clear documentation can often be completed within a matter of months, while a disputed estate or one involving untraced assets can take considerably longer. We provide a realistic estimate once we understand the specific case.

Handling a Greek Inheritance from Outside Greece

Handling a Greek inheritance case from outside Greece is common, not unusual, and the process is built around it. Once you decide to proceed, you sign a power of attorney authorizing us to act on your behalf in Greece. This can usually be done at a Greek consulate serving your area, or before a local notary in your own country, in which case the document typically needs an apostille and a certified Greek translation before it can be used in Greece. We can guide you through whichever option is more practical for you

Any documents you provide that are not already in Greek, such as a death certificate or proof of your relationship to the deceased, will need a certified translation before they can be submitted to Greek authorities. We arrange this as part of the process.

In most cases, we take care of the entire process without you needing to travel to Greece, including matters that become contested. Correspondence, document review, and instructions are handled over video call, phone, and email throughout. Where your specific situation calls for anything different, we will tell you as part of our initial review.

Documents You’ll Need to Provide

To start, we typically need:

• A death certificate, apostilled if issued outside Greece
• Proof of your relationship to the deceased, such as a family status or next-of-kin certificate
• Your identification documents
• Any will, or information about a will, if one is known to exist
• Any documents you already have relating to the deceased’s property or accounts in Greece

If any of this is missing at the outset, that is normal. Locating and verifying these documents is part of what we do for you.

Legal Fees for a Greek Inheritance Case

It is not possible to state a fixed price for a Greek inheritance case without first reviewing the specific circumstances. The cost depends on a number of variables, including how many heirs are involved, whether a will exists and whether its validity is disputed, how many properties or accounts make up the estate, whether the Land Registry records are current, and whether the matter can be resolved cooperatively or requires litigation.

Because of this, we begin every case with a review of the available information before quoting a fee. Once we understand what a case actually involves, we provide a clear quote before any further work begins.

* The information on this site is provided for the sole purpose of illustrating the subject matter. It in no way constitutes legal advice nor a substitute for individual legal advice provided by counsel. Each case is unique, presents unique circumstances, and should be evaluated in detail by an attorney who will verify its specific circumstances.