Greece’s New Inheritance Law 2026: What Expats and Foreign Property Owners Need to Know

Kyveli Zahou
May 25
7 min read

Greece has introduced the most important inheritance law reform in decades. Law 5303/2026, published in the Government Gazette on 22 May 2026, modernizes major parts of Greek inheritance law and changes how wills, heirs, partners, estate debts and inherited property are handled.

For Greek expats abroad, foreign nationals living in Greece, mixed-nationality families, and anyone who owns or has inherited property in Greece, this is not a legal update to ignore.

The new Greek inheritance law affects practical questions such as:

Can a handwritten will still be used?

Who inherits Greek property if there is no will?

What rights does a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner have?

Can children or close relatives still challenge a will?

Is an heir personally responsible for the deceased’s debts?

What happens if the heir lives abroad?

The main reforms apply to inheritance cases where the deceased dies on or after 16 September 2026.

Here are the changes that matter most for expats, foreign heirs and owners of Greek property.

Why Greece changed its inheritance law

The official purpose of the reform is to adapt Greek inheritance law to modern social and economic conditions.

In real life, this was overdue.

Greek inheritance cases often involve property, family tension and paperwork spread across several countries. A parent may live in Greece, while the children live in London, Melbourne or New York. A handwritten will may appear years after death. A surviving partner may have lived with the deceased for decades but have no clear protection. Heirs may be afraid to accept a Greek property because they do not know whether it comes with debts.

The new law tries to make the system clearer, more secure and more realistic for modern families.

For expats, the key message is simple: Greek inheritance law is now more flexible, but proper planning and correct procedure matter more than ever.

1. Handwritten wills are still valid — but they need careful handling

Handwritten wills, known in Greek as ιδιόγραφες διαθήκες, are not abolished.

A handwritten will is still valid if it is written entirely by hand by the testator, dated and signed. The date must show the day, month and year.

However, the new system places more emphasis on proper publication and proof after death. Anyone who holds a handwritten will must present it to a notary for publication without undue delay once they learn of the death. Wills are now published through the electronic Wills Registry kept by the notarial associations.

This is especially important for expats. A handwritten will kept in a drawer in Australia, Canada, the UK or the US may be valid in theory, but difficult in practice if nobody can find it or family members question its authenticity.

Practical point: handwritten wills remain legal, but for people with Greek property and international families, a notarial will is often safer.

2. Wills abroad, Greek consulates and non-Greek speakers

Many Greek inheritance cases begin outside Greece. The deceased may have lived abroad, the heirs may live abroad, or the will itself may be held outside Greece.

The new law recognises this. If a will is held by a Greek consular authority, the consular authority must publish it after learning of the death. A person living abroad who holds a handwritten will may also present it to the Greek consular authority for publication.

This can make the first step easier for Greek expats and foreign heirs.

The reform also gives clearer protection to people who do not speak Greek. If the notary finds that the testator does not know Greek, or if the testator says they do not know Greek, an interpreter must be appointed. The interpreter must translate the deed before signature into the language used by the testator.

This matters for foreign nationals who live in Greece or own Greek property. A will is not a formality. It decides who receives your assets after death.

Practical point: if the will or heirs are abroad, consular help may be useful, but Greek property still requires Greek legal follow-through. If you are not fluent in Greek, use a proper interpreted notarial process.

3. Spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners

The new law changes the rights of surviving spouses where there is no will.

If the deceased leaves a spouse and one child, the spouse now inherits one third of the estate. If there are two or more children, the spouse receives one quarter.

This matters because Greek estates are often property-heavy. One apartment, one family home or one plot of land may be the main asset. A change in percentages can affect who controls the property, whether it can be sold and how easily the family can settle the estate.

Civil partners under a σύμφωνο συμβίωσης also receive stronger protection and are treated much more closely to spouses.

The law also recognises, in limited cases, rights for a person who lived with the deceased in a stable unmarried relationship. This may apply where there is no spouse and the couple lived together for at least the last three years before death, or in certain cases involving common children.

This does not mean every partner automatically inherits. Proof may be needed. Shared residence, bills, tax records, children, witnesses and other evidence may become important.

Practical point: if your spouse or partner should inherit Greek property, do not rely on assumptions. Put it clearly in a valid will.

4. Forced heirship becomes mainly a money claim

Greek law protects certain close family members through forced heirship, known as νόμιμη μοίρα.

Under the new framework, descendants, parents and the surviving spouse may have a forced-heirship claim. But that claim is now mainly a monetary claim, equal to half the value of the intestate share.

This is a major change for Greek property inheritance.

In the past, inheritance disputes often created unwanted co-ownership. Several heirs could end up owning small percentages of the same apartment, house or land. That made it difficult to sell, rent, renovate or manage the property.

The new monetary approach may reduce these deadlocks. A will may leave a Greek property to one person, while protected heirs may claim money instead of automatically becoming co-owners.

This does not remove forced heirship. It changes how it usually works.

Practical point: if your main asset is Greek real estate, your will should be reviewed under the new rules.

5. Inheritance contracts are introduced

The reform introduces inheritance contracts upon death.

A person may now enter into a notarial inheritance contract to appoint an heir, make a legacy, impose obligations or choose the applicable law for their succession. These contracts must be made before a notary with the personal presence of the parties.

This may be useful in more complex family situations, such as family businesses, second marriages, children from different relationships, Greek property managed by one family member, or families spread across different countries.

Inheritance contracts are powerful because important parts are not freely revocable like an ordinary will.

Practical point: inheritance contracts may become a useful planning tool, but they should only be used with careful legal advice.

6. Heirs get better protection from estate debts

This is one of the most practical changes for heirs living abroad.

Under the new law, an heir does not automatically become personally liable with their own assets for the debts of the estate, unless they choose to freely manage and dispose of the estate or act in a way that increases their liability.

This is good news for heirs who worry about unpaid taxes, loans, business debts or unknown liabilities.

But the protection is not a license to act carelessly. If an heir mishandles estate assets, sells or transfers them improperly, or reduces the estate’s value through fault, consequences may follow.

Practical point: before selling, renting, emptying or transferring Greek estate property, check the inheritance, debt and tax position.

7. Expats must watch the renunciation deadline

If you do not want a Greek inheritance, you may need to renounce it formally.

The general deadline is four months from the moment the heir learns of the inheritance and the reason they are called to inherit. But if the deceased had their last residence abroad, or if the heir lived abroad when the deadline began, the deadline is one year.

This rule is critical for Greek expats and foreign heirs.

Living abroad does not mean you can ignore the estate. Missing a deadline can create expensive problems, especially where there are debts, co-heirs, tax issues or disputed property.

Practical point: if you receive notice of a Greek inheritance, get advice early. The deadline may be longer for expats, but it is not endless.

What expats and foreign property owners should do now

The new law does not mean every existing will is invalid. But many wills and inheritance plans should now be reviewed.

This is especially true if you have Greek real estate, heirs living in different countries, a spouse or partner who is not Greek, children from different relationships, an unmarried partner, a handwritten will, a foreign will mentioning Greek assets, possible estate debts, or a family business, rental property or land in Greece.

A proper review should answer three questions:

Does the will still work under the new rules?

Does it protect the people you actually want to protect?

Will it be easy to enforce in Greece after death?

If the answer is unclear, the file needs attention.

Greek inheritance problems are rarely just legal problems. They are legal, tax, property, family and paperwork problems at the same time. Add distance and foreign documents, and the mess gets expensive fast.

Final takeaway

Greece’s new inheritance law changes the landscape for wills, spouses, partners, forced heirship, estate debts and Greek property.

For Greek expats, foreign residents and overseas heirs, the message is simple:

Do not rely on old advice.

Do not rely on assumptions.

Do not rely on a handwritten will nobody can find.

If you own property in Greece, expect to inherit Greek property, or have family members abroad connected to a Greek estate, now is the right time to review your succession plan.

Need help with Greek inheritance or property matters?

At ExpatLaw.gr, we assist Greek expats, foreign residents, international families and overseas heirs with Greek inheritance planning, wills, probate, property transfers, inheritance disputes and cross-border estate issues.

Contact us before a Greek inheritance problem becomes a Greek inheritance dispute.