SERVICE - GREECE

Recognition of Foreign Decisions in Greece

Divorces, adoptions and name-change decisions issued abroad do not reach the Greek registers on their own. We obtain their recognition and have them entered.

AT A GLANCE

What we handle

Recognition of foreign divorce, adoption and name-change decisions, and their registration

Where

The Single-Member Court of First Instance, the Special Registry and the municipal roll

How

Remotely, through a special power of attorney to a lawyer

First step

A free review of the decision and the certificates that accompany it

Cost

A written estimate before any work begins

Why it matters

The decision exists, but for the Greek registers it never happened

A divorce, an adoption or a name change granted abroad produces its effects there. In Greece, however, the registry and the municipal roll continue to show the old position until the decision is recognised and entered.

That has practical consequences: you cannot marry again in Greece, settle an inheritance or
complete a citizenship file while the registers show details that differ from the documents you
produce.

WHAT WE HANDLE

What we handle

Divorce decisions

Recognition of the foreign divorce and its entry on the Greek marriage record.

Name changes

Recognition of decisions changing a given name or surname, so that your details are the same everywhere.

Filing the application

Drafting and filing the application with the competent court, and appearing at the hearing.

Adoptions

Recognition of the foreign adoption and its reflection in the Greek registers, including the effect on the surname.

Checking the certificates

Confirming that the decision is final and carries the apostille and the certificates required.

Registration & updating

After the decision, the Special Registry, the local registry and the municipal roll are updated.

THE CASES

When a hearing is needed and when it is not

Divorces from an EU country

Recognized without a Greek court decision. The certificate under Regulation 2019/1111 is required for decisions issued from 1 August 2022, and under Regulation 2201/2003 for earlier ones

Divorces from a third country

For decisions from outside the EU, such as the United States, Canada or Australia, recognition of the judgment by the Single-Member Court of First Instance is required

Adoptions & name changes

These are non-contentious decisions and as a rule take effect automatically. In practice, however, the administration often asks for a declaratory decision of a Greek court before entering them.

WHEN YOU NEED IT

Common situations

You divorced abroad and in Greece you still appear as married.
You want to remarry and are asked to have the earlier divorce recognized.
You adopted a child abroad and the adoption is not reflected in Greece.
You changed your name or surname by a decision of a foreign court.
An inheritance case is pending and the family status details do not match.
You are preparing a citizenship file and the authority asks for the recognition first.

How the procedure works

1

Checking the decision

We examine whether it is final, which law was applied and what certificates accompany it.

2

The complete file

We gather the apostille, the certificates and the official translations.

3

Filing

We file the application with the competent Single-Member Court, in non-contentious proceedings.

4

Hearing & decision

We appear at the hearing and obtain the decision together with the certificate that it is final.

5

Registration

The change is entered in the registry books and the municipal roll is updated.

WHAT TO SEND US

Documents that help

Whatever is missing from Cyprus, we trace it for you.

The foreign decision, an official copy with apostille
Confirmation that the decision is final
The certificate under the Regulation, if the decision was issued in an EU country
The Greek marriage or birth record, if one exists
A copy of your passport

TIME & COST

A written estimate before we start

Decisions from an EU country are entered quickly, because no hearing is required. For the rest, the time depends on the hearing date set by the competent court.

After the free review you receive a written fee estimate. Court costs, fees, apostilles and translations are listed separately.

QUESTIONS

About recognition of decisions

Is a hearing needed for my divorce?

It depends on the country. If the decision was issued in an EU member state, it is recognised without a Greek court decision, on the strength of the certificate provided by the Regulation. If it was issued in a third country, an application to the Single-Member Court of First Instance is required for the judgment to be recognised

Which court is competent?

The Single-Member Court of First Instance of the applicant’s domicile or residence. For those living abroad, the competent court is the Court of First Instance of Athens.

Do I have to attend?

No. Under a special power of attorney we appear at every stage, from filing to receiving the decision

Does a foreign adoption apply automatically?

As a non-contentious decision it generally produces its effects without fresh proceedings. In practice, though, the authorities often ask for a declaratory decision of a Greek court before entering it in the registers, and we then obtain one.

What happens after the decision?

The change is entered on the registry record and the municipal roll is updated. From that point the Greek documents show the correct family status.

Is there a deadline?

No, recognition can be sought at any time. It does, however, hold up other matters, which is why it is usually done before a new marriage, an inheritance case or a citizenship application.

SERVICE - GREECE

Recognition of Foreign Decisions in Greece

AT A GLANCE

What we handle

Where

How

First step

Cost

Why it matters

The decision exists, but for the Greek registers it never happened

WHAT WE HANDLE

What we handle

Divorce decisions

Name changes

Filing the application

Adoptions

Checking the certificates

Registration & updating

THE CASES

When a hearing is needed and when it is not

WHEN YOU NEED IT

Common situations

How the procedure works

1

Checking the decision

2

The complete file

3

Filing

4

Hearing & decision

5

Registration

WHAT TO SEND US

Documents that help

TIME & COST

A written estimate before we start

QUESTIONS

About recognition of decisions

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