Greek Inheritance Law: Your Essential Guide & FAQs for Greek & Cypriot Citizens

Alt title: A caring adult hand holding a child’s hand

Alt Description: Greek law provides special protections for minor children in cases of inheritance, especially when debts are involved

What is an inheritance in Greece?

Under the Greek Inheritance Law, an inheritance is the estate (assets and liabilities) one acquires as an heir following the death of another person (the deceased). It can be transferred either by Greek will or by law (intestate succession).

What happens if there is a will?

The deceased may determine, through a last will and testament, how their property will be distributed after death. Depending on the type of will (holographic, public, or secret), it must be recognized as unique, principal, and valid for the Greek heirs to lawfully accept the inheritance.

What if the deceased left no will?

If there is no will, inheritance in Greece follows the rules of intestate succession, meaning the closest relatives inherit a portion of the estate according to their degree of kinship with the deceased.

My spouse passed away. What share of the estate am I entitled to?

If there is no will and inheritance occurs intestate, the surviving spouse is entitled to ½ (one-half) of the estate if there are no children. If there are children, they inherit ¾ (three-fourths) of the estate, and the spouse inherits the remaining ¼ (one-fourth).

What if the inheritance consists only of debts? Do I still inherit them?

Once an heir becomes aware of the death and the reason they are entitled to inherit, they have a four-month deadline to renounce the inheritance. If the heir fails to renounce within this period, they automatically become an heir and may be liable for both assets and liabilities.

If I renounce my Greek inheritance, will my children be required to do the same?

Yes. The right to renounce inheritance in Greece passes to the descendants of the renouncing heir. Therefore, if you renounce, your children may inherit in your place, especially if the inheritance is debt-laden. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to renounce on behalf of minor children through a court-authorized parental application.

Is there another way to be protected from inheriting debt in Greece?

Yes. An heir can accept the inheritance with the benefit of inventory (beneficium inventarii). This means that the heir accepts the inheritance, but is only liable for the inherited debts of the estate up to the value of its assets. They are not personally liable beyond the value of the inherited property.

How are minor children protected from a debt-laden inheritance?

Minors automatically inherit the benefit of the inventory. However, they must conduct an inventory of the estate within one year of reaching legal adulthood. If they fail to do so, they lose this protection and become personally liable. Therefore, renouncing the inheritance on behalf of minors is the safest course of action.