05.
Inheritance Law
Acceptance of Inheritance: Under Greek Inheritance Law, the rightful heirs of a deceased individual are determined either by the provisions outlined in the deceased’s Will or, in the absence of a Will, by the rules of intestate succession. These rules prioritize heirs based on their degree of kinship to the deceased. Read more...
When the inheritance includes real estate, the heir must formally accept the inheritance through an Acceptance of Inheritance Deed, which is executed in the presence of a lawyer, or before the Notary Public. Following this, the deed must be registered with the appropriate Land Registry to complete the transfer of ownership.
Renunciation of Inheritance: If the deceased has left debts exceeding the overall value of inheritance, the heir has the option to renounce the inheritance. According to Greek Inheritance Law, the renunciation must be made within four months from the date the heir became aware of the death. Read more...
If the deceased left a Will, this four-month period begins from the date the Will is probated. However, if the deceased resided abroad or the heir lives outside Greece, the deadline is extended
to one year.
By renouncing the inheritance, the heir fully waives their rights to the estate, including any assets and liabilities. It is not possible to accept only the assets (e.g. a property) while rejecting the debts. Additionally, once the renunciation is finalized, it cannot be revoked.