Athens | 20 October 2025 — Greece is launching a major modernization of its succession framework. A new statute, widely referenced as Law 5221/2025, introduces structural reforms to wills, intestate succession, probate logistics, and digital processes. Several provisions commence on 1 November 2025, with additional measures rolling out under transitional rules into 2026.
Below we highlight the practical take-aways for heirs and testators—especially members of the Greek diaspora with assets or family in Greece.
1) Faster, digital publication of wills
From 1 November 2025, Greece is deploying a national digital platform for filing and publishing wills. The aim is to compress timelines that often stretched into many months (or more) down to days, reduce court bottlenecks, and route more tasks to notaries with standardized electronic workflows. Early guidance indicates publication may occur in about a week once the new flow applies.
Scope & transition. Authorities and professional bodies have flagged phased implementation and coverage for already pending wills via targeted legislative adjustments. Certain downstream modules (e.g., certificates of inheritance) have staggered effective dates into 2026; your advisor should confirm which date applies to your matter.
Why it matters for the diaspora. Faster publication reduces delays in accessing Greek bank accounts, real estate management, and tax compliance when you live abroad.
2) Substantive changes to succession rules
Law 5221/2025 also introduces notable substantive updates:
Spousal share uplift in intestacy. In estates without a will but with descendants, the surviving spouse’s fractional share rises (reported at roughly one-third), aligning the surviving spouse’s protection more closely with European practice. Details and final ratios are set by statute; consult counsel for precise allocation in your family constellation.
New planning tools and streamlining around “legal share.” Commentary on the law notes a re-shaping of Greece’s forced-heirship (νόμιμη μοίρα) mechanics and the introduction of enhanced planning options (e.g., agreements with future heirs in defined scenarios), aiming to limit fragmented co-ownership of property and ease buy-outs among heirs. Expect implementing guidance and notarial practice notes to clarify boundaries.
Debts and heir protection. Policy communications emphasize reducing forced disclaimers caused by decedents’ debts and making liability rules clearer (e.g., stronger emphasis on estate assets satisfying estate debts). Watch for ministerial circulars that specify procedures.
Important: Several of these substantive reforms are paired with transitional provisions to avoid disrupting pending cases; exact application dates can differ by topic (procedural vs. substantive).
3) Practical effects if you live outside Greece
Tax filing deadlines. If a beneficiary resides abroad, the inheritance-tax statement is generally due within 12 months of the death (or, if there is a will, from the date the will is formally opened/published). Beneficiaries resident in Greece typically have 6 months. The new digital steps affect procedure, not these core deadlines—plan accordingly.
Bank accounts & property access. Expect banks and land registries to pivot to digital proof of will publication and to standardized notarial outputs as they become available under the platform. This should make remote handling (with apostilled powers of attorney) more practical.
4) What you should do now
Audit your Greek nexus. List Greek real estate, bank holdings, shares, and family business interests; identify co-owners and mortgages/charges.
Update your estate plan. If you rely on an older Greek will—or no will—review whether the spousal share uplift and any refinements to forced heirship affect your wishes.
Prepare for digital probate. Ensure your executor/notarial representative can access the new platform and holds a robust Greek power of attorney (with apostille, if signed abroad).
Mind the tax clock. If you live outside Greece, calendar the 12-month inheritance-tax filing window the moment a death occurs—and budget for valuations and translations.
5) Key dates at a glance
1 November 2025 — Launch of Greece’s digital will-publication system; notaries assume expanded roles; new workflows begin.
Into 2026 — Staged activation for related probate modules (e.g., certificates of inheritance) and detailed procedural circulars. Verify applicability to your case.
How our Athens-based international team can help
Our cross-border Private Client & Inheritance team advises Greek and non-Greek nationals worldwide on:
Coordinated Greek and foreign wills under EU 650/2012
Forced-heirship planning and spousal/descendant protections under Law 5221/2025
Probate & notarial procedures via the new digital platform
Inheritance-tax filings and property title transfers for heirs abroad
Banking, land registry, and power-of-attorney logistics for remote execution
Questions about how the 1 November 2025 changes affect your family? We offer tailored reviews of existing plans and probate strategies for clients across the Greek diaspora.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific circumstances, please contact our team.
