Greece is overhauling its inheritance law. After several months of work, the Ministry of Justice has published a Draft Law entitled "Reform of Inheritance Law and Related Provisions", which modernises the succession law framework and aligns it with contemporary economic and social realities. The reform replaces the Fifth Book of the Greek Civil Code — the core body of Greek inheritance law — and is expected to be enacted within the coming months.
The Draft Law introduces far-reaching amendments. Most notably, it creates inheritance contracts, enabling advance waivers of future inheritance rights - overhauls intestate succession, and fundamentally revises forced heirship provisions.
We are currently conducting a thorough analysis of the Draft Law and will follow up with a comprehensive publication addressing each area of reform in detail.
Two developments stand out as particularly relevant for cross-border estate planning:
Greece abolishes the 25-year rule for Greek nationals abroad: Article 7 of the Draft Law repeals Article 21 of Law 1738/1987. Currently, Greek nationals residing abroad for at least 25 consecutive years before death are exempt from Greek forced heirship rules when disposing of foreign-situs assets. This exemption will no longer apply. Existing wills that rely on this rule may need urgent review.
Inheritance contracts may reinforce joint accounts held abroad: The new inheritance contracts framework could further strengthen the legal standing of joint accounts and joint investment accounts maintained outside Greece, where foreign law applies. We will analyse this interplay in our forthcoming publication.
The Draft Law is currently under public consultation, which closes on 20 April 2026. Stakeholders may contribute their views before enactment.
This is the first in a series of publications we will issue as the legislative process unfolds. We will monitor developments closely and provide in-depth analysis on each significant topic. Stay tuned.