Greek inheritance law distinguishes between four types of will of equal rank: the holographic will, the public will, the secret will, and the extraordinary will.
The Holographic Will (Art. 1721 ZGB)
It must be handwritten in its entirety, dated with the day, month, and year, and signed by hand – this allows the court to compare the handwriting to verify authenticity. Notarial deposit is possible (Art. 1722 ZGB) but not mandatory; the testator may demand its return at any time without this being regarded as a revocation. Anyone in possession of such a will must, under Art. 1774 ZGB, submit it without delay to the competent court of first instance (Protodikio) for it to be opened, as soon as they learn of the testator’s death; a record must be prepared of the opening (Art. 1771 ZGB). Publication is now registered on the electronic justice portal solon.gov.gr.
The Public Will (Arts. 1724 et seq. ZGB)
The testator makes their declaration orally before a notary and three witnesses (or two notaries and one witness); the notary records it in writing. Execution is completed once the testator signs the deed (Art. 1730 ZGB); the notary, witnesses, and testator must be known to one another, and all parties must be present throughout. If the testator does not speak Greek, an interpreter must be engaged.
The Secret Will (Art. 1738 ZGB)
The testator hands the notary a document in the presence of three witnesses (or a second notary and one witness) and declares orally that it contains their last will. It is deemed executed upon signature of the notarial deed (Arts. 1743, 1733 ZGB) and may be revoked by the testator at any time.
The Extraordinary Will
This can only be made under special circumstances and has only limited validity in time: as a will at sea (Arts. 1749, 1751 ZGB, an oral declaration reduced to writing before two witnesses), as a will on campaign (Art. 1753 ZGB, an oral declaration before an officer in the presence of another officer or two witnesses), or as a will in isolation (Art. 1757 ZGB, in the event of an outbreak of disease or other exceptional circumstances, made before, among others, a notary, judge, mayor, police officer, or hospital director). It lapses under Art. 1758 § 1 ZGB if three months have passed since the end of the special circumstances and the testator is still alive.
Administrative Procedures and Tax Handling after the Will Is Opened
After the court opens the will, the tax deadline begins to run for the testamentary heirs: the inheritance tax return must be filed electronically via the AADE’s myPROPERTY platform within six months of the will being opened (twelve months if the heir is resident abroad). Only after electronic clearance by the tax office and payment of any inheritance tax due can real estate be re-registered or the deceased’s bank accounts be released.
FAQ
Greek inheritance law recognises several types of will of equal rank: the holographic will, the public will, the secret will and – only in special situations – the extraordinary (emergency) will. Since the 2026 reform, succession can additionally be regulated by a notarial inheritance contract.
Under the previous law, joint wills are not permitted. For deaths on or after 16 September 2026, a joint testamentary act may be valid as an inheritance contract if the requirements for such a contract are met (in particular notarial form); otherwise it remains void.
Under Art. 1721 Greek Civil Code, the will must be:
• written entirely by hand by the testator,
• dated with day, month and year,
• signed by hand.
The handwriting allows the court to verify authenticity by comparison. A typed or computer-written will is not a valid holographic will.
Deposit with a notary is possible but not mandatory (Art. 1722 Greek Civil Code). The testator may request its return at any time without this being regarded as a revocation. Under the reformed law, the testator must deposit the will with the notary in person.
Under the reformed law, minors aged 16 and over may make a will, but expressly not a holographic will; they are limited to the notarial forms.
Anyone in possession of a holographic will must submit it without delay for publication as soon as he or she learns of the testator's death. Under the previous law, this is done before the competent court of first instance (Protodikio) (Art. 1774 Greek Civil Code), which records the opening (Art. 1771 Greek Civil Code); publication is registered on the electronic justice portal solon.gov.gr. Under the reformed law, wills are published by a notary and registered in the new electronic Wills Register; wills held by Greek consular authorities can also be published abroad.
Yes. For deaths on or after 16 September 2026, a holographic will made by a resident of a health or social-care facility is void insofar as it benefits the facility, persons connected with it or their relatives (statutory heirs are excepted). In addition, an unpublished holographic will that benefits neither descendants nor the spouse requires authentication before it takes effect, and it has no effect if it is published more than two years after the death.
The testator declares his or her last will orally before a notary, who records it in writing (Arts. 1724 et seq. Greek Civil Code). The will is executed once the testator signs the deed (Art. 1730 Greek Civil Code). All participants must be present throughout.
Under the previous law, three witnesses (or a second notary and one witness) are required. For wills under the reformed law, two witnesses are sufficient.
Yes. If the testator does not speak Greek, an interpreter must be engaged to translate the declaration and the deed before signing.
The testator hands the notary a document and declares orally, in the presence of witnesses, that it contains his or her last will (Art. 1738 Greek Civil Code). The content therefore remains secret. The will is deemed executed upon signature of the notarial deed (Arts. 1743, 1733 Greek Civil Code) and may be revoked by the testator at any time. Under the reformed law, two witnesses are sufficient here as well.
Only in special circumstances. Under the previous law, the following forms exist:
• will at sea (Arts. 1749, 1751 Greek Civil Code): oral declaration, recorded in writing, before two witnesses,
• will on campaign (Art. 1753 Greek Civil Code): oral declaration before an officer in the presence of another officer or two witnesses,
• will in isolation (Art. 1757 Greek Civil Code): in the event of an epidemic or other exceptional circumstances, before, among others, a notary, judge, mayor, police officer or hospital director.
The reform consolidates these forms into a single emergency will: in imminent danger of death, the testator may declare his or her last will orally before three witnesses; one witness records it in writing and all sign it.
It lapses if three months have passed since the end of the special circumstances (previous law, Art. 1758 § 1 Greek Civil Code) or since it was made (reformed law) and the testator is still alive.
Since 16 September 2026, Greek law allows – for the first time – inheritance contracts. In a contract concluded before a notary with all parties personally present, a person can appoint an heir, make legacies, impose conditions or choose the applicable law. Unlike a will, the binding provisions cannot be revoked unilaterally (except, for example, in the event of misconduct by the beneficiary). Inheritance contracts are particularly useful for family businesses and blended families.
The tax deadline begins to run for the testamentary heirs: the inheritance tax return must be filed electronically via the AADE's myPROPERTY platform within six months of the opening of the will (twelve months if the heir is resident abroad). Only after electronic clearance by the tax office and payment of any inheritance tax due can real estate be re-registered or the deceased's bank accounts be released.
As of June 2026. All information on these pages is provided without guarantee or liability.