Greece implements new inheritance laws and debt protections

New inheritance regulations in Greece, introduced by Law 5303/2026, take effect on September 16, 2026. These changes represent a significant shift in Greek private law, affecting how property is transferred, how debts are handled, and how succession is planned.

A major update involves the protection of heirs from the deceased's debts. Heirs are no longer automatically liable with their personal assets for the obligations of an estate; instead, creditors can primarily only pursue the value of the inherited assets. However, this protection may be lost if an heir manages the estate freely or disposes of assets in violation of the new rules. The law also introduces judicial liquidation to manage estates and debts as a separate entity.

For the first time, Greek law recognizes inheritance contracts, allowing for bilateral agreements made via notary to plan succession in advance. This differs from a will, which is a unilateral act. Additionally, the law introduces contracts for the prior renunciation of inheritance rights and updates the rights of surviving spouses and partners in non-marital unions.