Greece to implement major inheritance and succession law reforms

Greece is implementing significant legislative changes to inheritance and succession laws, set to take effect in September 2026. Introduced by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, the new framework aims to simplify the process for public wills, enhance the rights of surviving spouses and partners, and provide greater protection for heirs against substantial inherited debts.

Key reforms include the ability for individuals aged 16 to draft wills, stricter controls on handwritten wills, and a requirement for two witnesses for secret wills. In cases of intestate succession, the share for a surviving spouse will increase to one-third if there is one child, and remain at one-fourth if there are multiple children. Additionally, heirs can now request their share in cash rather than being forced into co-ownership of real estate.

A transitional provision allows heirs of individuals who passed away before May 22, 2026, to request an inventory of the estate by November 22, 2026, to protect personal assets from inherited debts.

Separately, local water and sewage authorities, such as D.E.Y.A. Alexandroupoli, are enforcing stricter debt collection measures under Law 5314/2026. This includes a mandatory 50% fine for debts unpaid for over six months and the transfer of such debts to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue for compulsory collection.