Wills in Greece: What Foreign Residents with Property in Greece Should Know

For expatriates or foreign nationals residing abroad who own real estate in Greece, planning for the future of their property after death is a significant and responsible step. Drafting a will is the safest legal tool to ensure that assets are transferred according to the testator’s wishes. In Greece, the most secure and commonly used form is the public will, which is executed before a notary.

What is a Public Will?

A public will is an official type of will drafted by a notary in Greece, in the presence of three witnesses. The testator states their wishes to the notary, who records the contents in an official notarial act.

The procedure involves the following steps:
The testator, who owns real estate in Greece, contacts a notary of their choice, either directly or through their legal representative. The notary prepares the will based on the testator’s instructions.
The final text is read aloud in the presence of the testator and three witnesses (or, in cases requiring confidentiality, in the presence of the notary and one trusted associate).
The testator, the notary, and the witnesses then sign the will

It is important to emphasize that the public will is safely stored in the notary’s archives and registered in the Special Registry of Wills, which is maintained electronically by the Hellenic Notary Association. The will is not opened or disclosed during the testator’s lifetime.

What Happens After the Testator’s Death?

Following the death of the testator: The will is searched for by relatives or the testator’s legal representative in the Special Registry of Wills; It is opened and published by an act of the Court of First Instance in the relevant jurisdiction (typically where the death occurred); It is filed with the Land Registry or the Cadastre Office for the official registration of the inheritance; The corresponding inheritance tax procedure follows.

Foreign residents should not rely solely on a will made in their country of residence.
The will must comply with Greek law and must explicitly refer to the property located in Greece. Ideally, a separate will should be drafted in Greece concerning the Greek real estate.

Creating a will through a Greek notary is a safe, legal, and transparent process for the proper transfer of assets.
For residents abroad, it is the only guaranteed way to ensure that their property in Greece will be inherited by the relatives they choose — without disputes, delays, or legal complications.