What Documents Are Needed to Claim Inheritance in Greece?

Claiming a Greek inheritance requires assembling a specific set of documents that prove who the deceased was, who the legal heirs are, and what the estate consists of. The exact list varies depending on your specific family situation, but there is a core set of documents that nearly every inheritance case requires, along with additional documents triggered by specific circumstances.

The Death Certificate

The starting point for any Greek inheritance case is the official Greek death certificate, known in Greek as the Lixiarhiki Praxi Thanatou. If the deceased passed away in Greece, this is issued by the local civil registry in the municipality where the death occurred. If they passed away abroad, a death certificate issued by the relevant foreign authority must be apostilled and officially translated into Greek before it can be used in Greek proceedings.

Certificate of Next of Kin

This document, known as the Pistopoiitiko Oikogeniakis Katastasis, is issued by the Greek municipal registry and officially identifies the surviving family members of the deceased. It establishes who the legal heirs are under Greek law and is one of the most important documents in the inheritance process. It must be obtained from the municipality where the deceased was registered as a Greek citizen.

The Will, If One Exists

If the deceased left a will, it must be formally published and probated before it can be acted upon. Under Greece's reformed inheritance law which took effect in November 2025, wills are now published through notaries and registered on the national digital will registry at diathikes.gr, a significantly faster process than the previous court-based system. If the will was executed abroad, it must be apostilled and translated into Greek, and in some cases petitioned through the appropriate Greek court before the assets can be transferred. A certificate from the court confirming the will has not been previously published is also typically required.

Your Proof of Relationship to the Deceased

As a heir living abroad, you need to document your legal relationship to the deceased. This typically means your own birth certificate establishing that you are the child or grandchild of the deceased, and in some cases your parents' marriage certificate if your relationship runs through a married parent. All foreign documents must be apostilled and officially translated into Greek.

Greek Tax Number for Each Heir

Every heir must obtain a Greek tax number, known as the AFM, before they can complete any legal or financial transaction related to the inheritance. This includes signing the notarial deed of acceptance, filing the inheritance tax return, and transferring property into the heir's name. Heirs living abroad can obtain their AFM remotely without traveling to Greece. If you do not have an AFM, no need to worry GetGreece handles AFM registration as part of the overall inheritance case.

Property Title Deeds and Land Registry Documents

If the inheritance includes real estate, the property's title deeds must be located and verified through the Greek land registry or cadastral office. If the property was never formally registered or the deeds cannot be located, the title can in many cases be reconstructed through registry searches, tax filings, and historical documentation. This is one of the more complex aspects of Greek inheritance cases and is handled by legal professionals in Greece on your behalf.

The Inheritance Tax Declaration

All heirs must file an inheritance tax return with the Greek tax authority. Heirs living abroad have 12 months from the date of death, or from the date of will publication if a will exists, to file this declaration. The tax return must be accompanied by the death certificate, the certificate of next of kin, and documentation of the estate's assets and their values.

The Acceptance of Inheritance Deed

Once all documents are in order and the inheritance tax obligations are addressed, the formal acceptance of the inheritance is completed through a notarial deed, known as the Apodochi Klironomias, executed before a Greek notary. If the estate includes real estate, this deed must then be registered at the local land registry in the name of each heir. The entire notarial process can be handled through a limited power of attorney, meaning heirs living abroad do not need to travel to Greece.

Additional Documents That May Be Required

Depending on the specifics of your case, additional documents may be needed. These can include a topographical survey map of any real estate, tax clearance certificates from the Greek tax authority, proof of residence abroad, a police clearance certificate, and in cases where a foreign will is involved, certified translations and apostilles of the foreign probate documents.

Getting It Right the First Time

Missing or incorrect documents are the most common cause of delays in Greek inheritance cases. GetGreece reviews the full document picture for your case from the outset, identifies what is missing, and coordinates document retrieval, apostilles, and translations to ensure everything is in order before proceedings begin. Get started with a Property Analysis Report, which includes an initial 30-minute call to understand your case, a thorough property and document review, and a second 30-minute call with a GetGreece attorney to walk through the findings and map out your path forward.