Notaries and Acceptance of Inheritance
In Greece, transferring real estate property to an inheritor (generally children, partner or siblings) requires a notarial deed of inheritance acceptance. Although lawyers have been permitted to handle this process since 2024, it remains predominantly conducted by notaries.
The process:
- Declare the Death: The inheritor must declare the death to the tax service.
- Obtain a Death Certificate: The inheritor apply for a Death Certificate from a Greek court.
- Visit the Notary: The inheritor must visit the notary with necessary documents, including the Death Certificate and the Certificate of Inheritance Rights.
- Inheritance Tax Declaration: The notary files an Inheritance Tax Declaration, and the Taxation Office calculates the inheritance tax.
- Sign the Deed: The inheritance deed is signed.
If the inheritors live abroad:
Inheritor residing abroad must provide the Greek notary with a Death Certificate and a Certificate of Inheritance Rights. These documents should be drawn up by a public notary in the deceased’s country of nationality, bear an Apostille stamp, and be officially translated into Greek.
Selling the inherited home:
If you plan to sell the inherited property in the future, have an engineer verify the house’s square footage. Mismatches between the home’s actual specifications and the details in the Deed of Acceptance and Tax Declaration can result in fines when selling.
We help people navigate the process of inheriting property in Greece and for those who want the option – selling it for the best result.
