Greece’s new online platform for registering wills, diathikes.gr, is seeing unexpectedly high participation in its first weeks of operation, marking a significant step forward in the country’s modernization of inheritance procedures.

More than 1,100 citizens nationwide used the platform in just the first ten working days of November, according to data collected by the Hellenic Notary Association. Instead of storing handwritten wills at home, users chose to deposit them with a notary of their choice.

Legal experts note that registering a will, whether handwritten, public, or sealed, adds a crucial layer of security. It ensures that heirs carry out the testator’s instructions exactly as written and helps prevent disputes over questionable handwritten wills, which frequently lead to lengthy court battles.

Eleni Kontogeorgou, president of the Notaries Association of the Court of Appeal of Athens, Piraeus, Aegean and Dodecanese Islands, highlighted the broader impact in comments to Ta Nea newspaper. She emphasized that the platform makes it far easier to locate wills, both within Greece and abroad, thanks to its connection

Ending Years-Long Delays

One of the most striking advantages of the new system is speed. Within its first ten working days, six wills were formally published, a process that previously could take up to 18 months.

Because publishing wills is now handled by notaries instead of courts, heirs no longer face the prospect of waiting a year or more for documents that allow them to complete inheritance procedures. In many cases, certificates can now be issued within days of a request.

The shift also eases pressure on Greece’s overburdened courts. According to the head of the Athens Court of First Instance, a significant portion of judicial workload is being freed up, with dozens of judges now available for other cases.

Legislative Expansion Expected

The Ministry of Justice has signaled that it hopes to expand the notary-based publication system to include deaths that occurred before November 1, 2025. Currently, around 14,000 wills stored in Greece’s courts are awaiting publication, some stretching into late 2026.