Greece is preparing a sweeping reform of its inheritance law framework, introducing significant changes to wills, family rights and asset management, as a relevant draft bill nears submission to Parliament following public consultation.

Overall, the reform aims to modernize the often-antiquated legal framework, reduce inheritance disputes and support economic stability by improving the management of family assets through reduced legal haggles and proverbial “red tape”.

The proposed framework retains handwritten wills but adds stricter verification procedures to prevent fraud. It also increases the inheritance share of a surviving spouse to 33% when there is one child/heir, while maintaining a 25%-right if there are multiple offspring.

A key reform redefines the “forced share” concept into a financial claim rather than a property right, aiming to reduce disputes and prevent the fragmentation of assets, particularly family businesses and real estate. For the first time, inheritance contracts will be introduced, allowing individuals to organize asset distribution in advance of their inevitable demise and to limit conflicts among heirs.

The bill also strengthens protections for heirs by separating inherited debts from personal assets, ensuring liabilities are paid only from the estate. Additionally, co-heirs will be able to buy out each other’s shares through court procedures, avoiding forced auctions.

Modern family structures are recognized, granting inheritance rights to partners in civil unions and, under conditions, to long-term cohabiting partners.

Further provisions allow minors aged 16 and over to draft wills, enable people with disabilities to use assistive technologies, and prohibit wills benefiting staff-members at care institutions where the deceased resided.

Individuals previously convicted of serious crimes against the deceased will be automatically disqualified from being allocated an inheritance from the latter’s estate.