A will is the key instrument for deciding what happens to your estate. The types recognised under Greek law, how to draw one up validly, and the mistakes that lead to nullity or dispute.
Making a will is not just for large estates. It is the act that ensures your wishes — not merely the default rules of law — determine what becomes of everything you have built. A defective or poorly drafted will, however, can cause precisely the disputes you wanted to avoid.
1. The three types of will
Greek law recognises the holographic will (written entirely in the testator's own hand, dated and signed), the public will (executed before a notary with witnesses — the safest option) and the secret will (delivered sealed to a notary). The right choice depends on confidentiality needs, the complexity of the estate and the risk of challenge.
2. The mistakes that invalidate a will
A holographic will that is typed rather than handwritten; a missing date or signature; corrections that are not authenticated; ambiguity in describing persons or assets; execution at a time of doubtful capacity without medical documentation. In practice, most court challenges rest on formal defects of this kind.
3. The forced share: the limit of your freedom
A testator is not entirely free: children, the spouse and — under conditions — parents are entitled to the forced share, that is one half of the intestate portion. A will that infringes it is not void, but it can be abated to the extent it impairs the beneficiary.
4. Publication and effect
After the testator's death, the will is published by the competent Magistrates' Court. A holographic will may additionally be declared authentic. Until it is published, a will produces no legal effect.
5. When to involve a lawyer
Where there are several properties, a business, heirs abroad, previous marriages or children from different relationships, or a wish for special terms, careful legal drafting prevents decades of litigation.
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