From 1 November 2025, a major reform known as Law 5221/2025 will come into effect, reshaping how inheritance, property and notarial matters are managed. For Greeks living abroad, including thousands of Greek Australians, the new law promises a faster, more transparent and increasingly digital way to handle affairs back home.
“This change will significantly speed up estate procedures and make it easier for Greeks abroad to manage their legal affairs in Greece digitally and securely — without the need for frequent travel,” Athens-based international lawyer Panagiotis Alexandros Rozakis told The Greek Herald.
A faster, digital system
The reform is part of Greece’s broader effort to streamline justice through digitalisation. From November, wills will be registered online through diathikes.gr, reducing delays and administrative costs. Lawyers will continue to play a safeguarding role by verifying documents and ensuring compliance – a crucial step for heirs based overseas.
Importantly, Law 5221/2025 expands the professional powers of Greek lawyers, allowing them to prepare and file certain procedural acts such as payment orders and lease-return orders electronically. At the same time, notaries will now handle most non-contentious legal procedures – including inheritance, property registration and some family-law matters – while courts will focus primarily on disputes.
These updates build upon earlier reforms, which first allowed lawyers to assist in handling inheritance certificates (klironomitirio), continuing Greece’s gradual digital transformation of its justice system.
“Efficiency must never come at the expense of legal certainty,” Mr Rozakis notes. “Greek lawyers remain the safeguard protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring transparency.”
He adds that empowering notaries and lawyers under a unified digital framework will “reduce bureaucracy, improve accountability, and make the Greek justice system more service-oriented for citizens at home and abroad.”
Practical impact for the diaspora
For Australians of Greek heritage, the changes make it easier to manage property, inheritance and family-law matters remotely. Mr Rozakis recommends taking three key steps now:
- Verify property titles and ensure registration with the Hellenic Cadastre.
- Review or update wills and succession plans to align with the new law.
- Renew powers of attorney to meet updated procedural standards.
“Proactive steps now can prevent complications once the reforms come into effect,” he says. “The combination of this procedural reform and the forthcoming overhaul of inheritance law will create a new, more predictable environment for estate management.”
For families with property or heirs across multiple countries, the reforms align Greece’s legal procedures with international standards, helping to reduce uncertainty in cross-border inheritance and estate planning.
Simplifying legal processes for Greeks abroad
The reforms also make it easier to authenticate and submit Australian civil documents, such as birth or marriage certificates, in Greece through faster verification processes.
“For Greeks abroad, these changes are more than just legal progress,” Mr Rozakis adds. “They reaffirm your connection to Greece and ensure that your property, family and legacy can be protected with clarity and transparency, no matter where you live.”
“We’re seeing Greece embrace a model that prioritises transparency, speed, and digital access – values that align with the needs of a global diaspora,” he added.
With offices in Athens and Toronto, and collaborations in Australia and the US, Mr Rozakis specialises in cross-border law, helping members of the Greek diaspora manage their legal affairs efficiently and confidently.
Adapting Greek law to a global community
As Greece prepares for its first comprehensive reform of inheritance law in more than 80 years, the country is modernising its justice system to reflect today’s family structures, international lifestyles, and digital realities.
The upcoming inheritance-law reform, expected to follow in 2026, will introduce clearer rules on succession rights, forced heirship, and digital wills, aligning Greece’s framework with European standards.
Mr Rozakis notes that the notarial and administrative provisions under Law 5221/2025 — particularly those related to inheritance — will take effect on 1 November 2025, while litigation and procedural reforms will follow on 1 January 2026.
“This timeline allows citizens and diaspora families to prepare, review documentation, and ensure their affairs comply with the new requirements,” he explains.
“For the Greek Australian community, this is a landmark moment,” Mr Rozakis concludes. “Greece is finally aligning its legal system with international standards while preserving the principles that connect us to our heritage. Preparation today will protect your legacy tomorrow.”
Need legal help in Greece?
Contact Panagiotis A. Rozakis | Attorney at Law
p.rozakis@dvlf.gr | +30 698 092 8817 | +30 2103390080
