Claiming an inheritance from the other side of the world can feel like trying to assemble a puzzle with pieces scattered across two hemispheres. However, when broken down into logical phases, the path to securing your family’s legacy becomes entirely manageable.
Below is the definitive legal lifecycle of an international inheritance claim, from initial discovery to final title registration.
Phase 1: Asset Discovery & Title Tracing:Estimated: 4–8 Weeks.
Before any legal documents can be signed, we must precisely identify what your estate actually owns. This goes beyond old family stories or faded handwritten letters. Our legal network conducts rigorous, boots-on-the-ground searches at the regional Ypothikofylakeio (Deeds Registry) and the modern Ktimalogio (Hellenic Land Registry) in Greece.
We verify boundaries, check for historical encumbrances, and ensure that your ancestors’ titles were correctly registered. If errors or omissions are found on the Ktimalogio, we initiate immediate rectification protocols before proceeding.
Phase 2: Securing Your Greek Tax Number (AFM):Estimated: 2–3 Weeks.
You cannot own real estate, open a bank account, or pay taxes in Greece without an Arithmos Forologikou Mitrou (AFM)—the Greek equivalent of a Tax File Number.
We handle this administrative gatekeeper for you. Our team files the necessary applications directly with the specialized Tax Office for Foreign Residents (DOY Katoikon Exoterikou) in Athens. This ensures you are legally recognized by the Hellenic Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) from day one.
Phase 3: Executing the Power of Attorney (Plirexousio):Estimated: 1–2 Weeks.
This is the exact step where most Australians hit a wall, often waiting months for an appointment at a booked-out Greek Consulate. We bypass this bottleneck entirely utilizing our in-house Notary Public infrastructure.
We draft the precise, highly technical Plirexousio (Power of Attorney) required by Greek law. You visit our Sydney office, execute the document before our accredited Notary, and we manage the entire authentication chain—including securing the mandatory Apostille stamp from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). This grants our legal network in Greece the exact proxy power needed to act on your behalf, meaning you never have to board a flight.
Phase 4: Filing the Inheritance Tax Return: Statutory Deadline: Within 12 Months.
Before the final deeds can be transferred, an inheritance tax return (Dilosi Forou Klironomias) must be calculated and lodged with the relevant Greek tax authority.
As an expatriate or foreign resident, you generally have a strict statutory window of 12 months from the date of your relative’s passing (or from the date their Will was probated) to lodge this return. Our team assesses your estate’s tax category—which varies significantly based on your degree of kinship to the deceased—to minimize your liability and prevent compounding late-lodgement penalties.
Phase 5: The Final Acceptance Deed & Registration: Estimated: 3–6 Weeks.
Once the tax clearances are issued, the final Apodochi Klironomias (Acceptance of Inheritance) deed is drafted by a Public Notary in Greece. Utilizing the Power of Attorney executed back in Sydney, our local legal proxy signs the deed on your behalf.
The final, vital step is registering this signed deed at the local Land Registry where the property is located. Only when the registry issues the final registration certificate is the chain of title officially complete: the property is legally, securely, and unassailably yours.
Greek Inheritance & Estate Claims
If your relative passed away with an Australian Will, that document must first undergo a formal recognition process in the Greek Courts (Dimosiefsi) to be declared valid overseas. If they passed away intestate (without a Will), Greek civil law dictates distribution based on strict tiers of family lineage. Our team handles both streams, ensuring all Australian death certificates and probate documents are legally translated and court-certified for use in Greece.
Secure Your Overseas Estate Today
Take the first step toward securing your family’s land, property, or legacy in Greece. Contact our specialized cross-border legal team today to schedule an initial consultation and asset review.