The Greek Ministry of Justice has launched an initiative to update inheritance laws for the first time in eight decades. After 80 years, Greek inheritance legislation is undergoing a comprehensive update, with a view to bring inheritance laws into harmony with contemporary social and economic realities. The primary objective of the initiative is to make asset management procedures more streamlined for citizens.
Key areas of reform include broadening protection for non-family members, adjusting inheritance laws to accommodate modern family structures, enhancing asset distribution flexibility, and updating regulations regarding mandatory inheritance portions and will creation. A specialized working group established by the Ministry, comprising distinguished legal scholars and institutional representatives, will also examine inheritance contract provisions.
The specifics remain open for discussion, with the working group tasked to evaluate all pertinent societal and economic developments. The reform may incorporate successful approaches from other European nations to enhance asset management capabilities., with sources within the Ministry stating that careful consideration is essential, given the fundamental nature of inheritance law and its extensive connections to other civil law areas, highlighting the complexity of crafting new asset management guidelines.
The need for updated inheritance laws is widely recognized, driven by changes in family structures and technological advances, including the emergence of digital will concepts. Taking the reform’s broad societal impact into consideration, the Ministry has opted not to impose strict deadlines on the working group. The key challenge, as repeatedly noted, is developing legislation that addresses modern needs while remaining sustainable and avoiding new family conflicts that could burden the legal system.
Considerations include digitally prepared notarial wills (while potentially maintaining handwritten options), inheritance rights for unmarried partners, and possible modifications to elderly parents’ inheritance rights.
