With Law 5303/2026, Greek Inheritance Law enters a new era of extensive reform, introducing significant amendments to the Fifth Book of the Greek Civil Code.

The key changes include the following:

1. Inheritance agreements upon death
   For the first time, the testator may regulate matters concerning their future succession through a binding notarial agreement. This is an important innovation, as it offers greater certainty in family and estate planning.
2. Limitation of the heir’s liability
   Heirs will no longer be personally liable with their own assets for the debts of the estate. Their liability will be limited to the inherited estate, offering greater protection against unknown or excessive debts of the deceased.
3. Transformation of the forced heirship share into a monetary claim
   Forced heirs will no longer automatically acquire co-ownership rights over the inherited assets. Instead, they will have a monetary claim against the heirs. This change is expected to reduce disputes between heirs and facilitate the management of inherited property.
4. Estate liquidation by lawyers
   The liquidation of estates will now be carried out by lawyers included in a special list kept by the competent court of the estate. This strengthens the role of lawyers in inheritance matters, particularly in the management of the estate’s assets and liabilities.
5. Inheritance rights for partners in a free union
   Inheritance rights are also recognised, under specific conditions, for partners in a free union in cases of intestate succession, provided that there was permanent cohabitation for at least three years before death. This provision reflects modern forms of cohabitation and expands inheritance protection to persons outside marriage or civil partnership.

This reform constitutes one of the most important changes to Greek Inheritance Law in recent decades. It is expected to have significant practical implications for estate planning, heirs, and legal professionals handling inheritance cases in Greece.