Greek property, inheritance and documents
Greek property, inheritance and legal documents can be difficult to manage from Australia. CM Lawyers helps you understand the requirements, prepare the right documents and coordinate the work needed in Greece. Our Greek legal services consultant, Peter Sarlas, speaks Greek and English and practises in both countries.
Whether you have inherited a family home, want to sell land in Greece or need a Greek power of attorney, start with a conversation about what you need to achieve. Our Marrickville office provides a local point of contact for clients across Sydney, including the Inner West.
Νομικές υπηρεσίες για υποθέσεις στην Ελλάδα. Μιλάμε ελληνικά και αγγλικά.
Peter (Panagiotis) Sarlas is CM Lawyers’ consultant for Greek legal services and the principal of Lysias Legal. He is a practising solicitor and public notary in NSW, a practising solicitor in Greece and a member of the Athens Bar Association.
His qualifications include a law degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Juris Doctor from the University of Technology Sydney. He worked as a solicitor in Greece for more than a decade before continuing his legal career in Australia. His experience helps clients understand how the two legal systems differ. Read Peter’s professional background.
A Greek power of attorney, or plirexousio, can authorise someone to carry out specified legal steps on your behalf. The wording needs to match the transaction, whether that involves a property sale, inheritance or dealings with a bank.
We prepare a tailored power of attorney, explain the authority you are granting and confirm the requirements of the receiving lawyer or notary in Greece. You sign before a public notary in Australia, and we coordinate a DFAT apostille and any required translation. This notarised and apostilled process does not require an appointment with the Greek Consulate. See DFAT’s guidance on legalising documents.
We assist with purchases and sales of Greek property, including family homes, apartments and land. This can involve obtaining title documents, investigating registered ownership and encumbrances, and liaising with the relevant lawyers, notaries and agents in Greece.
A property’s physical condition also needs attention. We work with Greek engineers or surveyors to investigate boundaries, building approvals and possible unauthorised works. The available remedies depend on the property and applicable rules; not every alteration can be regularised. Identifying these issues early helps you understand what must be resolved before a transfer can proceed.
The Hellenic Cadastre, known as Ktimatologio, records rights in Greek real estate. An old family deed is an important starting point, but the current cadastral record also needs checking.
We help investigate missing or incorrect entries, obtain historical records and identify any declaration or correction process required. If a property is recorded as having an unknown owner, seek advice promptly. The appropriate action depends on the location, registration stage and available evidence. The Hellenic Cadastre citizen services include record access, declarations, certificates and correction applications.
Inheriting assets in Greece involves procedures that differ from probate in NSW. We assist beneficiaries with identifying estate assets, obtaining documents, investigating bank accounts and property records, and coordinating the steps required to transfer an entitlement.
Where an estate has debts or uncertain liabilities, we help assess the applicable rules and any acceptance, renunciation or other protective steps. Greek inheritance law changed in 2026. The date of death and transitional provisions can affect which rules apply, making current advice particularly important. AADE’s notice of the 2026 inheritance reforms links to the legislation.
If Australian assets are also involved, our NSW probate services can help address the Australian side.
Owning assets in two countries calls for coordinated estate planning. We help review your existing documents and consider how your wishes should be recorded for property and other assets in Australia and Greece.
The aim is to make the documents work together, including checking that a later will does not unintentionally revoke another will. Tell us about every existing will and where your assets are held. Our wills and estates services explain the related Australian work.
We assist with transfers of Greek property from parents to children, including parental gifts, and transfers between other family members. Before proceeding, we help identify the ownership interests, required documents and professionals who need to be involved.
Tax and registration requirements need to be considered alongside the family’s intentions. A transfer should be planned around your circumstances, particularly if you wish to retain rights to occupy or use the property.
We assist with translations, certified copies and notarial documents for use before Greek courts, banks, notaries and public authorities. The required form depends on who will receive the document and why it is needed.
Notarisation and an apostille serve different purposes. We check the requirements and coordinate the relevant steps, including DFAT legalisation where required. Our public notary services provide further information about documents for overseas use.
We assist clients starting or responding to proceedings in Greece and help coordinate the necessary documents and representation. Matters may involve inherited property, disagreements between co-owners or applications concerning the division or sale of jointly owned assets.
We also assist with requirements for recognising Australian judgments in Greece, including divorce orders. Recognition is a separate legal question; an Australian order should not be assumed to update Greek records automatically.
We help clients obtain a Greek tax identification number, known as an AFM, and coordinate with Greek tax professionals on matters connected with property and inheritance. AADE’s guidance for residents abroad explains the application process. Tell us if you already have an AFM or a Greek tax representative so existing records can be checked.
Tell us what you need to do, where the Greek property or matter is located, and whether a deadline is approaching.
Bring your identification and available documents, such as deeds, wills, death certificates, court orders or correspondence from Greece.
We review the information, identify missing records and explain the proposed work and any professionals who need to be involved.
We coordinate the agreed steps and explain what you need to sign or provide as the matter progresses.
Some matters can be progressed through an appropriately authorised representative. We assess what can be arranged from Australia and whether any personal attendance is required.
Yes. Peter speaks Greek and English. Let us know your preferred language when arranging your appointment.
Yes. Bring what you have, including names, village details and older deeds. We can discuss searches and additional evidence needed to establish the position.
That needs to be assessed against your documents, assets and the applicable law. Bring your Australian will and any Greek will so we can consider them together before recommending changes.
Tell us when you first contact us and provide the relevant notice or correspondence. Inheritance, court and land registration matters can require prompt action.
Disclaimer: This website provides general information only. Nothing on this site should be taken to comprise legal advice or used as a substitute for detailed and competent legal advice. While the information contained in this website is believed to be accurate and current, it is provided by CMLawyers in good faith on an “as is” basis. CMLawyers, its directors, officers or employees make no representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information contained on this website, and none of them accept any responsibility arising in any way (including negligence) for errors in, or omissions from, the information contained in this website.
