Inheritance mediation in Greece: resolving disputes between co-heirs

When co-heirs have different priorities

After a death, disagreements may concern daily management as well as inheritance shares: who occupies the house, who pays for repairs, how rent is accounted for and whether someone wants to leave the co-ownership. Mediation can provide a structured discussion of rights that the parties may lawfully settle by agreement.

For example, one heir may want to live in the family home while another needs access to funds. Rather than arguing in general terms, they can explore occupation arrangements, letting, sale, a buyout or partition where legally and technically feasible. These are possible negotiating subjects, not options that one party can simply impose on the others.

Establish inheritance rights and the limits of settlement first

Before deciding who receives what, establish the parties, deeds and basis of their rights. A settlement does not automatically cure questions of will validity or replace a formal disclaimer or other necessary acts. The Central Mediation Committee’s opinions on will validity and setting aside deemed acceptance illustrate why not every inheritance case can be treated as an ordinary negotiable financial claim.

Minors, people needing special representation, creditors, encumbrances and absent heirs call for additional assessment. Agreement among some relatives cannot simply disregard third-party rights. Check disclaimer questions, debts and time limits promptly; informal family discussions are not a safe basis for assuming that a deadline has stopped running.

Timing also matters under the new legislation. Article 15 of Law 5344/2026 includes specified inheritance disputes in its new mandatory pre-court procedure. That article takes effect on 1 March 2027 under Article 217. It must not be presented as an obligation already applying to every inheritance dispute in October 2026.

How to prepare for a useful discussion

Separate the issues from your preferred solution. The value of a property, its occupation and a claim for expenditure already incurred are different questions. A common schedule of documents, figures and unresolved points helps identify genuine disagreement and missing information.

The mediator acts impartially rather than as any heir’s personal lawyer. Each side needs its own legal assessment of rights, risks and proposed commitments. For heirs living abroad, agree participation arrangements, language and any necessary powers of attorney in advance. A video meeting should not be assumed to replace every required formality.

• Death certificate, available wills and succession documents
• Deeds, cadastral records and a schedule of known assets and liabilities
• Leases, income, repairs and documented expenditure
• Valuations and technical material already available
• Claims, formal notices, proof of service and critical dates

A workable agreement, not an open-ended promise

A practical settlement identifies the subject matter, sums, dates, conditions and allocation of costs. A buyout proposal needs consideration of valuation, financing and completion steps. Temporary occupation or letting arrangements need a duration, treatment of income and expenses, and a review mechanism. Nobody can guarantee settlement or promise that one meeting will resolve the matter.

Recording an agreement does not dispense with a notary, tax obligations or registration where these are required. An arrangement about occupation is different from a property transfer or partition subject to formal requirements. An inaccurate initial cadastral entry concerning inherited property also needs its own procedural assessment. For an initial enquiry in Heraklion, provide a short outline and agree how to send detailed documents afterwards. Sources checked on 22 October 2026.