Where compulsory enforcement is carried out on the basis of an enforceable title, the enforcement costs incurred are, in principle, recoverable.
These costs include, in particular, attorney’s fees (insofar as legal assistance becomes necessary during the enforcement proceedings), the costs and expenses of the bailiff, and the fees of other participating bodies (land registry, notary, and others).
The amount of the enforcement costs depends on the scope of the work required, the value of the claim, and the nature of the specific enforcement measure, and can therefore generally only be quantified more precisely as the proceedings progress. The fees for the individual activities of a bailiff (including service of documents, attachments, and forced auctions) are set by a separate ministerial decision of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance, and are adjusted from time to time in line with economic developments.
Important note: The individual fees previously stated in this text, based on Ministerial Decision No. 2/54638/0022 of 2008, have since been replaced by more recent fee schedules. Since bailiffs’ fees are periodically adjusted by new ministerial decision, we have deliberately refrained from reproducing specific amounts here, as these would by now be outdated, and instead recommend obtaining the currently applicable fee schedule for the individual case from the competent Bar Association of Bailiffs (Σύλλογος Δικαστικών Επιμελητών) or having it confirmed by our firm.
In addition to the statutory fees, the client may agree a separate fee arrangement with the bailiff depending on the complexity of the case; however, this may not be charged to the debtor against whom enforcement is sought.
FAQ
Where compulsory enforcement is carried out against a debtor, various fees are incurred. As a matter of principle under Greek law, the costs of compulsory enforcement are borne by the debtor against whom enforcement is sought. However, the creditor generally has to advance these costs (obligation to advance). The costs that may be taken into account include, among others:
• Attorney's fees: for legal assistance and the initiation of the proceedings.
• Bailiff's costs: for service of documents, attachments, and the preparation of auction programmes.
• Costs of other bodies: notaries (acting as auction officers), land registries (Ktimatologio), or bank charges in the case of account attachments.
Important: All services provided by attorneys, notaries, and bailiffs in Greece are additionally subject to the statutory value added tax (VAT/FPA), currently 24%.
The fees of bailiffs (Dikastikos Epimelitis) in Greece are strictly regulated by law and are regularly adjusted by joint ministerial decisions (KYA) of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance. The exact amount depends on the scope of the work involved, the value of the claim, and the distance travelled.
For orientation purposes (reflecting current practice), the following general benchmarks and structures apply:
• Service of documents
The service of payment orders, judgments, or attachment orders is the first step.
• Basic fee: A basic fee is charged for serving a document and drawing up the service report (this currently usually ranges between EUR 35 and EUR 45, depending on the type of document).
• Page surcharges: Small additional fees per page are charged for multi-page service reports or extensive attachments.
• Travel allowance: A distance-based allowance per kilometre and, where applicable, transport costs, if the place of service is outside the city centre.
• Attachment (movable property, real estate, or accounts)
The fee for a compulsory or protective attachment (e.g. the attachment of real estate) is tiered and depends on the amount of the claim being enforced:
• For very small claims, a fixed minimum amount applies.
• For medium and higher claims, a percentage rate (e.g. 1.0% to 2.5%) of the value of the claim is charged.
• However, the law provides for a cap (maximum fee) so that costs do not become excessive in cases involving claims in the millions.
• Note: Where several assets are attached in a single report (e.g. two plots of land), separate fees are charged for each asset. The electronic attachment of accounts held with Greek banks is now very common and cost-efficient.
• Forced auction (e-auctions)
This is where the most significant change in the law has occurred in recent years: forced auctions in Greece now take place exclusively electronically (via the eauction.gr portal).
• Bailiff: Receives tiered fees (similar to attachment, based on the value of the claim, likewise capped by a statutory maximum) for preparing and publishing the auction programme.
• Notary: The auction itself is conducted digitally by a certified notary (acting as auction officer). Separate notarial fees are charged for this.
• Publication costs: Fees for the mandatory publication on the official e-auction portals.
Yes. Depending on the complexity, urgency, or difficulty of the case, the client (creditor) may agree a separate, higher fee arrangement with the bailiff or attorney. However, please note: these privately agreed additional costs may not be charged to the debtor against whom enforcement is sought. Only the statutory minimum fees can be reclaimed from the debtor. The creditor bears the difference.
As of June 2026. All information on these pages is provided without guarantee or liability.