Greek law recognizes four types of wills, all of which hold equal legal rank:
- Holographic will
- Public will
- Secret will
- Extraordinary will
Holographic will
Regulated by Art. 1721 GCC. It must be entirely handwritten by the testator, dated (day, month, year), and signed. The purpose is to enable courts to verify authenticity by comparing the handwriting with other samples. According to Art. 1722 GCC, the will may be deposited with a notary; the testator may demand its return at any time without this constituting revocation. Under Art. 1774 GCC , anyone in possession of a holographic will must, must promptly submit it for opening to the court of first instance of the decedent’s last residence or of the holder’s residence upon learning of the testator’s death. Under Art. 1771 sentence 1 GCC, an opening protocol is drawn up, which includes a copy of the will’s content and records any defects under Art. 1721(4) GCC.
Public will
Under Art. 1724 GCC, a public will is made before a notary and three witnesses, or, alternatively, two notaries and one witness, pursuant to Arts. 1725–1737 GCC. The testator provides their declaration orally; the notary records the declaration, which is heard by the witnesses. The will is completed once signed by the testator (Art. 1730 GCC). The witnesses and the testator must be known to the notary (Art. 1729(1) GCC); all participants must be present for the whole duration. If the testator does not speak Greek, an interpreter must be present.
Secret will
Under Art. 1738 GCC, the notary is rendered a document from the testator and is verbally informed that the document contains the testator’s last will, before either three witnesses, or a second notary and one witness. Under Art. 1743(2)(1) and 1733(2) GCC, execution is completed once the notarial deed has been signed. Revocation is possible at any time (Art. 1766(2)(1) GCC).
Extraordinary will
This form applies only under special circumstances and is valid for a limited period. It includes wills made at sea, wills made during military operations, and wills drafted in isolation. Under Art. 1749 GCC, a person on board a Greek ship may make a will orally; under Art. 1751 GCC, it must be put down in writing before two witnesses and signed by at least one witness. Under Art. 1753 GCC, military personnel may declare their last will orally before an officer and either another officer or two witnesses in the event of a military campaign, siege, or captivity. The will must be reduced to writing, read aloud by the testator, and signed by all required persons, including at least one witness. During isolation (Art. 1757 GCC)—e.g., due to an epidemic or other emergency—a will may be made before a notary, magistrate, mayor, council member, community leader, police officer, hospital director, or a paramedic. Under Art. 1758(1) GCC, such a will is deemed not o have been executed if the testator remains alive three months after the end of the special circumstances.
(As of March 2023. All information provided without guarantee.)