What to do when someone dies in Greece — the complete guide

The death is registered at the municipal civil registry where it occurred — in practice the funeral home handles this, together with the medical death certificate. That produces the death certificate, the document every later step will ask for. Get several copies from the start (5–10) — they're issued free, as many times as needed, from gov.gr with Taxisnet credentials or any KEP office. In parallel, request the certificate of next of kin, which proves who the heirs are. If the death occurred abroad, it is first registered at the Athens Special Registry.

• Death certificate →
• Certificate of next of kin →
• Deadline calculator →

If the deceased was a pensioner, notify EFKA immediately to stop the pension — amounts paid after the date of death are treated as undue and are reclaimed from the heirs. Then check what you're entitled to: the funeral allowance (an EFKA benefit, claimed within 12 months) and, for a spouse, the survivor's pension — as a rule 70% of the deceased's pension, with its own filing timeline that affects when payments start. Unmarried children under 24 may be entitled to an orphan's pension.

• Stop the EFKA pension →
• Funeral allowance →
• Survivor's pension →
• Survivor's pension calculator →

First you check whether a will exists — a notary searches the will registry, and if there is one it's published at the Magistrates' Court. Then, the most critical decision of the whole process: accepting or renouncing the inheritance. The renunciation deadline is 4 months from the death (or the will's publication), and 1 year if the heir lives abroad. It matters because in Greece the estate passes together with any debts, and letting the deadline lapse counts as acceptance. If there are, or you suspect, debts, speak to a lawyer before the deadline — renunciation also cascades to the next heirs in line.

• Find & publish the will →
• Accept or renounce inheritance →
• Inheritance share calculator →

The inheritance tax return is filed with AADE through the myPROPERTY platform, within 6 months of the death (1 year if the death or the heir is abroad). It is mandatory even when no tax is due. Tax is progressive, per heir, with a tax-free threshold that depends on the degree of kinship — high for spouse and children, very low for unrelated heirs. Then, where they apply, come the deceased's final income tax return and the E9 update for any property passing to the heirs.

• Inheritance tax calculator →
• Inheritance tax return →
• E9 — real estate →

Notify the banks: once the death is reported, accounts are frozen until the succession is completed. Ask for a balance certificate as at the date of death — you need it for the tax return. Joint accounts and investments have their own rules. In parallel you handle any life insurance (the payout is usually not part of the estate), transferring a vehicle, and opening a safe deposit box.

• Notify the banks →
• Life insurance →
• Transfer the vehicle →

No hard deadline, but to stop charges piling up: transfer or stop electricity, water, phone and internet, cancel subscriptions (streaming, gym, newspapers) and settle the digital accounts — email, social media, cloud. An institution-notification tool helps you not forget anyone.

• Notify institutions (banks, utilities…) →
• Transfer electricity →
• Digital accounts →