EU Law of Succession

The mounting mobility of populations and the right to choose where to live and work within the EU, has raised some questions concerning the law of inheritance.

Marriages of mixed nationality are no longer an exception and the question of which law should be applied is posed before the marriage occurs, particularly in cases regarding the conclusion of a prenuptial agreement or an inheritance contract.

The German rule of court must be judicially ratified in foreign countries, in order for it to be valid in such countries. The same applies for rules of foreign courts that are legally valid once they have been ratified by a German court.

With regard to inheritance law, certain problems may arise concerning the inheritance of immobile property occurring in the inheritor’s domicile or abroad. More often than not, a certificate verifying the rights of succession is requested and the conditions to issue such a certificate vary from country to country. A testament of the deceased in a foreign country is valid provided certain prerequisites are satisfied.

Representing our clients’ inheritance claims of Greek and foreign legal interest comprises a major segment of our firm’s legal activities. The efficient recognition and execution of foreign rules of court is guaranteed by our offices in Greece.