Can I renounce an inheritance?
It depends on the deadline: you can renounce, but only in time. The renunciation deadline is 4 months (CC 1847), running from when the heir learned of the devolution and its basis. It becomes 1 year if the deceased's last residence was abroad or the heir lived abroad when they learned of it. Renunciation is done by a declaration to the secretary of the competent Magistrate's Court (deceased's last district, CC 1848). If you miss the deadline, acceptance is presumed (deemed), treated in case law as an irrebuttable presumption. On acceptance, the debts pass to your personal assets — unless you accept "with benefit of inventory", limiting liability to the estate's assets. In short: if you don't want the debts, renounce in time.
📋 The rules
- Renunciation deadline: 4 months (CC 1847)
- 1 year if the deceased/you were abroad
- Declaration at the Magistrate's Court (CC 1848)
- Missing the deadline: deemed acceptance
- On acceptance, the debts pass too (except with inventory)
🔓 Exceptions
- Acceptance with benefit of inventory: liability only to the estate
- Minor heirs: acceptance with inventory (Law 4786/2021)
- Express or tacit acceptance (acts of disposition): valid
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no "fine" here, but the deadline is crucial: if you don't renounce within 4 months (or 1 year), acceptance is presumed and you take on the deceased's debts into your personal assets. So, if the estate is burdened with debts, renunciation — or acceptance with inventory — can be the wiser choice. The certificate of (non-)renunciation costs a small e-fee. To protect yourself: decide in good time whether to accept or renounce, make the declaration at the Magistrate's Court within the deadline, and if a minor is involved or there are debts, seek legal advice and consider acceptance with benefit of inventory.
📎 Official sources
- Civil Code · arts. 1847-1850 (renunciation) →
- gov.gr — certificate of inheritance (non-)renunciation →
- Ministry of Justice →
❓ Frequently asked
How long do I have to renounce an inheritance?
The renunciation deadline is 4 months from when you learned of the devolution and its basis. It becomes 1 year if the deceased's last residence was abroad or you lived abroad when you learned of it. After the deadline, acceptance is presumed.
How is renunciation done?
Renunciation is done by a personal declaration to the secretary of the competent Magistrate's Court, i.e. of the deceased's last district (CC 1848). It's a formal procedure that must be completed within the deadline, so you're not deemed to have accepted the inheritance.
What happens if I do nothing?
If you don't renounce within the deadline, you're presumed to have accepted the inheritance (deemed acceptance), a presumption treated in case law as irrebuttable. So you take on the deceased's debts too, which is why it's important to decide and act in time.
Do the deceased's debts pass to me?
Yes, on accepting the inheritance the debts pass to your personal assets, with no automatic cap. The exception is acceptance "with benefit of inventory", which limits your liability only to the estate's assets, not your personal property.
What about minor heirs?
For minor heirs, the law (Law 4786/2021) provides that the deemed acceptance is automatically "with benefit of inventory", to protect them from the debts. If a minor is involved, it's advisable to confirm the current procedure and seek legal advice.
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