Divorce Lawyers in Greece

Our divorce lawyers in Greece offer their legal services to couples who have decided to permanently separate through a divorce. Given that we know a divorce generally represents a sensible moment in the life of the spouses, our lawyers will try to handle the case with utmost care, especially in cases where minor children are involved.

Quick Facts
Divorce law in Greece	The Greek Civil Code, the Family Law
Types of divorces recognized in Greece	Divorce by consent and contested divorce
Institutions where divorces can be held	A divorce decision can be granted by the Greek courts, following a court ruling – for contested divorces. Divorces by consent can be completed through a notary public, as per the rules of the Law 4509/2017.
Initiation of the divorce procedure	The divorce procedure can be initiated by one of the spouses in the case of a contested divorce or by both spouses in the case of a divorce by consent. For the latter, both spouses must submit a written agreement.
Can Greek institutions handle foreigners’ marriages? (yes/no)	Yes
Situations when courts can dissolve foreigners’ marriages	– if one of the spouses is a Greek citizen; – if the defendant is a Greek permanent resident; – if the foreign spouses have had their last habitual residence in Greece, prior to deciding to divorce.
Financial obligations of a spouse after the divorce	Financial support for the couple’s minor children (below 18 years old) and/or financial support for the spouse (there are several scenarios for the latter, and our divorce lawyers in Greece can present them).
Maintainance rights and obligations	– a spouse can claim maintanace from the other one if the first doesn’t have a sufficient income to sustain his/her basic needs (for food, utilities, rent, etc.); – maintainace rights can be granted to a spouse who takes care of a minor child; – it can also be granted to a spouse who can’t find employment – the obligation of the other one to pay maintainance in this case is limited to 3 years after the divorce; – other reasons established on a case-to-case basis by the competent court.
What are the legal reasons for divorcing in Greece ?	– common consent; – absence of one of the spouses from the marital home; – disruption of the marital bond, on grounds such as adultery, bigamy and others.
Types of custody	Joint custody is the primary type of custody recognized in Greece. Physical custody is generally granted to one of the parents, but both parents can receive physical custody.
Alimony obligations	Alimony rights derive from the Articles 1442, 1485, 1494 of the Greek Civil Code and on a case-to-case basis.
Division of assets	The assets acquired prior to the marriage are treated as separate property, while those acquired during the marriage will be disputed during the divorce.
Mandatory legal representation (yes/no)	No, but it is highly recommended to receive legal assistance from our divorce lawyers in Greece, especially in the case of a contested divorce.
Services offered by our lawyers when divorcing in Greece	Our divorce lawyers in Greece prepare the documentation required for the divorce, advise on the most suitable approach, represent clients in front of local courts and assist in any type of legal formality.
Minimum period of marriage before requesting a divorce	1 year (divorce by consent), 2-4 years (For contested divorces, the minimum time varies based on the ground for which a party has filed for divorce.)

Table of Contents

What types of legal services can your lawyers offer clients?

Our divorce lawyers in Greece have an in-depth experience in divorce proceedings. By addressing our team, clients can benefit from services such as:

information on the divorce laws and procedures applicable in Greece;
legal assistance on the documentation that must be provided, in accordance with the particularities of the case;
legal representation in any divorce formality (assistance in notarial formalities or in court proceedings);
information on the rights and obligations of the parties in connection to the division of property, child maintenance, custody, etc.;
legal representation in appeals.

We offer our legal services to Greek citizens, residents as well as foreigners who are eligible to divorce in Greece.

What is the main rule of law based on which divorces are ruled in Greece?

The main rule of law that regulates the manner in which divorces are administered in this country is the Greek Civil Code.

What types of divorces are recognized in Greece in 2026?

Those who want to divorce in Greece will have to opt for either the divorce by consent or for the contested divorce, depending on the circumstances in which the spouses terminate their marriage.

What is the legal procedure for mutual divorce in Greece?

Given the nature of the procedure, meaning that the spouses can divorce in a peaceful manner and that they agree on the conditions of their separation, a mutual divorce involves a simpler legal procedure compared to the contested divorce. While the latter can only be completed in front of a competent court, the first can be finalized in a public notary office.

What are the main steps of a mutual divorce in Greece in 2026?

The main steps are mentioned below (our Greek lawyers will provide the necessary assistance):

the parties will initially draft a divorce dissolution agreement;
the document establishes the conditions of the divorce;
provided that the couple has minor children, the agreement will include mandatory provisions concerning the residency of the child, custody, alimony, visitation rights, etc;
the document must be signed by the parties (provided that the parties are represented by their lawyers in Greece, the attorneys can sign the document if they have been granted with the power of attorney).

In our infographic below, you can easily observe some of our legal services for a divorce in Greece:

How long does it take to complete a mutual divorce in 2026?

A mutual divorce can be completed in only a few weeks. It takes around 2-3 weeks, in general.

Is it still possible to initiate a mutual divorce if the parties do not agree on all the matters of the dissolution?

No, if the parties can’t agree on all the aspects deriving from their divorce (such as child custody, the division of assets), they need to address the case to the competent Greek court. In other words, a mutual divorce can be dissolved at a public notary as long as the parties reach an agreement on all the matters deriving from their marital circumstances.

What is a contested divorce?

The contested divorce refers to the legal procedure through which a party starts the divorce procedure even in the case in which the other spouse does not approve.

How long do the contested divorce formalities take?

The contested divorce represents a complex legal procedure which can generally be completed in around 1-2 years, and sometimes, even more (depending on the court schedules, appeals made by the either party to the decisions of the court, etc.).

Can spouses apply for legal separation?

Greece does not apply the procedure of legal separation, which is recognized in other countries and which implies that the parties are temporarily separated from a legal point of view, but still married and not divorced.

Do spouses need a legal ground for which they can initiate the divorce?

According to the Greek divorce law, there are few reasons for which a spouse (or spouses) can start the divorce procedure – adultery, bigamy, the desertion of the family home, the absence of a spouse or by common consent.

Am I legally required to hire a lawyer?

If you initiate a divorce by consent, which is processed through a notary public, you do not have to hire a lawyer, although it is recommended for legal counselling and documentation review. However, in a contested divorce, it is mandatory to address to divorce lawyers in Greece, as the law states that individuals can’t submit divorce paperwork without the assistance of a specialized lawyer.

What is the divorce trend in Greece?

When we refer to the divorce in Greece, the following are available:

according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority, in 2022, there were 14,477 divorces, marking a 4% increase compared to 2021;
out of these divorces, 11,638 were mutual consent divorces (the data shows that 8 out of 10 divorces completed in the last 5 years up to 2022 are resolved through the mutual consent procedure);
the highest number of divorces was observed in the case of spouses who have been married for 10 or more years (9,500 divorces), the highest rate in this category being of those married for 10 to 19 years (5,063);
regarding age, the highest number of divorce decrees was issued to persons aged 40-49 years old.