Best Trusts Lawyers in Vouliagmeni

About Trusts Law in Vouliagmeni, Greece

Vouliagmeni is part of the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni in the Attica region. Greek law is a civil law system and does not provide a domestic legal framework for private trusts in the common law sense. Individuals and families in Vouliagmeni who wish to use a trust typically rely on a foreign law trust formed in a jurisdiction that recognizes trusts. Greek authorities and courts may recognize the legal effects of a valid foreign trust where this does not conflict with Greek mandatory rules such as public policy, forced heirship, anti money laundering requirements, and tax law.

Because Greece has no homegrown trust statute, planning that involves Greek assets or Greek tax residents usually combines a foreign trust with careful compliance under Greek civil, property, inheritance, and tax rules. In many cases, alternatives under Greek law can achieve similar goals, such as companies, usufruct and bare ownership splits, foundations for public benefit purposes, wills with careful choice of law, prenuptial or postnuptial arrangements, and structured gifts.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Trust related issues in Vouliagmeni often involve multiple legal systems. A local lawyer can help you:

- Acquire or hold real estate in Vouliagmeni through a foreign trust, including dealing with notaries, the Hellenic Cadastre, and tax registration requirements.

- Structure succession plans that respect Greek forced heirship while using a foreign trust or trust like alternatives.

- Navigate Greek tax treatment of contributions to a trust, ongoing income, and distributions to Greek residents, and handle gift and inheritance tax exposures.

- Comply with anti money laundering, beneficial ownership, and reporting obligations that may apply to trusts with Greek connections.

- Coordinate between the law of the trust jurisdiction and Greek private international law, avoiding conflicts that could jeopardize the structure.

- Resolve disputes among beneficiaries, trustees, or heirs in Greek courts, or interface with foreign courts where the trust is governed.

- Review lending, banking, and KYC requirements when a trust buys property or opens accounts connected to Greece.

Local Laws Overview

- No domestic private trust law: Greek law does not create or govern private trusts. Foreign trusts may be recognized if valid under their governing law and not contrary to Greek mandatory rules.

- Forced heirship: Greek inheritance law grants a reserved portion to close family, typically descendants and sometimes the spouse and parents. Any arrangement, including a foreign trust that effectively deprives forced heirs, may be challenged in Greece.

- EU succession choice of law: Under the EU Succession Regulation, some individuals can choose the law of their nationality to govern their estate. This tool can interact with trust planning, but it does not by itself create a Greek trust and does not override Greek mandatory rules where public policy applies.

- Property formalities: Transfers of Greek real estate require a Greek notarial deed and registration with the Hellenic Cadastre or Land Registry. If a trustee buys property, the notary will require proof of the trustee’s authority, trust documentation, certified translations, apostilles where needed, tax identification numbers, and disclosure of beneficial owners under anti money laundering rules.

- Beneficial ownership and AML: Greece has a central beneficial ownership framework under anti money laundering law. Express trusts that acquire property in Greece or have a Greek tax obligation may have to disclose beneficial owners in the Greek register and comply with KYC and source of funds checks.

- Tax framework: Greek income tax, gift and inheritance tax, and real estate taxes can apply depending on residence, the type of asset, and the nature of trust distributions. Contributions to or from a trust may be treated as gifts or inheritances, certain distributions may be taxed as income, and annual property taxes apply to Greek real estate. Anti avoidance rules, controlled foreign company rules, and reporting regimes can be relevant.

- Court and professional infrastructure: Matters are typically handled with the Athens courts, local notaries, and the Hellenic Cadastre for Attica. Lawyers admitted to the Athens Bar regularly handle Vouliagmeni property and succession matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are trusts recognized in Greece?

Greece does not have domestic private trust law. However, a foreign trust valid under its governing law may be recognized for certain purposes in Greece, provided it does not conflict with Greek mandatory rules such as forced heirship, public policy, anti money laundering, and tax law.

Can I set up a Greek trust?

No. You cannot establish a private trust under Greek domestic law. If a trust is desired, it is typically formed in a foreign jurisdiction that recognizes trusts, then coordinated with Greek law for assets or beneficiaries connected to Greece.

Can a foreign trust buy property in Vouliagmeni?

Yes, a trustee of a valid foreign trust can generally acquire Greek real estate, subject to standard property formalities. The notary and registry will require trust documents, certified translations, evidence of the trustee’s authority, tax numbers, and disclosure of beneficial owners. Compliance with anti money laundering and tax rules is essential.

How does Greek forced heirship affect trusts?

Greek law protects the reserved portion of certain heirs. If a foreign trust arrangement reduces the reserved portion, heirs may challenge gifts or transfers, including those routed through a trust. Planning must account for these rights to reduce litigation risk.

How are trust distributions taxed in Greece?

Tax treatment depends on the facts. Distributions to Greek tax residents can be treated as income, or as gifts or inheritances, depending on timing, the trust deed, and the source of funds. Greek real estate in a trust can trigger annual property tax. You should obtain personalized tax advice before funding or distributing from a trust.

Do trusts have to register in Greece?

A foreign trust that acquires Greek property or has a Greek tax obligation may need to obtain a Greek tax number and report beneficial ownership information under anti money laundering rules. Registration obligations depend on the trust’s activities and connections with Greece.

What documents will Greek authorities request for a trust property purchase?

Common items include the trust deed and any amendments, a certificate of good standing or existence for the trustee if it is an entity, trustee resolutions, proof of authority to buy, certified translations into Greek, apostilles where applicable, tax identification numbers for the trustee and possibly beneficiaries, proof of funds, and KYC documents.

Can a Greek court set aside a trust transfer?

A Greek court can disregard or unwind transfers that breach mandatory rules such as forced heirship, fraudulent conveyance doctrines, or public policy. The risk increases if a transfer into the trust was designed to defeat creditors or forced heirs.

What role does a notary play in trust related real estate deals?

For Greek property, the notary drafts and executes the deed, verifies parties and authority, ensures tax and registry compliance, and files the deed with the Hellenic Cadastre or Land Registry. With trusts, the notary scrutinizes authority and documentation with particular care.

Are there alternatives to trusts under Greek law?

Yes. Depending on your goals, you can consider corporate holding structures, usufruct and bare ownership splits, lifetime gifts compliant with forced heirship, marital property agreements, wills with a choice of law where available, and foundations for public benefit purposes. A lawyer can model these options against your objectives.

Additional Resources

- Hellenic Ministry of Justice for civil law and court information.

- Independent Authority for Public Revenue AADE for tax registration, income tax, and gift and inheritance tax guidance.

- Hellenic Cadastre for property registration in Attica, including Vouliagmeni.

- Athens Bar Association for finding licensed lawyers experienced in trusts, succession, and property.

- Notarial Association of Athens Piraeus Aegean and Dodecanese for locating notaries handling real estate and inheritance deeds.

- Bank compliance departments for KYC and source of funds requirements when a trustee opens accounts or completes a property transaction.

Next Steps

- Clarify your goals: asset protection, succession, privacy, tax efficiency, philanthropy, or property acquisition in Vouliagmeni.

- Inventory connections: your residence, nationality, family members, the location of assets, and any existing wills or settlements. These factors drive conflict of laws and tax outcomes.

- Choose the right structure: a foreign trust, or a Greek law alternative, or a combination. Consider the governing law, trustee quality, and administrative burden.

- Engage local professionals: consult a lawyer in Athens with trust and succession experience, a notary for property matters, and a tax adviser familiar with Greek and cross border taxation.

- Prepare documentation: trust deed, identification documents, powers of attorney, translations, and apostilles. Obtain Greek tax numbers where needed.

- Plan for compliance: beneficial ownership disclosures, annual tax filings, real estate taxes, and reporting obligations such as CRS or DAC6 if applicable.

- Implement and review: complete transactions with proper deeds and registrations, then review the plan regularly for law changes and life events.