Maria
Lawyer · Corfu, Greece
- 436 cases handled
- 9+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, Greek, Russian
- Law, National and Capodistrian University of Athens
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4.96(35 reviews)
Modify Child Support or Alimony in Greece
In Greek law child support and alimony are one word, διατροφή: maintenance for a child, a spouse or a former spouse. When income, needs or where the child lives change, the amount can be changed by a new agreement or by asking the court to review it; English-speaking lawyers in Greece handle both, as well as unpaid maintenance and cases where one parent lives abroad.
About Modify Child Support or Alimony in Greece
Child support and alimony are, in Greek, a single word: διατροφή (diatrofi) — maintenance for a child (διατροφή τέκνου) or for a spouse or former spouse (διατροφή συζύγου). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Modification Child Support or Alimony Agreements”. Whatever the name, the question is the same: the amount fixed in an agreement or a court order no longer fits — someone lost a job, moved abroad, the child grew older — and it has to be changed, reduced or increased, or it is simply not being paid. People search for child maintenance in Greece, how to modify child support or how alimony works after a Greek divorce.
Who this concerns
The parent paying or receiving maintenance for a child in Greece, a former spouse who receives or pays maintenance after a divorce, parents of an adult child who is still studying, and families where the payer lives in another country.
How maintenance works in Greece
Maintenance is first set by agreement — in a consensual divorce the parents' agreement on the children, including maintenance, is part of the notarial deed and stays in force for a period set by law — or by the court, which weighs the child's needs against the means of both parents. There is no fixed formula or table in Greece. Urgent cases are dealt with through interim measures (ασφαλιστικά μέτρα) or a temporary order.
To change the amount, the parties sign a new agreement, or either of them asks the court to review the decision (μεταρρύθμιση) because the circumstances the court relied on have changed. Maintenance for a former spouse continues only while that spouse cannot support themselves for reasons the law recognises, and it ends in the situations the law describes.
Points to watch
- Unpaid maintenance. An agreement in notarial form or a court decision is an enforceable title: wages and accounts can be attached, and wilful non-payment is a criminal offence in Greece.
- Joint custody. Shared or alternating residence does not cancel maintenance by itself; it changes how the costs are divided.
- A payer abroad. EU and international rules allow a Greek maintenance decision to be enforced in another country, and a foreign one in Greece.
What the lawyer does
A lawyer assesses whether a change is likely to be accepted, negotiates and drafts the new agreement, files the review application or defends against one, enforces unpaid amounts, and links the maintenance question to the custody arrangement, the divorce or the enforcement of a foreign decision.
Questions and answers
I lost my job. Can child support be reduced?
A real and lasting drop in income is a classic ground for a review; until the court decides or the other parent agrees, the existing amount remains due.
Does maintenance stop when the child comes of age?
Not automatically. An adult child who is still in education and cannot support itself may remain entitled, and the amount is reviewed accordingly.
The other parent does not pay. What can be done?
With a notarial agreement or a court order in hand, a lawyer starts enforcement and, where the non-payment is deliberate, a criminal complaint.
Is alimony for a former spouse common in Greece?
It exists but is conditional: the former spouse shows that they cannot support themselves from their own income and property, and a further reason the law recognises.
We agreed a new amount between ourselves. Is that enough?
A private agreement binds the two of you, but only a notarial deed or a court decision can be enforced directly; a lawyer puts the new amount in that form.
3 lawyers who provide Modify Child Support or Alimony in Greece
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Despina
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 251 cases handled
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, Greek
- Law, Athens University of Law
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4.95(12 reviews)
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Konstantinos
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 28 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek
- Degree in Law, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
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5.00(1 review)
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3 registered lawyers provide this service in Greece. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
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What our clients say about our service in Greece
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Always available and keen to help, a nice guy and easy to talk to.
— Jeffrey31 May 2019Modify Child Support or Alimony -
The lawyer replied quickly, was very helpful and gave me the information I needed, straight to the point.
— Anna07 Feb 2023 -
Super professional and very helpful, she gave us a great deal of help.
— Igoris03 Jan 2023 -
Very responsive, attentive to detail, with fair fees and flawless English.
— Juan12 Jan 2023 -
She replied extremely fast to my first inquiry, quickly arranged a meeting to go over the details, and answered all my questions. Reaching her by phone or text was easy, she was punctual, and she was fun and personable to talk to as well, with perfect English. After I had struggled for months to get this done on my own, she sorted everything out for me in record time. Anyone trying to navigate Greek bureaucracy should hire her, and I would recommend her.
— Ine06 Aug 2026 -
I am really happy with her. Every time I wrote she answered fast, so I never had to chase her for news of how things were going. She understood what I needed straight away and, with her perfect English, explained the parts I had not followed without making me feel stupid. She was also nice to deal with. The price was fair, and in short she got it done, so I am glad I chose her.
— Antoine03 Jul 2026 -
I cannot thank the lawyer enough for her expertise and dedication in handling my case. She was thorough and persistent and kept up good communication, in perfect English, at all times. She made a very difficult and stressful situation much easier to manage from afar. Extremely professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.
— Angelica09 May 2026 -
She is knowledgeable, approachable and very professional, with perfect English. She went over and above to find what I needed.
— Tracey21 Oct 2025 -
I recently worked with a lawyer who managed to get my divorce certificate within the promised timeline, even though the information I first gave was limited. From our very first contact she showed great professionalism and expertise. She was patient and understanding and took me through the process step by step, and her English was perfect, so I never had trouble following. I was truly impressed by her attention to detail and her commitment to my case. I am grateful for her dedication and support at what could have been a stressful time, and I was completely satisfied with the result. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs legal assistance. Thank you for the outstanding service!
— Yvonne08 Aug 2025 -
The lawyer was welcoming and very knowledgeable in the area where I needed help, and went above and beyond with information and solutions to keep the process as smooth and simple as possible. Her English was flawless, everything was completed promptly, and I could not be happier with my experience.
— Dean02 Jul 2025 -
She guided and educated me on the AFM VAT/TIN number process so that I could do a real estate transaction in Greece. I am very satisfied: it was simple and easy to get through.
— George12 May 2025 -
The lawyer was amazing. Communication was excellent, her English flawless, and she was professional and informative.
— William25 Feb 2025