Despina
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 251 cases handled · 15 in this service
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, Greek
- Law, Athens University of Law
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4.95(12 reviews)
Recognition of Foreign Divorce in Greece
A divorce obtained outside Greece counts in the Greek registers only once Greece accepts it: decisions from EU countries are generally accepted on the strength of the decision and its certificate, while decisions from other countries are recognised by a Greek court first. English-speaking lawyers in Greece handle the court petition, the documents and the registry entry, also for clients who live abroad.
About Recognition of Foreign Divorce in Greece
Recognition of a foreign divorce in Greece (αναγνώριση αλλοδαπής απόφασης διαζυγίου) is the step that makes a divorce granted in another country count in Greece — so that the marriage no longer appears in the Greek records and a new marriage, an inheritance or a citizenship file can go ahead. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Register Foreign Divorce”; registration of a foreign divorce at the registry is indeed the final step, but for decisions from outside the EU a court has to accept the decision first. Lawyers also speak of recognition of a foreign judgment (αναγνώριση δεδικασμένου).
Who needs it
Greek citizens and people of Greek origin who divorced abroad — in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada or elsewhere — and whose marriage is still recorded in Greece; foreigners who want to remarry in Greece; heirs settling a Greek estate where the deceased had divorced abroad; and anyone whose Greek paperwork still shows them as married.
EU decisions and the rest
A divorce decided in another EU country circulates under EU rules: it is generally accepted without a separate procedure, on the basis of the decision and the certificate issued by the court or authority of origin, and is then noted at the civil registry (Ληξιαρχείο) or, for events of Greek citizens abroad, at the Special Registry in Athens (Ειδικό Ληξιαρχείο Αθηνών).
A divorce from a country outside the EU goes through a Greek court, usually in Athens. A lawyer files a petition on behalf of one or both former spouses. The court does not retry the divorce: it checks that the foreign court was competent and that basic fairness was respected. The petition is supported by a certified copy of the full decision, a certificate that it is final and no longer open to appeal (πιστοποιητικό τελεσιδικίας), an apostille or consular legalisation, and an official Greek translation. Once the Greek decision is issued, the divorce is entered in the registers.
Points to watch
- A certificate of divorce alone is usually not enough for the court; the full reasoned decision is needed.
- The petitioner is generally expected to have a Greek tax number; see AFM number application.
- A religious or administrative divorce from abroad is examined on its own terms; a lawyer checks whether it qualifies.
- Parts of the foreign decision about children or maintenance may need separate enforcement in Greece.
What the lawyer does
A lawyer checks which route applies, gathers and legalises the documents, arranges the translation, files and argues the petition, and makes the final registry entry — the whole case can be run from abroad under a power of attorney.
Questions and answers
Do I need to come to Greece?
Usually not. The lawyer acts under a power of attorney signed at a Greek consulate or legalised with an apostille.
My divorce is from the United Kingdom. Is that EU or non-EU?
A lawyer checks the date of the decision and the transitional rules; recent British divorces are treated as decisions from outside the EU.
Can I remarry in Greece before recognition?
The municipality asks for proof that the earlier marriage has ended in a form Greece accepts, so for a non-EU divorce the recognition normally comes first; see marriage registration.
The other former spouse will not cooperate. Is that a problem?
Not usually. One former spouse can petition alone; the other is notified of the proceedings.
What if my marriage was never recorded in Greece?
Then there may be nothing to correct, and the foreign documents with an apostille and translation are often enough; a lawyer confirms what the receiving authority needs.
4 lawyers who provide Recognition of Foreign Divorce 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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Maria
Lawyer · Corfu, Greece
- 436 cases handled · 9 in this service
- 9+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, Greek, Russian
- Law, National and Capodistrian University of Athens
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4.96(35 reviews)
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Anastasia
Lawyer · Thessaloniki, Greece
- 98 cases handled · 4 in this service
- 8+ years in practice
- Speaks: French, English, Greek
- Law, Democritus University of Thrace
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5.00(4 reviews)
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Konstantinos
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 28 cases handled · 4 in this service
- 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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4 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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I highly recommend this lawyer. He is professional and knowledgeable, communication was very smooth, and his responsiveness truly made a difference. Anyone looking for a trustworthy and dedicated attorney will find him an excellent choice.
— Julien26 Feb 2026Recognition of Foreign Divorce -
The service was professional, quick and affordable. The lawyer was honest, straightforward and approachable, and she was always available to answer questions and give updates. I will certainly seek her services out again!
— B10 Nov 2025Recognition of Foreign Divorce -
I am really happy with my lawyer's service. She is friendly, knowledgeable and efficient, and she charges reasonable fees for her work. I am glad I chose her.
— Joao29 May 2025Recognition of Foreign Divorce -
I was pleased with the lawyer's knowledge and professionalism in a delicate case; the English was flawless.
— John05 May 2026 -
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