Greece links land registry and tax records to identify properties tied to unclaimed estates

The new procedure will enable authorities to consolidate property ownership and inheritance records, reducing the need to obtain information from multiple public services.

Under Ministerial Decision No. 37605 EX 2026, published in Government Gazette B΄ 6344 on 21 October, the government has approved the provision of six online services to the Ministry of National Economy and Finance’s Charitable Assets Information System.

The decision, signed by Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, provides for the exchange of information through the Interoperability Centre of the General Secretariat for Information Systems and Digital Governance.

The objective is to facilitate the identification of assets belonging to unclaimed estates, the tracing of legal heirs and, where the statutory requirements are met, the recognition of the Greek State’s inheritance rights.

Property Searches Using Tax Identification Numbers

One of the key provisions of the decision is the ability to retrieve property information from the Hellenic Cadastre using the property owner’s Tax Identification Number (AFM).

The online service, entitled “Provision of Data from the National Cadastre Information System”, enables authorities to search for properties, addresses, buildings and ancillary structures, as well as retrieve lists of properties together with their corresponding cadastral identification numbers and ownership shares.

The framework also provides access to basic property information from the Property Register for deceased taxpayers. By combining data from these two sources, the competent authorities and estate administrators will be able to compile a more comprehensive picture of a deceased person’s real estate holdings, rather than relying exclusively on documents already included in the inheritance file.

This capability is particularly important in cases where the deceased owned multiple properties in different locations or held fractional ownership interests in jointly owned assets.

The information retrieved is expected to be entered into the electronic Registers of Charitable Assets and Unclaimed Estates by the relevant executors, liquidators, estate guardians and other authorised administrators.

Electronic Identification of Heirs

The decision also extends digital integration to the Civil Registry, enabling searches for death certificates, birth certificates, certificates of family status and records identifying next of kin. Searches of family registers will also be possible, helping authorities reconstruct the line of succession.

This functionality is intended to identify individuals who may have inheritance rights and gather the documentation required for the relevant administrative and judicial proceedings.

The process is particularly important because an inheritance does not automatically pass to the State simply because no heir has come forward. The succession must first be investigated, and the prescribed procedures for establishing the relevant inheritance rights must be completed.

What Are Unclaimed Estates?

An estate is classified as unclaimed when the heir is unknown or it is uncertain whether the inheritance has been accepted. Such estates may include residential properties, commercial real estate, plots of land, agricultural land, bank deposits and other property rights.

Until the inheritance status is clarified, the estate is subject to a special administration procedure intended to preserve its assets and identify the lawful beneficiaries.

The Greek State may acquire inheritance rights under the conditions established by law. However, the new ministerial decision does not amend the rules governing inheritance or provide for the automatic transfer of properties into state ownership.

Its purpose is to facilitate electronic access to the information required to implement existing legal procedures.

Implications for the Property Market

The integration of public registers could help identify assets that remain outside active economic use because of unresolved inheritance issues. Clarifying ownership is a fundamental prerequisite for transferring, financing or developing a property.

Properties with uncertain ownership or incomplete title documentation face significant restrictions on their potential use, even when located in areas with strong investment demand.

Consolidating the necessary information within a digital system could reduce administrative costs and accelerate the preparation of the relevant case files.

However, recording a property in the Cadastre or the Property Register does not replace title verification, the formal identification of heirs or the completion of the procedures required to establish ownership and transfer the estate.

Cross-Checking Bank Account Details

The six online services also include the verification of bank account details by matching an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) with the beneficiary’s Tax Identification Number.

This functionality is intended to confirm the accuracy of banking information recorded in the Registers of Charitable Assets and Unclaimed Estates.

It will also be used to verify the bank accounts of scholarship recipients under bequests administered directly by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance.

The service is strictly limited to verifying account details and does not provide general access to bank deposit balances.