Who owns what in a marriage in Greece?

Separate ownership during the marriage, with the gains shared at the end

In Greece each spouse owns their own property, and on divorce the spouse who contributed to the other's increase in wealth can claim a share of it.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

The default, not your case. This page describes what applies when a couple sign no contract. Family law changes, and a court can decide differently on the facts of a case. For a couple with a foreign spouse, take advice in each country involved. This is general information, not legal advice.

What applies by default

Property is separate during the marriage, and each spouse owns what they acquire.

When the marriage ends in divorce

A spouse may claim a share, up to a set fraction, of the increase in the other's property during the marriage, to the extent that they contributed to it.

A marriage contract

Spouses can agree on a regime in a notarial deed, including a community of acquisitions.

What stays your own, and gifts

Gifts and inheritances are not counted as an increase of property.

If one spouse is a foreigner

In member states that take part in the EU Matrimonial Property Regulation, the law that governs the spouses' property is set by common rules, and spouses may choose from a short list of laws in a written agreement. Check whether the country takes part.

Understand the legal system first

Greece belongs to the Civil law family. Family law grows out of the legal tradition, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Greece legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Can a foreigner buy property in Greece? →

Official sources

European e-Justice Portal: matrimonial property regimes in the EU

TheLawToKnow Tools’s marital property guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.