Family Matters
Family cases reach into the most private part of a life. We handle them with discretion and a level head, looking first for an agreed settlement and putting the case firmly to the court when agreement is out of reach.
In a divorce or a dispute about the children, legal strategy cannot be separated from the people involved: the children themselves, the household finances, the life that resumes the next morning. We begin with a candid account of where you stand. What can realistically be claimed, what each route costs in time and money, and where there is room for agreement.
Where the parties can agree, an uncontested divorce is now completed quickly and with dignity. It is signed before a notary rather than heard by a court, and the same agreement settles custody, maintenance and contact. Where they cannot agree, we prepare the file thoroughly (incomes, assets, the facts as they happened) so that your position holds up at the hearing. An accredited mediator practises in this office, so the middle route of family mediation is always open to you.
Matters we typically handle
Divorce, by agreement or contested
An uncontested divorce is completed before a notary, with no court hearing, usually within a few weeks, and the same agreement settles the arrangements for the children. In a contested case we build a complete evidential file so that your position carries weight at the hearing.
Parents and children: maintenance, custody, contact
We settle maintenance, custody and contact by reference to the child’s interests, by agreement where that is possible and through the court where it is not. Where matters cannot wait, we apply for interim measures, the urgent procedure by which a Greek court puts a temporary arrangement in place until the main case is decided.
Matrimonial property disputes
Greek law keeps each spouse’s property separate and gives the other a monetary claim on what was acquired during the marriage. We pursue or resist that claim, and settle questions of the family home and of movable property, with the financial position documented in full.
Adoption
We handle the whole court process of adoption, from the file and the social work reports to the hearing and the final judgment.
Judicial support (guardianship)
Where a family member can no longer manage their own affairs, we apply for a judicial supporter to be appointed. This is the Greek counterpart of a deputyship or guardianship order, and we bring it with respect for the person and discretion towards the family.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly is an uncontested divorce completed?
Where there is agreement on the essentials (custody, maintenance, property), the notarial process is usually completed within a few weeks. The timing depends mainly on how ready the documents are.
How is child maintenance worked out?
By reference to the child’s needs and to the means of both parents. Greek law sets no fixed scale, which is exactly why documented income and actual expenditure carry so much weight.
What is the current position on shared custody?
Law 4800/2021, which reformed this area, makes joint exercise of parental responsibility the rule and sets a minimum period of contact with the parent the child does not live with. How that works out in practice depends on the circumstances of each family.
The answers above are general information and do not constitute legal advice on any specific matter.