Family
Consensual divorce before a notary and a presumption of shared parenting
Family law sits in the Civil Code. Divorce by agreement can be completed by notarial deed without a court hearing, and a 2021 reform introduced a strong presumption in favour of joint exercise of parental responsibility.
Key rules
- Consensual divorce is concluded by notarial act, with each spouse represented by a lawyer.
- Contested divorce is available on the basis of an irretrievable breakdown, presumed after two years' separation.
- Parental responsibility is presumed to be exercised jointly after separation, with defined minimum contact.
Governing law
- Civil Code (Astikos Kodikas), Book IV
- Act 4800/2021 on parent-child relations after separation
In practice
Civil-registry marriages and church marriages both have civil effect, but the type of marriage affects the documents needed for divorce.