Costs

Greece

This page provides information about legal costs in Greece.

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Greece

Regulatory framework governing the fees of legal professions

Lawyers

Lawyers’ fees are laid down in Article 58 et seq. of Law 4194/2013 «Lawyers’ Code» (Government Gazette, Series I, No 208). In accordance with these provisions, a lawyer’s fee is determined freely by means of a written agreement with his/her principal or representative and it covers part of or the entire proceedings or more specific acts of the proceedings or legal tasks of any nature, either judicial or extra-judicial.

If there is no relevant written agreement determining the amount of the fee, that amount is determined on the basis of the value of the subject-matter of the proceedings (Article 63(1)) and, where the subject-matter of the proceedings cannot be estimated in money, the fee is calculated in accordance with Annex I to the Lawyers’ Code (Article 63(2)), which refers to «ANNEX Ι / Table of Lawyers’ Fees Incurred in Legal Proceedings».

Legal advisers – Legal counsels

Members of these professions are not distinguished from lawyers.

Bailiffs

Bailiffs’ fees are specifically determined. Bailiffs’ fees are determined under Article 50 of Law 2318/1995 «Bailiffs’ Code» (Government Gazette, Series I, No 126), as amended by Article 2 of Law 4336/2015 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 94). In accordance with these provisions, bailiffs’ fees are laid down in a joint decision of the Ministers for Finance and for Justice. The decision currently in force is Decision No 21798 of 11 March 2016 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 709/2016). The fees may, however, be increased by agreement, depending on the complexity of the task.

Notaries

Notaries’ fees are laid down in special provisions; specifically, in Article 40 of Law 2830/2000, as amended and currently in force.

Fixed costs

Fixed costs in criminal proceedings

Fixed costs for litigants in criminal proceedings

Lawyers’ fees in criminal cases are laid down in the Lawyers’ Code (Article 58 et seq.).

Stage of the criminal proceedings where fixed costs must be paid

Lawyers agree with their clients on when their fees will be paid. Generally, these fees are paid in instalments as proceedings progress.

Fixed costs in constitutional proceedings

Fixed costs for litigants in constitutional proceedings

Legal professionals’ fees are regulated as described above for administrative disputes as well.

Stage of the constitutional proceedings where fixed costs for litigants must be paid

Lawyers agree with their clients on when their fees will be paid. Generally, these fees are paid in instalments as proceedings progress.

Information to be provided by legal counsels in advance

Rights and obligations of the parties

The code of conduct for lawyers contains specific obligations as to how lawyers must perform their duties towards their clients. Any violation of those obligations constitutes a disciplinary offence. Fees are not explicitly mentioned among those obligations.

Sources of information on costs

Where can I find information on the determination of costs in Greece?

Information on lawyers’ fees may be found in the Lawyers’ Code or obtained from bar associations.

Information on notaries’ fees may be obtained from the Department for matters relating to Notary Offices and Land Registry Offices (Tmima Symvolaiografeion kai Ypothikofilakeion) of the Ministry of Justice, or from notaries’ associations (Symvolaiografiki Syllogoi) (legal persons governed by public law).

In what languages can I obtain information on the determination of costs in Greece?

Information on the determination of costs is available only in Greek.

Where can I obtain information on mediation/conciliation?

Please see the information that has been provided on the relevant page of the Portal, in particular with regard to mediation in Greece.

Where can I find additional information on costs?

Available website with information on costs

There is no website with such information.

Where can I find information on the average duration of various proceedings?

There is no such information for Greece.

Where can I find information on the average aggregate cost for a particular proceeding?

There is no information on aggregate costs for proceedings in Greece.

Value Added Tax

How is this information provided?

Lawyers’ services are subject to VAT. Relevant information may be obtained from the competent Taxation Department (Τmima Forologias) of the Ministry of Finance and from bar associations.

What are the applicable rates?

24%.

Legal aid

Applicable income threshold for legal aid in civil cases

Under Article 194 et seq. of the Code of Civil Procedure, legal aid is granted to persons who prove their inability to pay the costs of legal proceedings without jeopardising their or their families’ subsistence.

Under the conditions laid down in those Articles, legal aid may also be granted to foreign nationals and to stateless persons.

In civil cases legal aid is granted to low-income citizens in accordance with Article 41 et seq. of Law 4689/2020. (Low-income citizens entitled to legal aid in civil or commercial cases are those whose annual family income does not exceed two thirds of the minimum annual personal income established by the legislation in force.) Victims of the crimes referred to in Article 41(3) of the above Law are also entitled to legal aid in relation to any criminal or civil claims they bring.

Legal aid includes the costs of proceedings, notaries’ and bailiffs’ fees and lawyers’ fees (Article 199 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as amended by Law 4055/2012).

Applicable income threshold for legal aid to defendants in criminal cases

Under Article 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a defendant without legal counsel is assigned a lawyer from the relevant list of the local bar association.

In criminal cases legal aid is granted to low-income citizens in accordance with Law 4689/2020.

Applicable income threshold for legal aid to victims in criminal cases

The provisions of Law 4689/2020 allow for legal aid to be granted to low-income citizens of EU Member States, as well as to low-income third-country nationals and stateless persons, provided that they have their legal or habitual residence in the EU.

Other conditions for granting legal aid to victims

Legal aid is granted to low-income citizens of EU Member States, as well as to low-income third-country nationals and stateless persons, provided that they have their legal or habitual residence in the EU. There is no provision for other conditions.

Other conditions for granting legal aid to defendants

None.

Court proceedings free of charge

None.

When does the losing party have to pay the winning party’s costs?

Once a court issues a decision, the legal costs and expenses incurred by the winning party generally become payable by the losing party, depending on the extent of each party’s victory or loss. The court must also make this part of the decision enforceable. Expenses and costs are calculated according to the above rules, with particular consideration for provisions on legal professionals’ fees and possible fixed costs for litigants in civil proceedings. The calculated amount is generally less than the actual costs.

Experts’ fees

Experts set their own fees, which, if requested, are included in the legal costs awarded by the court.

Translators’ and interpreters’ fees

Translators and interpreters set their own fees, which are included, if so requested, in the legal costs awarded by the court.

Related links

Plenary of Greek Bar Associations

Athens Bar Association

Piraeus Bar Association

Thessaloniki Bar Association

Coordinating Committee of the Chambers of Notaries of Greece

Thessaloniki Notary Association

Coordinating Committee of the Chambers of Notaries of Greece

Greek Bailiffs’ Federation

Related documents

Greece’s Report for the Study on the Transparency of Costs  PDF (849 Kb) en

Last update: 25/04/2023

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