Citizen Services
Custody of Children
Under Articles 1510 thru 1541 of the Greek Civil Code, both parents exercise custody of children while the marriage continues unless a Greek court decrees some other arrangement.
When one of the parents cannot exercise parental duties because of incarceration, long-term illness, absence, etc., or if the court has determined one parent to be an unfit guardian, care is exercised solely by the other parent.
If the marriage is dissolved by divorce, the court determines child custody. The court can also decree parental care to both parents, provided the parents have agreed with whom the children will reside. In case of a common consent divorce, the parents must agree after the divorce on the terms of parental care.
Greek family law holds that children come of age at eighteen.
Greece is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction since June 1, 1993. The Office of Children’s Issues is the central authority in the U.S. for international child custody issues. The Office of Children's Issues mailing address is SA-29, 2201 C Street NW, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520. The toll-free telephone number (within the U.S.) is 1-888-407-4747 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday.) Overseas callers may contact the Office at (202) 736-9133 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.)
Inquiries from parents in Greece regarding children taken to
the U.S., without the consent of the other parent should be addressed
to the Greek Central Authority, represented by the Greek Ministry of
Justice, Department of International Judicial Cooperation on Civil
Cases, 96 Messogeion Avenue, 115 27, Tel 210–776-7312,
Fax 210 – 776-74997.