Turkish law, in English and Turkish
Legal matters connected to Türkiye.
Inheritance, property, family, company and employment matters under Turkish law, explained in English and Turkish for people in Türkiye, the UK or elsewhere.
Which area of law applies?
Each area page explains which law applies, which court decides, the deadlines and the documents to prepare.
- Medical negligenceDiagnosis and treatment errors, consent, cosmetic surgery and birth injuries, and claims against hospitals and doctors.Code of Obligations 6098; Consumer Protection Law 6502; Administrative Procedure Law 2577
- Dental negligenceImplants, veneers and other dental work, including treatment received while visiting Türkiye.Code of Obligations 6098; Consumer Protection Law 6502; Law 1219
- Inheritance and probateHeirs and their shares, the certificate of inheritance, refusing an estate, wills and sharing the estate.Civil Code 4721; Private International Law Act 5718; Inheritance and Transfer Tax Law 7338
- Real estateTitle transfers, foreign buyers, title and co-ownership disputes, tenancies, apartment buildings and urban regeneration.Land Registry Law 2644; Civil Code 4721; Code of Obligations 6098; Condominium Law 634
- Compensation and insurance claimsTraffic accident claims, vehicle depreciation and loss of use, injury and death compensation, insurance disputes and compensation for wrongful detention.Highway Traffic Act 2918; Code of Obligations 6098; Insurance Law 5684
- Company lawForming a company, foreign shareholders, share transfers, capital changes, shareholder disputes and liquidation.Turkish Commercial Code 6102; Foreign Direct Investment Law 4875; Mediation Law 6325
- Employment lawDismissal, reinstatement, severance and notice pay, and compulsory mediation.Labour Act 4857; Labour Courts Act 7036; Social Insurance Law 5510; Code of Obligations 6098
- Family lawDivorce, custody, maintenance, matrimonial property, paternity, protection orders and recognition of foreign divorces.Civil Code 4721; Private International Law Act 5718; Civil Registration Services Law 5490; Law 6284
- Immigration and residenceResidence and work permits, deportation and entry bans, and Turkish citizenship.Foreigners Law 6458; International Labour Force Law 6735; Citizenship Law 5901; Administrative Procedure Law 2577
- Criminal law and procedureCustody and detention, the heavy penal court, common offences, reconciliation, HAGB and criminal records, sentences and victims' rights.Criminal Code 5237; Criminal Procedure Code 5271; Courts Law 5235; Criminal Records Law 5352; Sentence Enforcement Law 5275
Handling a matter from abroad
Most matters in Türkiye can be handled without travelling. Documents usually go through these steps, in this order.
Power of attorney
Sign a power of attorney (vekâletname) at a Turkish consulate — in the UK, the Consulate General in London by appointment — or before a UK notary public. A power of attorney for title-deed transactions has extra requirements at the consulate, such as the new-type Turkish identity card.
Apostille
A document signed before a UK notary, or issued by a UK authority, needs an apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office before it can be used in Türkiye; both countries are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. A power of attorney made at a Turkish consulate is a Turkish document and needs no apostille.
Sworn translation
In Türkiye, a sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) translates the document into Turkish and a notary certifies the translation before it goes to a court, the land registry or another authority.
Calculators
Preliminary calculations using the parameters in force on the date shown. They are no substitute for advice on your own case. All calculators
- Severance and notice pay calculator Gross severance and notice pay from your dates of service and last wage, with the ceiling for the termination date applied.
- Statutory interest calculator Simple interest on a sum over a date range, with each rate period counted separately.
- Rent increase calculator The most a residential or business rent may rise at renewal, from the 12-month average CPI change.
- Title-deed fee calculator The buyer's and seller's title-deed fee on a sale, from the declared price.
Preparing for a first meeting
A first meeting is more useful when the papers and the dates are to hand.
Gather the documents
Contracts, title deeds, court papers, letters and anything else about the matter, in date order.
Note the key dates
When things happened, and any deadline you have been told about. Some time limits in Turkish law are short.
Write down your questions
What you need to decide and what you want to know. The meeting can then go straight to them.
Publications
Notes on Turkish law and procedure, dated and reviewed.
Getting in touch
Write or call in English or Turkish with a short account of what happened and the dates that matter. You will be told whether this practice can take the matter on.
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