Understanding the types of judicial fees and advance payments is crucial for individuals and businesses navigating legal processes in Türkiye.
In this comprehensive 2025 guide, we break down what judicial fees are, their legal basis, how they are calculated, and the specific amounts payable in Turkish courts and enforcement offices this year.
What Is a Judicial Fee?
Judicial fees (yargı harçları) are payments collected by the state in exchange for providing public legal services. Unlike general taxes, these fees are tied to specific legal actions, such as filing a lawsuit or requesting enforcement.
Judicial fees are either fixed (maktu) or proportional (nispi) depending on the monetary value of the legal claim.
Some legal scholars define fees as public receivables that are not taxes, while others categorize them as a specific type of tax. In either case, judicial fees serve as a necessary financial component of legal procedures.
Legal Basis for Judicial Fees in Türkiye
Judicial fees must be established and regulated by law, as required by Article 73(3) of the Turkish Constitution. This provision stipulates that taxes, fees, and similar financial obligations must be imposed, amended, or abolished by law.
The main statute governing fees is the Law No. 492 on Fees (Harçlar Kanunu). Legal authority for judicial fees also derives from the:
Code of Civil Procedure (HMK) – for court-related fees
Enforcement and Bankruptcy Code (İİK) – for enforcement-related fees
⚠️ Legal Responsibility to Pay Judicial Fees
Under Turkish law, attorneys cannot be held personally liable to pay judicial fees or any out-of-pocket court expenses on behalf of their clients. These costs must be paid in advance by the client directly, and this obligation is non-transferable. Courts and enforcement offices will not process cases or motions unless the applicable fees are paid in full by the relevant party.
Types of Judicial Fees
1. Court Fees
Court fees are classified under Law No. 492 and include the following:
Application Fee (Başvurma Harcı)
Paid when initiating a case or making a legal request.
As of 2025:
Civil and administrative courts: 885.75 TL
Peace courts (Sulh Hukuk): 281.80 TL
Hearing Fee (Celse Harcı)
Charged when parties cause adjournments:
Fixed fee for peace courts: 240.50 TL
Proportional: 0.227% of the dispute value for other courts
Decision and Judgment Fee (Karar ve İlam Harcı)
0.6831% of the ruled amount in monetary disputes
25% paid upfront when filing the lawsuit
The remainder paid within one month after notification
Appeal Fees
First-instance appeal (İstinaf) application: 1,683.10 TL
Istinaf decision and judgment fee (plaintiff): 1,013.90 TL
Supreme Court (Temyiz) application: 3,033.70 TL
Temyiz decision and judgment fee (plaintiff): 1,013.90 TL
For defendants, these fees may be calculated proportionally depending on the value of the appeal.
Discovery Fee (Keşif Harcı)
Charged when court orders an on-site inspection
2025 amount: 4,361.50 TL
Amendment Fee (Islah Harcı)
Arises when increasing the claim amount during litigation
Calculated as 0.6831% of the increased amount, divided by four
Power of Attorney Fee (Vekalet Harcı)
Paid when submitting a power of attorney in court
2025 amount: 87.50 TL
Bar Association Stamp (Baro Pulu)
Mandatory on all powers of attorney
2024 amount: 96.00 TL
While not always included in court costs, it is required under the Attorneyship Law
2. Enforcement (İcra) Fees
Enforcement fees are paid in legal actions involving debt collection, including both regular and accelerated enforcement.
Types and 2025 Fees:
Application Fee: 615.40 TL (fixed)
Advance Fee (Peşin Harç): 0.5% of the claim amount
Execution Fee: 615.40 TL
Seizure, Delivery, and Sale Fee: 1,445.00 TL
Collection Fee (Tahsil Harcı)
A proportional fee based on how and when payment is collected:
4.55% if paid after notification, before seizure
9.10% if paid after seizure but before sale
11.38% if collected via sale
Reduced rates for special finance-related collections
Waiver (Feragat) Fee
Applied when creditor withdraws enforcement
2.27% of the waived amount, typically paid by debtor
Prison Fee (Cezaevi Harcı)
2% of collected amount
Only applicable to creditors
Central Tracking Fee (Merkezi Takip Harcı)
2% of the claim in subscription-based enforcement
3. Constitutional Court Individual Application Fee
2025 amount: 5,064.47 TL
Judicial Fee Table for 2025
TypeFixed (TL)ProportionalApplication (Civil/Administrative)885.75—Application (Peace Courts)281.80—Hearing Fee240.500.227%Decision and Judgment Fee—0.6831%Istinaf Application1,683.10—Istinaf Decision Fee1,013.900.6831% / 4 (defendant)Temyiz Application3,033.70—Temyiz Decision Fee1,013.900.6831% / 4 (defendant)Discovery4,361.50—Amendment—0.6831% / 4 (of added value)Power of Attorney Fee87.50—Bar Association Stamp96.00—
Advance Payments in Litigation
Advance payments (avans) are deposits paid by plaintiffs for various procedural expenses during litigation. There are two types:
1. Litigation Expense Advance (Gider Avansı)
Required when initiating a lawsuit:
Covers notification fees and miscellaneous court costs
2025: 250 TL + notification fees per party
2. Evidence Advance (Delil Avansı)
Covers costs of gathering evidence, such as:
Witness or expert fees
Document requests
On-site inspections
Each party must pay for the evidence they request
If not paid, the related evidence is considered waived
Key Differences Between Expense and Evidence Advances
The key difference between a litigation expense advance (gider avansı) and an evidence advance (delil avansı) lies in their necessity and legal consequences. A litigation expense advance is mandatory to file a case and is regulated under Article 120 of the Code of Civil Procedure (HMK).
If this advance is not paid, the court will dismiss the lawsuit due to the absence of a procedural requirement. In contrast, an evidence advance is not required to file a case, but is regulated under Article 324 HMK and is essential for proving specific claims.
If the party requesting a particular piece of evidence fails to pay the evidence advance, the court simply considers that the party has waived their right to rely on that evidence, and proceeds without it.
Thus, while a litigation expense advance affects the admissibility of the entire case, an evidence advance only affects the admissibility of specific pieces of evidence.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are initiating a lawsuit, appealing a decision, or enforcing a judgment in Türkiye, judicial fees and advance payments play a pivotal role. Mistakes in payment or miscalculations can result in dismissals or delays.
At Bayraktar Attorneys, we guide our clients through all stages of the Turkish legal system, providing clarity on judicial costs and ensuring you meet all procedural requirements. Let us protect your legal rights while you stay fully informed and compliant.
