Bayraktar Attorneys advises Turkish and foreign clients on inheritance matters governed by Turkish Civil Law and international private law. Inheritance in Turkey involves strict rules, procedural steps and time limits that must be handled with care, and getting them right protects your rights and prevents disputes.
If you are a foreign heir, dealing with an estate in a country whose language and law are new to you is difficult at an already hard time. We take on the procedure for you, explain each step in clear English, and secure the assets you are entitled to under Turkish law.
Speak to an English-speaking inheritance lawyer about your rights and the next steps. The first consultation is free and there is no obligation.
Inheritance in Turkey is governed mainly by Turkish Civil Law, which sets out who inherits, in what shares, and how an estate is administered. When the estate has an international element, principles of international private law also come into play.
Two features shape most cases. First, the law recognises statutory heirs, such as the spouse and children, who inherit in fixed shares if there is no valid will. Second, the law protects certain heirs through reserved shares, a form of forced heirship, so a person cannot freely give away everything by will and leave protected relatives with nothing. We explain exactly how these rules apply to your family and assets.
Before an estate can be transferred, the heirs must usually establish, in a legally recognised way, who they are.
This is the document that proves the identity of the legal heirs and their shares in the estate. It can generally be obtained from a notary or from the Civil Court of Peace, and for foreign heirs the court route is often required. Without it, banks and the Land Registry will not release or transfer the deceased's assets.
Turkish inheritance procedures require formal steps before the courts or notaries. We represent heirs, executors and administrators throughout, ensuring the estate is dealt with in the correct order, obligations are met, and assets are lawfully distributed to those entitled to them.
An estate can carry debts as well as assets. Turkish law lets heirs consider whether to accept or, within the time limits, reject an inheritance, and it provides procedures where the estate may be insolvent. We advise on the safest course before you take any step that counts as acceptance.
Foreign nationals inheriting assets in Turkey, and Turkish families with assets abroad, face added complexity. We handle these cross-border matters regularly.
Inheritance in Turkey may trigger inheritance and transfer tax and a duty to file a declaration. Whether tax is due, and how much, depends on the type of asset and the position of the heir. We advise on the liabilities, any exemptions, the declaration requirements and the deadlines, so that you stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Once the heirs and shares are established, we handle the practical transfer of the assets. Where the estate includes property, that means registering the title deed into the heirs' names at the Land Registry. Because family circumstances such as marriage and divorce affect inheritance rights, we also coordinate with family law matters where they are relevant.
We learn the family situation and the assets involved, explain your rights under Turkish law, and set out the steps and likely timeline.
We obtain the certificate of inheritance and gather the documents that prove who the heirs are and what their shares should be.
We handle the probate steps before the courts or notaries, deal with the estate's obligations, and prepare the assets for transfer.
Where there is a disagreement or a contested will, we negotiate or litigate to protect your reserved share and your rightful interest.
We advise on inheritance tax and declarations, then register property and release bank accounts, shares and other assets to the heirs.
We act for foreign heirs and international families every day, entirely in English.
We handle foreign wills, conflict of laws and assets that span more than one country.
We manage the whole process, from the heirship certificate to registering the assets in your name.
We handle sensitive family matters with care and keep you clearly informed at every stage.
Atty. Nevzat Oğulcan Bayraktar
Confidential, English-speaking support from the heirship certificate to the transfer of every asset.
This page provides general information about inheritance and estates in Turkey in Turkey and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please contact Bayraktar Attorneys for a consultation.
