A certificate of inheritance is usually the first formal document required when a deceased person leaves real estate, bank accounts, company shares, vehicles or other assets in Turkey. It identifies the legal or appointed heirs and states their respective inheritance shares.
The document is known in Turkish as a mirasçılık belgesi or veraset ilamı. Banks, land registry offices, tax offices, trade registries and other institutions may request it before allowing an heir to obtain information about, register or deal with estate assets.
The procedure is generally more complex when the deceased or an heir is a foreign national, the family records were issued abroad, a foreign will or probate document exists, or the estate includes assets in more than one country. In such cases, an application to a Turkish Civil Court of Peace is commonly required.
Foreign heirs living abroad may often complete the court application and many subsequent procedures through a Turkish lawyer holding an appropriately drafted power of attorney. Whether personal attendance is needed depends on the evidence, the court’s directions and any dispute concerning identity or heirship.
For assistance with an estate involving Turkey, see our Turkish inheritance lawyer services.
Quick Answer
A foreign heir generally obtains a certificate of inheritance in Turkey by applying to the competent Civil Court of Peace. The application should establish the death, nationality and family structure of the deceased and identify all potential heirs. Death certificates, birth and marriage records, family registry extracts, identity documents, wills and foreign probate records may be required.
Documents issued abroad may need an apostille or consular legalisation, followed by a certified Turkish translation. The resulting certificate proves heirship and inheritance shares, but separate tax, banking, land registry and estate-distribution procedures may still be necessary.
Do You Need a Turkish Certificate of Inheritance?
The appropriate route depends on the nationality of the applicant and deceased, the available civil records and the nature of the estate.
| Situation | Likely route or consequence |
| The applicant is a foreign national | An application to a Civil Court of Peace will generally be required. |
| The deceased was a foreign national | The court may need foreign civil-status records and information about the applicable foreign succession law. |
| All relevant persons are Turkish citizens and Turkish registry records are complete | A Turkish notary may be able to issue the certificate. |
| The estate includes real estate in Turkey | A Turkish certificate and separate tax and land registry procedures will generally be required. |
| A foreign probate or inheritance document already exists | It may be useful evidence, but it does not automatically replace the Turkish certificate. |
| The heir lives outside Turkey | Representation through a properly issued power of attorney may be possible. |
| Names or dates differ between records | Additional documents may be needed to prove that the records concern the same person. |
This table provides a general orientation only. The competent authority and documents should be determined from the particular family structure, nationalities and assets.
What Is a Certificate of Inheritance?
A certificate of inheritance is an official document identifying the deceased person’s heirs and the shares attributed to them under the applicable succession rules.
The certificate may show:
- The identity of the deceased
- The legal heirs
- An appointed heir or testamentary beneficiary, where applicable
- The relationship between the deceased and each heir
- The surviving spouse’s status
- Each heir’s proportionate share in the estate
The certificate creates a legal presumption concerning heirship and allows the persons named in it to prove their status before Turkish institutions. It is not, however, an absolute or irreversible determination. Under Article 598 of the Turkish Civil Code, the invalidity of a certificate may be asserted at any time. A person who was omitted, incorrectly included or assigned the wrong share may seek cancellation or correction.
When Is a Turkish Certificate of Inheritance Required?
The certificate is commonly required before heirs can take formal steps concerning assets situated in Turkey. It may be used to:
- Register inherited real estate in the heirs’ names
- Request information about the deceased’s Turkish bank accounts
- Begin the release or transfer of bank deposits
- Complete inheritance and transfer tax procedures
- Transfer vehicles, company shares or partnership interests
- Collect receivables belonging to the deceased
- Represent the estate before public authorities
- Establish standing in an inheritance dispute
- Begin division or partition procedures
- Sell inherited assets after the required registrations
The certificate establishes who the heirs are. It does not, by itself, transfer title, release funds, pay taxes or divide the estate.
Who Can Apply?
Any person who claims to be a legal heir may generally apply individually. The other heirs do not ordinarily need to submit a joint application or consent merely for the certificate to be issued.
One heir may therefore apply even if:
- Other heirs live in another country
- The heirs do not communicate with each other
- Another heir refuses to participate
- The estate has not yet been fully identified
- The heirs disagree about the future distribution of the assets
The court must nevertheless identify all heirs, not only the applicant. The applicant should disclose the known family structure and provide available information concerning every potential heir.
An appointed heir or testamentary beneficiary may also request a document establishing that status. Where the right arises from a will or another testamentary disposition, opening, notification and objection procedures may need to be completed first.
Notary or Court: Which Route Applies?
Turkish notaries may issue certificates of inheritance in certain straightforward domestic cases where Turkish civil registry records are complete and no judicial examination is required.
A notary cannot issue the certificate where the request is made by a foreign national. A court application will also commonly be required where:
- The deceased or one or more heirs is a foreign national
- Foreign family or civil-status records must be examined
- The deceased had more than one nationality
- A foreign will or probate decision exists
- A marriage, divorce, adoption or parent-child relationship requires examination
- Turkish registry records are incomplete
- The content of foreign succession law must be established
- Potential heirs dispute the family relationship or inheritance shares
Even if the applicant is a Turkish citizen, the notarial route may be unavailable where a foreign element cannot be resolved through Turkish civil registry records.
Which Court Issues the Certificate?
Court-issued certificates of inheritance fall within the jurisdiction of the Civil Court of Peace, known in Turkish as the Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi.
The appropriate territorial court should be assessed by considering:
- The deceased’s last residence in Turkey
- The location of the estate assets
- The residence of the applicant or other interested persons
- Whether the request concerns an initial certificate or cancellation of an existing certificate
- The procedural circumstances of the estate
Applications are commonly filed with the Civil Court of Peace at the deceased’s last residence in Turkey. Where the deceased had no residence in Turkey, the location of estate assets and the applicable procedural rules become particularly important. The competent court should be confirmed before filing rather than assumed from the location of a single asset.
Which Law Determines the Heirs?
Cross-border estates may require the Turkish court to consider both Turkish law and foreign law.
Article 20 of Law No. 5718 on Private International Law and International Civil Procedure provides, in general terms, that inheritance is governed by the national law of the deceased, while Turkish law applies to immovable property located in Turkey. Rules concerning the reasons for opening the succession, its acquisition and distribution are governed by the law of the country where the estate is situated.
The court may therefore need to examine:
- The deceased’s nationality at the date of death
- Multiple nationality issues
- The type and location of estate assets
- Whether the estate contains real estate in Turkey
- The deceased’s family structure
- The existence and legal effect of a will
- The succession rules of the deceased’s national law
- Applicable Turkish mandatory and public-policy rules
For example, Turkish law applies to succession concerning real estate situated in Turkey even when the deceased was a foreign national. Different choice-of-law questions may arise for movable property or assets located outside Turkey.
For a wider overview, read our guide to inheritance rights of foreigners in Turkey.
Documents Required for the Application
The exact document list depends on the deceased’s and heirs’ nationalities, the family structure, the location of the assets, the issuing countries and whether a will exists. Collecting every available document is not always necessary; the first task is to identify what the Turkish court must establish.
Core identity and family documents
- Official death certificate
- Passport or identity record of the deceased
- Passport or identity records of the applicant and other heirs
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificate for a surviving spouse
- Full family or civil registry extracts showing parents, spouse and children
- Documents concerning children or other descendants
- Evidence of the deceased’s nationality and last residence
Documents required in particular cases
- Divorce judgments or divorce records
- Adoption or parentage records
- Name-change documents
- Records concerning predeceased relatives
- Foreign grant of probate or certificate of inheritance
- Original or certified copy of a will
- Records concerning dual or multiple nationality
- Evidence of assets in Turkey, including title deed or company information
Representation documents
- A power of attorney drafted for the intended court and subsequent transactions
- Apostille or consular legalisation, where required
- Certified Turkish translation
- Original or appropriately certified copies, depending on the authority and transaction
The court may request additional material where the family records are incomplete, abbreviated or inconsistent. A short-form death certificate that contains no family information will not necessarily establish the full line of succession.
Before paying for multiple apostilles and translations, it is sensible to confirm which documents are likely to be required. An unsuitable record can create additional cost and delay without proving the relevant family relationship.
Apostille, Legalisation and Turkish Translation
A foreign official document cannot always be filed directly with a Turkish court.
Where the issuing country and Turkey are both bound by the Hague Apostille Convention in their bilateral relations, civil-status documents will generally require an apostille from the competent authority in the issuing country. The current status and competent authorities should be checked through the HCCH Apostille Convention status information.
If the apostille system does not apply between the issuing country and Turkey, consular legalisation may be required. The sequence depends on the issuing country and may involve its competent domestic authority and the relevant Turkish embassy or consulate.
After authentication, foreign-language records generally need a Turkish translation by an authorised translator. Depending on where the translation is prepared and how the document will be used, notarisation or consular certification of the translation may also be required.
Before preparing a foreign document, check:
- Whether an apostille is available and effective in relation to Turkey
- Whether consular legalisation is required instead
- Whether the court needs an original, certified copy or recently issued record
- Whether the record is complete or abbreviated
- Whether it identifies parents, spouse and children
- Whether names and dates match the passports and Turkish records
- How the Turkish translation must be certified
An apostille verifies the origin of a public document. It does not prove that every statement in the document is legally sufficient for the Turkish inheritance application.
What If Names or Dates Are Different?
Identity discrepancies are common in cross-border inheritance files. The same person may be recorded differently because of:
- Different alphabets or transliteration systems
- Marriage or divorce
- Multiple citizenships
- Different surname conventions
- Missing middle names
- Typographical errors
- An administrative or judicial name change
- Differences in date formats
The court must be able to establish that the passport, death record, family documents, title deed and foreign probate record concern the same person. Depending on the discrepancy, supporting evidence may include name-change certificates, marriage or divorce records, consular statements, identity comparisons, additional civil registry records or a declaratory judgment.
These inconsistencies should be identified before filing. A petition that ignores an obvious name difference is more likely to generate requests for additional evidence.
Step-by-Step Court Application
1. Identify the deceased, potential heirs and Turkish assets
Prepare an accurate family outline, including the spouse, children, parents, predeceased relatives and descendants who may inherit in their place. Record the deceased’s nationalities, last residence and known assets in Turkey.
2. Determine the competent court and applicable succession rules
The correct court and applicable law should be assessed before documents are translated or the petition is filed. This is particularly important where the deceased had no residence in Turkey, held multiple nationalities or left both movable and immovable property.
3. Collect the necessary foreign records
Obtain documents that establish the death, identity, marriage and full family structure. If a will or foreign probate document exists, obtain an official or properly certified copy.
4. Complete authentication and translation
Arrange the correct apostille or legalisation and certified Turkish translations. Check names, dates and family information before submission.
5. Prepare and file the petition
The petition should explain the deceased’s identity and nationality, date and place of death, last residence, the applicant’s relationship, the known family structure, the location of potential heirs, assets in Turkey and the existence of any will or foreign probate proceeding.
6. Respond to the court’s requests
The court may obtain Turkish registry records, request additional foreign documents, seek information about foreign law, appoint an expert, hear witnesses or examine a will. The response should address precisely what is missing rather than resubmitting the same incomplete evidence.
7. Obtain the certificate and certified copies
Once satisfied, the court identifies the heirs and calculates their shares. Certified copies may be needed for tax, banking, land registry and other institutional procedures.
8. Complete the asset-specific procedures
Each estate asset must then be dealt with under the rules applied by the relevant tax office, bank, land registry, trade registry or other institution.
Certificate proceedings are generally non-contentious. They may become contentious if another person challenges the family relationship, the applicable law, an existing certificate or a claimed inheritance share.
Can a Foreign Heir Complete the Procedure Without Travelling to Turkey?
In many cases, yes. A foreign heir may instruct a Turkish lawyer through a properly prepared power of attorney. The lawyer may file the application, follow the proceedings, submit documents and obtain certified copies, subject to the authority granted and any directions of the court.
Personal attendance may still be required where:
- The court requests a personal statement
- Family relationships cannot be established through official documents
- Identity discrepancies require clarification
- Another interested person contests the application
- Witness evidence or another form of personal examination becomes necessary
The power of attorney should be prepared for the actual work to be performed. Authority to conduct the court application does not necessarily include every later tax, banking, land registry, sale or distribution transaction. A power of attorney issued abroad may also need an apostille or consular legalisation, certified Turkish translation and delivery of the required original.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
There is no fixed period that applies to every court application, and a completion date should not be guaranteed before the documents and family structure are assessed.
The timeline may be affected by:
- The number, nationality and location of the heirs
- The countries in which the records were issued
- Apostille or legalisation requirements
- Missing or inconsistent family records
- Translation and certification procedures
- The existence of a will
- The need to establish foreign law
- Expert examination or witness evidence
- Objections by another heir
- Court workload and international correspondence
Preparation can reduce avoidable delay. Before filing, organise the family tree, obtain full civil-status records, compare names and dates, identify Turkish assets and disclose any will or foreign probate proceeding.
Is There a Deadline for Obtaining the Certificate?
Turkish law does not impose a single general deadline within which every heir must obtain a certificate of inheritance. Delaying the inheritance process may nevertheless create separate legal and practical risks.
Different time limits may apply to:
- Renunciation of the inheritance
- Inheritance and transfer tax declarations
- Objections to a will
- Reserved-share and other inheritance claims
- Claims concerning estate transactions
- Protection and administration of estate assets
The ordinary period for renouncing an inheritance under Turkish law is three months, although the starting point depends on the heir’s status and when the death or testamentary appointment was learned or notified. An heir considering renunciation should avoid selling, withdrawing or appropriating estate assets before obtaining advice. Obtaining a certificate and accepting or administering the inheritance are related but legally distinct matters.
Can a Foreign Probate Document Be Used in Turkey?
A foreign grant of probate, certificate of inheritance or similar document may provide important evidence of the deceased’s family structure, estate representation, testamentary arrangements or heirs under foreign law.
It does not automatically replace the certificate required by Turkish courts, banks, land registry offices or tax authorities. Depending on the nature of the document and its intended use, it may require:
- Apostille or consular legalisation
- Certified Turkish translation
- Recognition or enforcement proceedings where appropriate
- Examination together with civil-status records
- A separate Turkish certificate-of-inheritance application
Where the estate contains real estate situated in Turkey, a Turkish court-issued certificate will generally be required for inheritance registration. Recognition of a foreign judgment and obtaining a Turkish certificate are different procedures; the appropriate route depends on the issuing authority, legal effect of the foreign document and Turkish assets.
What Happens If There Is a Will?
The existence of a will does not eliminate the need to identify the legal and appointed heirs.
A will executed in Turkey may need to be opened and notified through the competent court. A will made abroad may require authentication, certified translation and examination under the applicable private international law rules.
The court may need to determine:
- Whether the will satisfies the applicable formal requirements
- Whether the deceased had testamentary capacity
- Whether the document appoints an heir or leaves a specific legacy
- Whether the will has been opened and notified
- Whether an objection has been filed
- Whether protected inheritance shares are affected
- Whether competing testamentary documents exist
Under Article 598 of the Turkish Civil Code, an appointed heir or testamentary beneficiary may receive a document showing that status if no objection is made within one month following the relevant notification. The issuance of the document does not prevent a separate action challenging the validity or effect of the will.
What Does the Certificate Not Do?
A certificate of inheritance is essential, but its function is limited. It does not automatically:
- Transfer title at the land registry
- Release money held in a bank account
- Divide the estate between the heirs
- Pay inheritance taxes
- Identify or discharge every estate debt
- Authorise one heir to sell another heir’s share
- Resolve every ownership dispute
- Establish that a will is unquestionably valid
- Remove restrictions applicable to foreign ownership
- Prevent later correction or cancellation
After the certificate is issued, each asset must be handled under the requirements of the institution holding or registering it.
What Happens After the Certificate Is Issued?
Inheritance and transfer tax
The heirs may need to file an inheritance and transfer tax declaration. The applicable filing period and required documents depend on factors including where the deceased died and where the heirs reside. The tax office may request the certificate, an asset list, valuations and supporting records.
Registration of inherited real estate
Inherited property must be registered in the heirs’ names at the competent land registry. The process may require the certificate, identity and tax documents, municipality and property records, certified translations and powers of attorney.
Rules affecting ownership by foreign nationals should be reviewed separately. Recognition as an heir does not necessarily mean that every property may be retained or transferred without further examination. Our real estate law services in Turkey include inheritance registration and disputes involving jointly inherited property.
Bank accounts and financial assets
The certificate may be submitted to banks to request information and begin the release or transfer process. A bank may also require tax documentation, identification of all heirs, joint instructions, translated documents, a court order or transaction-specific powers of attorney.
The certificate alone does not necessarily authorise one heir to withdraw the entire balance.
Company shares, vehicles and other registered assets
Separate corporate, trade registry, vehicle registration or institutional procedures may be required. The company’s articles, shareholder records and applicable commercial-law provisions should be examined where the estate includes a business interest.
Division or sale of jointly inherited assets
Where several heirs receive the same asset, they may need to agree on its use, distribution or sale. If agreement is not possible, mediation or judicial partition and sale proceedings may need to be considered, depending on the type of dispute and asset.
Can the Certificate Be Corrected or Cancelled?
Yes. A certificate may be challenged if it:
- Omits a legal heir
- Includes a person who is not an heir
- States incorrect inheritance shares
- Relies on incomplete family records
- Fails to consider a marriage, divorce, adoption or parent-child relationship
- Applies Turkish or foreign law incorrectly
- Conflicts with a valid testamentary disposition
- Contains material identity errors
The invalidity of a certificate may be asserted at any time under Article 598 of the Turkish Civil Code. Cancellation and issuance of a new certificate may require proceedings involving the persons whose inheritance rights would be affected. The competent court, parties and procedural route should be determined from the existing certificate and requested correction.
Common Problems in Cross-Border Applications
Avoidable documentation errors frequently delay foreign inheritance files. Common problems include:
- Obtaining only an abbreviated death certificate
- Missing birth, marriage, divorce or adoption records
- Failing to identify children from an earlier relationship
- Inconsistent names, surnames or dates
- Using the wrong apostille or legalisation procedure
- Submitting an uncertified or unsuitable civil-status record
- Incomplete Turkish translations
- Assuming a foreign probate document is automatically sufficient
- Applying to a notary despite the applicant’s foreign nationality
- Failing to disclose a will or earlier probate proceeding
- Failing to establish the deceased’s correct nationality
- Using a power of attorney without the authority required for the planned work
- Assuming the certificate completes title, tax or banking procedures
- Ignoring renunciation, tax or claim deadlines
Preparing the family structure and document chain before filing can reduce requests for additional evidence, but it cannot eliminate issues that require judicial examination.
How Tuva Law Can Assist
Tuva Law assists foreign heirs, Turkish citizens living abroad and international families with inheritance matters involving assets or proceedings in Turkey.
Before the application
- Assessing the deceased’s and heirs’ nationalities, residence and family structure
- Identifying the likely Turkish procedure and competent court
- Reviewing foreign death and civil-status records
- Determining likely apostille, legalisation and translation requirements
- Reviewing wills, probate documents and information about Turkish assets
- Identifying name or identity inconsistencies before filing
During the court proceedings
- Preparing and filing the certificate-of-inheritance application
- Submitting authenticated and translated evidence
- Responding to court requests for additional documents
- Assisting with evidence of foreign succession law where required
- Representing an heir through a properly drafted power of attorney
- Obtaining the certificate and certified copies
After the certificate
- Assisting with inheritance and transfer tax procedures
- Registering inherited real estate
- Coordinating applications concerning bank accounts and registered assets
- Advising on jointly inherited property and distribution
- Challenging or correcting an inaccurate certificate
- Representing heirs in connected inheritance disputes
The required work depends on the individual estate. The applicable law, documents and later transactions should be assessed before the scope of representation is determined.
Key Points for Foreign Heirs
- A foreign applicant will generally need a certificate issued by a Turkish Civil Court of Peace.
- The court must identify every heir, even where only one heir applies.
- Complete records showing the death and family structure are more useful than abbreviated certificates.
- Foreign documents may require an apostille or consular legalisation and a certified Turkish translation.
- A foreign probate document may be evidence but may not replace the Turkish certificate.
- The certificate proves heirship; it does not complete tax, banking, land registry or distribution procedures.
- A foreign heir may often act through a lawyer without travelling to Turkey, but the power of attorney must match the intended procedures.
- Renunciation, tax and inheritance claims may be subject to separate deadlines.
Request an Initial Assessment
If you need to obtain, use, correct or challenge a certificate of inheritance concerning assets in Turkey, you may request an initial assessment from Tuva Law and Consultancy.
In your initial message, please briefly state:
- Your relationship to the deceased
- Your nationality and current country of residence
- The deceased’s nationality, date and place of death
- The deceased’s last country of residence
- The known assets in Turkey, such as real estate, bank accounts or company shares
- Whether a will exists
- Whether a foreign probate or inheritance document has been issued
- Whether a Turkish certificate has already been obtained
- Whether any court, tax, banking or land registry procedure is pending
- Any known deadline or urgent risk affecting the estate
Please do not send complete passport copies, unredacted civil-status records or other sensitive personal documents in your first message. We can explain which documents are required after an initial conflict and matter assessment.
Phone and WhatsApp: +90 545 346 00 06
Email: info@tuvahukuk.com
Office: Eti Mahallesi, Toros Sokak No: 1/11, Sıhhiye, Çankaya, Ankara, Türkiye
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a certificate of inheritance in Turkey?
It is an official document identifying a deceased person’s legal or appointed heirs and their respective inheritance shares. In Turkish, it is called a mirasçılık belgesi or veraset ilamı.
Can a foreign national obtain the certificate from a Turkish notary?
No. A notary cannot issue the certificate where the request is made by a foreign national. The foreign applicant will generally need to apply to a Turkish Civil Court of Peace.
Which court issues the certificate for foreign heirs?
The application falls within the jurisdiction of the Civil Court of Peace. The appropriate territorial court should be determined from the deceased’s residence, the location of estate assets and the particular procedural circumstances.
Does every heir have to join the application?
No. One legal heir may generally apply individually. The court must nevertheless identify all heirs and calculate their shares, so information and documents concerning the complete family structure should be provided.
Must a foreign heir travel to Turkey?
Not in every case. A Turkish lawyer may often conduct the application under a properly prepared power of attorney. The court may still request personal attendance if identity, family relationships or disputed evidence cannot otherwise be established.
Do foreign documents need an apostille?
Where the Apostille Convention applies between the issuing country and Turkey, relevant official documents will generally require an apostille. Otherwise, consular legalisation may be necessary. Foreign-language documents usually also require a certified Turkish translation.
Is a foreign probate document sufficient in Turkey?
Not necessarily. It may be important evidence, but Turkish institutions may require authentication, translation, judicial recognition where appropriate or a separate certificate issued by a Turkish court.
How long does the court procedure take?
There is no guaranteed period. The timeline depends on the completeness of the documents, number and nationality of the heirs, applicable foreign law, identity discrepancies, expert examination and court workload.
Does a certificate of inheritance expire?
It does not ordinarily expire on a fixed date. It may, however, be corrected or cancelled if inaccurate, and a bank, land registry or other institution may request a recent certified copy.
Does obtaining the certificate transfer inherited property?
No. The certificate proves heirship. Separate inheritance tax and land registry procedures are required to register inherited real estate in the heirs’ names.
Can an incorrect certificate be challenged?
Yes. An omitted heir or another interested person may seek cancellation or correction. Under Article 598 of the Turkish Civil Code, the invalidity of the certificate may be asserted at any time.
Can inherited property be sold immediately?
The necessary inheritance registration, tax and land registry procedures generally need to be completed first. One co-heir cannot independently sell the shares belonging to the other heirs.
Contact Tuva Law and Consultancy
If an estate includes property, bank accounts, company shares or another asset in Turkey, you may contact our legal team for an assessment of the certificate and the procedures that may follow it.
Phone and WhatsApp: +90 545 346 00 06
Email: info@tuvahukuk.com
Office: Eti Mahallesi, Toros Sokak No: 1/11, Sıhhiye, Çankaya, Ankara, Türkiye
Legal Review
Reviewed by: Attorney Osman Selçuk Akyüz
Position: Founding Attorney – Ankara Bar Association
Last reviewed: September 12, 2026
Legal Disclaimer
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion concerning a particular estate. The applicable law, competent court, required documents, authentication procedure and subsequent tax, banking or land registry steps may differ according to the nationality and residence of the deceased and heirs, the location and type of assets, the existence of a will and the procedural history of the estate.
