Process, requirements, documents, Apostille, and legal support (International–Turkey)
When a relative passes away leaving assets in Turkey (e.g., real estate, bank accounts, company shares, or other assets), heirs living abroad are often faced with a central question: How do I prove my heirship in Turkey? In most cases, there is no way around the Turkish Certificate of Inheritance.
The Turkish Certificate of Inheritance is called "Veraset İlamı" and is also known as "Mirasçılık Belgesi" (Heirship Certificate). It confirms who the heirs are and in what quota they inherit. Without this document, key steps of estate administration in Turkey are generally not possible – in particular:
On this page, we explain comprehensibly and practically how you can obtain the Certificate of Inheritance in Turkey from abroad, which documents are typically required (Apostille, translation, Power of Attorney), how long the procedure takes, and which common mistakes delay the process.
The Certificate of Inheritance ("Veraset İlamı") is an official proof of succession under Turkish law. It is usually issued by the competent Civil Court of Peace (Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi) and contains a list of heirs and their inheritance shares.
Important: The Turkish Certificate of Inheritance is not just "a form", but the legal basis relied upon by land registry offices, banks, and authorities in Turkey. Without Veraset İlamı, for example, no transfer is made for real estate and bank balances are often not paid out.
In international Turkish inheritance cases, there is often a parallelism of probate proofs: In your home country, inheritance rights are proven via a domestic grant of probate or a will. In Turkey, however, authorities and banks mostly demand a Turkish proof.
Typical situations in which heirs abroad need a Turkish Certificate of Inheritance:
The path to the Certificate of Inheritance in Turkey consists – simply put – of application, document review, and issuance. In practice, the quality of documents (Apostille, translation, Power of Attorney) determines whether the process runs smoothly or is unnecessarily delayed.
Which documents are required in individual cases depends on the family constellation and the assets in Turkey. The following documents are particularly common in international cases:
Practical Tip: In many cases, the problem is not "a document", but the form (Apostille, notarization, translation). Preparing documents correctly often saves weeks.
If heirs live abroad, central documents often originate from their home country (e.g., death certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates, probate documents). For these to be used in Turkey, two steps are usually crucial:
Especially in cross-border constellations (spelling of names, dual citizenship, differing registry data), consistent spelling of personal details is important. Small differences (e.g., middle names, spelling variations, place of birth) can trigger inquiries.
In many cases, a personal trip to Turkey is not required. With a correctly drafted Power of Attorney (PoA), the entire process can often be handled by an authorized representative – including application, communication, and receipt of documents.
It is important that the PoA fits in terms of content and form (e.g., explicit authorization for probate and land registry actions, depending on the goal). If further steps follow the Certificate of Inheritance (e.g., land registry transfer, sale, bank procedures), the PoA should be planned comprehensively from the beginning.
The duration depends heavily on the completeness of the documents and the complexity of the case. In simple constellations, issuance within 2 to 6 weeks is often realistic.
The following factors typically extend the duration:
A Certificate of Inheritance issued in your home country is not automatically equivalent in Turkey. In practice, Turkish authorities often require a Turkish proof ("Veraset İlamı").
However, foreign documents can be used supportively in Turkish proceedings – especially if they are properly prepared with Apostille and translation. This often helps to clarify the succession quickly, especially in cross-border estates.
The Certificate of Inheritance is usually the starting point. Depending on the estate, further steps typically follow. Particularly common are:
Many delays occur not because of "complicated laws", but due to formal details. The most common stumbling blocks:
We support international clients in inheritance cases involving Turkey – especially if you live abroad and need to organize the estate administration remotely. Our focus is on a clear, predictable, and legally secure process.
Typical services related to the Certificate of Inheritance (Veraset İlamı):
If you already have initial documents (death certificate, registry extracts, will/probate), we can quickly assess which steps make sense next and how the process can be carried out most efficiently.
Generally, statutory or testamentary heirs can file the application. In practice, the application is often handled by an authorized representative – especially if heirs live in the UK, USA, or Europe.
Typically at the Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi (Civil Court of Peace) at the last residence of the deceased in Turkey. If the deceased lived abroad, the connection to the real estate or the registry status may be relevant depending on the case. A short preliminary check helps to choose the correct jurisdiction.
Mostly death certificates, civil status documents (proof of kinship), ID copies, and – if available – foreign probate documents. Decisive is often not "what", but "how": Apostille, translation, and correct notarization.
Often not. With a suitable Power of Attorney, the representative can submit the application and handle correspondence. Whether personal participation is necessary in individual cases depends on the constellation, the court, and the documents.
Court fees are usually manageable. In international cases, costs mainly arise for Apostille, certified translations, and – if desired – legal representation. Proper preparation reduces rework and thus often the total costs.
After issuance, the Certificate of Inheritance can be received via the authorized law firm. Upon request, documentation/overview for further use (e.g., Land Registry, Bank) can be prepared.
A fast process usually succeeds if you (1) obtain all relevant documents early, (2) prepare Apostille/Translation cleanly, and (3) draft the Power of Attorney so that it also covers the next steps (Land Registry/Bank). We provide a clear checklist and structure the sequence.
In practice, Turkish authorities usually require a Turkish proof. However, the foreign Certificate of Inheritance can be helpful as evidence if properly prepared (Apostille/Translation). We check in each individual case how it can be optimally used in the Turkish procedure.
Write to us about your request without obligation. The more information you provide (e.g., residence of the deceased, assets in Turkey, number of heirs), the faster we can give a structured assessment and the next steps.
Important Note:
Sending an inquiry does not create a contractual relationship.
By sending the inquiry, Inheritance Turkey is requested to submit a non-binding fee offer.
A fee agreement is only concluded when the sender expressly confirms the fee offer by e-mail.