Our international-law work is focused on cross-border matters that need to be handled in Türkiye or produce legal effects under Turkish law. A foreign party, a judgment issued abroad, a document drawn up in another country or assets located in Türkiye may each raise separate questions of jurisdiction, governing law and enforceability.
Starting with the Türkiye connection
The first step is to identify where the parties are based, where the relevant transaction or event occurred, where assets are located, whether the contract contains governing-law or jurisdiction clauses, and what result is sought in Türkiye. The presence of a foreign element does not by itself determine which law applies or which court has jurisdiction.
Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments
A judgment issued abroad may require recognition or enforcement proceedings before it can be relied on or enforced in Türkiye. The finality of the judgment, proper service, the scope of the foreign decision and the legal effect sought in Türkiye are reviewed before the appropriate procedure is selected.
Cross-border family and inheritance matters
Divorce, parental matters and inheritance cases can involve more than one country where the parties live abroad, a decision has been issued by a foreign court or assets are located in Türkiye. Issues may include recognition of a foreign decision, use of civil-status records, succession to Turkish assets and representation before Turkish authorities or courts.
Foreign individuals and businesses in Turkish contracts and debt recovery
Where a foreign individual or company has a contract, receivable, debtor or asset in Türkiye, the contract terms, dispute-resolution clauses, service requirements and available enforcement routes should be assessed together. In commercial matters, jurisdiction and governing-law clauses may materially affect the route to recovery.
Citizenship and residence-related processes
We assist with the Turkish-law aspects of citizenship and residence-related applications, including the legal basis of the application, required documentation and any subsequent administrative or judicial steps. The exact route depends on the applicant’s circumstances and the type of application.
Handling Turkish legal matters from abroad
A person living abroad may be able to conduct litigation, enforcement, inheritance, property or other legal matters in Türkiye through properly issued powers of attorney and supporting documents. The required form and wording should be checked before documents are signed abroad.
Foreign documents, apostille and translation
Foreign court decisions, civil-status records, corporate documents and powers of attorney may require an apostille, consular certification, sworn translation or notarisation depending on the country of origin and the purpose for which the document will be used in Türkiye. The requirement should be determined document by document rather than assumed.
Connections with Europe and the United Kingdom
A cross-border file may involve documents, parties or proceedings in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, France or the United Kingdom. We address the Turkish-law part of the matter in Türkiye. Where an issue depends on the law of another jurisdiction, separate advice from a lawyer qualified in that jurisdiction may be necessary.
Documents useful for an initial review
Please prepare any foreign judgment and proof of finality, identity and civil-status documents, contracts, corporate records, powers of attorney, apostilles and translations, previous correspondence, and documents showing the legal step that needs to be taken in Türkiye.