Inheritance Law

In the absence of a valid will, the property is generally distributed according to statutory succession rules. Which country's law actually governs succession to the property can depend on factors such as the deceased's nationality and the type of asset (real estate is often treated differently from movable assets), so this needs to be assessed for the specific situation rather than assumed.

A will made abroad may be recognised in Turkey, but the process of having it applied to a Turkish asset typically involves additional formalities, and interaction with Turkey's own succession rules — including reserved-share protections for certain close relatives, which cannot always be overridden by a will. Many foreign property owners choose to also make a Turkish will covering their Turkish assets specifically, to reduce this complexity for their heirs.

A veraset ilamı (certificate of inheritance, also called mirasçılık belgesi) is an official document confirming who the legal heirs of a deceased person are and their respective shares. It is generally required before an inherited property's title deed can be transferred into the heirs' names.

Turkish law reserves a minimum share of an estate for certain close relatives — such as children, a spouse, and in some cases parents — regardless of what a will says. This means a will cannot always disinherit these relatives completely, even if that was the deceased's intention, and this should be factored into any succession planning.

Not necessarily. Heirs can often act through a power of attorney granted to a representative in Turkey, which can be arranged through a Turkish consulate abroad, avoiding the need to travel in person for every step of the process.