Inheritance Law in Turkey for Foreigners: Which Law Applies and How to Claim an Estate

When a foreign national dies owning property or bank accounts in Türkiye — or a Turkish relative dies leaving foreign heirs — two questions come first: which law governs the estate, and how the heirs prove their rights to Turkish institutions. This guide answers both.

Which law applies?

Under Article 20 of the Turkish Code on Private International and Procedural Law, succession is governed by the national law of the deceased. However, immovable property located in Türkiye is always subject to Turkish law. In practice, the estate of a British citizen with a flat in Antalya and a bank account in London is split: the flat devolves under Turkish law, other assets under the deceased’s national law as applied by the courts concerned.

Wills made abroad are recognised as to form if they comply with the law of the place where they were made, the deceased’s nationality or domicile, among other connecting factors.

Who inherits under Turkish law?

• Children (and their descendants) inherit in equal shares; the surviving spouse takes one quarter alongside them.
• If there are no descendants, parents (or their descendants, such as siblings) inherit, and the spouse takes one half.
• With grandparents, the spouse takes three quarters; otherwise the spouse inherits everything.

Descendants, parents and the spouse have reserved shares that cannot be removed by will. Our inheritance share calculator shows the statutory and reserved shares for common family situations.

Proving heirship: the certificate of inheritance

Turkish land registries and banks require a Turkish certificate of inheritance (veraset ilamı). Where foreign nationals are involved, it is obtained from the civil court of peace, which needs:

• the death certificate,
• documents proving family relationships (birth and marriage certificates) — and, if the deceased’s national law applies, evidence of its content,
• all apostilled and translated into Turkish by a sworn translator.

A foreign certificate of inheritance or probate order may also be recognised, but a Turkish certificate is usually faster for real estate.

Real estate and bank accounts

To transfer inherited real estate, the heirs apply to the land registry with the certificate of inheritance and proof that inheritance tax has been declared. Foreign heirs can inherit property in Türkiye; where restrictions on foreign ownership apply, the property may need to be sold. Banks release deposits upon the certificate and a tax clearance letter.

Inheritance tax and deadlines

Inheritance tax is declared to the Turkish tax office — generally within four months of death, with longer periods where the death occurred or the heirs live abroad. Rates are progressive, and spouses and children benefit from exemptions. Separately, heirs who wish to avoid liability for the deceased’s debts must renounce within three months.

Disputes among heirs

Where heirs cannot agree on co-owned property, a partition action may be filed after mandatory mediation. Lifetime transfers designed to defeat heirs may be challenged in a title cancellation action. See our inheritance law page for these remedies.