Checker

Is mediation mandatory?

Choose your type of dispute and see whether Turkish law requires mediation before a lawsuit, with the legal basis.

What is your dispute about?

Employment

Commercial

Consumer

Real estate

Compensation

Family

Inheritance

Public

Criminal

Choose the type of dispute; whether pre-trial mediation is mandatory, and its legal basis, will appear here.

Mandatory

Severance, notice pay, wages, overtime, annual leave

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

For employee and employer claims based on law or an employment contract, an application to a mediator is mandatory before filing a lawsuit.

7036 s. İş Mahkemeleri Kanunu m. 3

Mandatory

Reinstatement claim

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

Apply to a mediator within one month of notification of termination; if no agreement is reached, sue within two weeks of the final report.

7036 s. Kanun m. 3; 4857 s. Kanun m. 20

Optional

Work accident and occupational disease compensation

Mediation is not mandatory; parties may choose it.

Compensation claims arising from work accidents and occupational diseases are excluded from mandatory mediation; parties may still choose mediation.

7036 s. Kanun m. 3/1

Mandatory

Commercial monetary claims

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

For commercial cases concerning the payment of a sum of money, mediation is a precondition to litigation.

6102 s. TTK m. 5/A

Mandatory

Consumer dispute above the arbitration committee threshold

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

For consumer disputes above the committee threshold (186.000 TL in 2026), mediation is mandatory before the consumer court.

6502 s. Kanun m. 73/A

Arbitration committee

Consumer dispute below the arbitration committee threshold

Apply to the consumer arbitration committee first.

For disputes up to 186.000 TL, applying to the consumer arbitration committee is mandatory; its decision can be challenged before the consumer court.

6502 s. Kanun m. 68

Mandatory

Lease disputes (rent, determination, eviction, arrears)

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

Since 1 September 2023, mediation is mandatory before suing over lease disputes. Eviction through enforcement proceedings is outside this rule.

6325 s. Kanun m. 18/B

Mandatory

Partition of co-owned property

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

Mediation is mandatory before a partition action concerning co-owned property.

6325 s. Kanun m. 18/B

Mandatory

Condominium disputes

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

Mediation is a precondition for disputes among unit owners about fees, common areas and management.

6325 s. Kanun m. 18/B

Mandatory

Neighbour disputes

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

Mediation is required before suing over nuisance, noise, boundary and right-of-way disputes.

6325 s. Kanun m. 18/B

Mandatory

Traffic accident claims against insurers

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

First apply in writing to the insurer of the vehicle at fault. As a lawsuit against the insurer is commercial, mediation is a precondition; the Insurance Arbitration Commission is a separate, optional route.

2918 s. KTK m. 97; 6102 s. TTK m. 5/A

Mandatory

Motor, home and other insurance disputes

You must apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit.

Monetary claims under insurance contracts are commercial; mediation is required before going to court. Alternatively, the Insurance Arbitration Commission can be used.

6102 s. TTK m. 5/A; 5684 s. Kanun m. 30

Not applicable

Divorce, custody and alimony

This dispute is not suitable for civil mediation.

Family law matters that parties cannot freely dispose of are not suitable for mediation; the case is filed directly with the family court.

6325 s. Kanun m. 1/2

Optional

Division of matrimonial property

Mediation is not mandatory; parties may choose it.

Claims arising from the matrimonial property regime are not subject to mandatory mediation; parties may choose it voluntarily.

6325 s. Kanun m. 1

Optional

Reduction, collusive transfers and title cancellation

Mediation is not mandatory; parties may choose it.

These actions are not subject to mandatory mediation. A partition request among heirs, however, is.

6325 s. Kanun m. 18/B

Not applicable

Public tenders and administrative acts

This dispute is not suitable for civil mediation.

Civil mediation does not apply to administrative acts. In public procurement, a complaint to the authority, an appeal to the Public Procurement Authority and administrative litigation follow in turn.

6325 s. Kanun m. 1/2; 4734 s. Kanun m. 54–57

Not applicable

Criminal complaints

This dispute is not suitable for civil mediation.

Civil mediation does not apply to criminal matters; for listed offences, victim–offender mediation is conducted by the prosecutor’s office.

5271 s. CMK m. 253

Mediation as a precondition to litigation

For certain disputes, Turkish law requires the parties to apply to a mediator before going to court. A lawsuit filed without this step is dismissed on procedural grounds. Mediation is confidential, and an agreement signed by the parties and their lawyers can be enforced like a court judgment.

While mediation is pending, limitation periods are suspended and strict time limits do not run.