Inheritance in Turkey for Foreigners

Inheritance in Turkey for Foreigners

There are special rules of inheritance in Turkey, especially if the heirs are foreigners.

Inheritance principles:

• Inheritance by law (without a will)
• Inheritance by will (the shares of the heirs can be changed)
• Compulsory share (children, spouse and parents cannot be disinherited).

The following may be heirs:

• Children (natural and adopted)
• Spouse
• Parents
• Brothers, sisters, nephews
• Distant relatives (up to the 4th degree of kinship)
• The state (if there are no heirs).

Features for foreigners:

1. Inheritance of movable property (money, cars) is regulated by the law of the testator's country.
2. Inheritance of real estate - only according to the laws of Turkey.

Even if the heir is a foreigner, he is obliged to confirm the relationship through the consulate or apostilled documents.

To avoid disputes, it is better to make a will in advance. In Turkey, this can be done in three ways:

• At a notary (resmi vasiyetname)
• A handwritten will (el yazılı vasiyetname)
• An oral will (sözlü vasiyetname).

How to register an inheritance? Step-by-step instructions:

1. Obtain a death certificate (issued at a hospital or through Nüfus Müdürlüğü).

2. Open an inheritance case in court (file an application to Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi).

3. Obtain a certificate of inheritance (veraset ilamı) to confirm the rights of the heirs.

4. Re-register the property in Tapu Müdürlüğü (pay the stamp duty (Tapu harcı)).

5. Pay the inheritance tax.