Transferring Inherited Property in Turkey: Legal Guide for Foreign Heirs

How to Transfer Inherited Property in Turkey as a Foreigner

Inheritance matters involving property in Turkey can become complicated when the heirs live abroad or are foreign nationals. Many international families discover that owning or inheriting property in another country requires specific legal procedures before the property can be transferred or sold.

Under Turkish law, heirs cannot immediately transfer or dispose of inherited property. Certain legal steps must be completed before ownership can be officially registered in the names of the heirs.

Step 1: Obtaining a Certificate of Heirship

The first and most important step in inheritance procedures in Turkey is obtaining a Certificate of Heirship. This document officially identifies the legal heirs and determines their inheritance shares.

The certificate of heirship may be issued by a Turkish court or by a notary. However, when the heirs are foreign nationals or when the deceased was not a Turkish citizen, the process may require additional documentation and legal review.

Without this certificate, heirs cannot transfer or register inherited property in Turkey.

Step 2: Preparing the Required Documents

Once the heirs are identified, certain official documents must be prepared. These may include civil registry records, death certificates, and documents proving the family relationship between the deceased and the heirs.

When heirs live abroad, these documents often need to be translated into Turkish and notarized in accordance with Turkish legal requirements.

Step 3: Inheritance Tax Declaration

Under Turkish law, inherited assets are subject to inheritance and transfer tax. Heirs must submit a tax declaration to the relevant tax office within the legal time limits.

The amount of tax depends on the value of the inherited property and the relationship between the deceased and the heirs. Turkish inheritance tax rates are generally lower than those in many European countries.

Step 4: Transfer of Property at the Land Registry

After the certificate of heirship is obtained and the tax declaration is filed, the heirs may apply to the Land Registry Office to transfer the ownership of the property.

At this stage, the property title deed will be updated and the heirs will be officially registered as the new owners of the property.

If there are multiple heirs, the property may be registered in shared ownership unless the heirs decide to divide or sell the property.

Legal Assistance in Cross-Border Inheritance Matters

Inheritance cases involving property located in Turkey often require coordination between different legal systems and administrative authorities. This is particularly true when the heirs reside abroad or when the deceased held assets in multiple countries.

For this reason, many international families seek legal assistance when transferring inherited property in Turkey in order to ensure that the procedures are completed correctly and efficiently.

If you need legal assistance regarding inheritance matters or property transfers in Turkey, you may contact our law firm for further information.