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Turkish law, explained
Articles on legislative changes and current practice in Türkiye, each with the provisions it relies on and the date it was last checked.
- Criminal LawHow Long Will They Actually Serve? A Family Guide to Prison Sentences in TürkiyeFor fixed-term prison sentences, the rule is that half is served in prison with good conduct; for some offences it rises to two thirds or three quarters. Conditional release, probation, open prison, deduction and leave explained simply.
- Family LawIs Indefinite Alimony Ending in Türkiye? The Constitutional Court's Annulment Decision and Its ConsequencesThe Constitutional Court annulled the word "indefinitely" in Turkish Civil Code (TMK) art. 175; the decision was published on 30 September 2026 and takes effect nine months later. What happens to existing alimony, and what changes in new cases?
- Employment LawWhat Is Notice Pay in Türkiye, Who Gets It and How Is It Calculated?The party that terminates an indefinite-term employment contract without observing the notice period pays notice pay. We explain the 2, 4, 6 and 8-week periods, calculation on the full gross wage, tax deductions, resigning employees and limitation.
- Enforcement LawI Objected to the Payment Order: What Happens Now? The Debtor's Guide to the Next StepsA timely objection halts enforcement but does not close the file. We explain removal and annulment of the objection, when the time limits start, the mediation invitation, the 20% compensation risk and the lawsuits a debtor can file.
- Criminal LawCan the Police Search Your Home, Car or Person Without a Court Order in Türkiye? Searches Where Delay Would Be PrejudicialA search normally needs a judge's decision. If delay would be prejudicial, a prosecutor's written order suffices, or a police chief's, but never for homes or workplaces. Conditions, preventive searches and recent case law.
- Employment LawReinstatement Lawsuits in Türkiye: Conditions, Deadlines and OutcomesReinstatement requires at least 30 employees at the workplace, 6 months' service and an indefinite-term contract. You must apply to a mediator within 1 month of termination and, if there is no agreement, sue within 2 weeks.
- Enforcement LawHow Much of Your Salary Can Be Seized? A Guide to Wage and Pension Attachment in TürkiyeAt least a quarter of a salary can be attached. Multiple attachments are queued, but current alimony is deducted first. A pension can be attached only with the debtor's consent, except for alimony and SGK debts. We cover complaints and case law.
- Criminal LawPre-Trial Detention in Drug Cases in Türkiye: How to Object, Deadlines and Judicial ControlDrug trafficking is a catalogue offence for detention, but detention is not automatic. An objection must be filed within two weeks and is reviewed by a criminal court judge. Maximum detention periods, judicial control and recent release decisions.
- Criminal LawHow Does a Drug Case Proceed in Türkiye? Custody, Statement, Which Court and AppealsDrug trafficking cases are heard by the high criminal court; drug use and facilitating use by the criminal court of first instance. Custody periods, mandatory lawyer, interception, and appeal stages, step by step.
- Criminal LawUnlawful Searches and Evidence in Drug Cases in Türkiye: Preventive Search, Judicial Search and Caught in the ActWhere there is a tip-off about or surveillance of a specific person, a preventive search order is not enough; a judicial search order is needed, or the drugs seized cannot be used as evidence. Caught in the act, interception, 2025–2026 case law.
- Criminal LawDoes a Drug Record Bar Public Employment in Türkiye? 'Disgraceful Offences' and When the Criminal Record Is DeletedA person sentenced to one year or more for a drug offence cannot become a civil servant; postponement and HAGB decisions are not convictions. Disciplinary penalties for civil servants and when record and archive entries are deleted.
- Criminal LawEffective Repentance in Drug Offences in Türkiye (TCK 192): Conditions and Sentence ReductionEffective repentance in drug offences: before the authorities learn of the offence, no penalty; afterwards, a reduction of one quarter to one half. Which information counts under the 2025 Assembly of Criminal Chambers decisions.
- Criminal LawDrug Offences in Türkiye: A Guide to Penalties, Procedure, Rights and Recent Court of Cassation DecisionsPenalties for drug use, trafficking and facilitating drug use in Türkiye; postponement, supervised release, effective repentance, detention, time served, driving licences and public employment on one page, each linked to a detailed article.
- Criminal LawHow Many Years for Drug Trafficking in Türkiye? TCK Art. 188 and Aggravating CircumstancesDrug trafficking in Türkiye carries at least ten years' imprisonment, rising to at least fifteen for methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids, heroin, cocaine or sale to a child. Aggravating circumstances, the court and recent decisions.
- Criminal LawHow Long Will I Actually Serve for Drug Trafficking in Türkiye? Release Ratio, Open Prison and Supervised ReleaseFor drug trafficking in Türkiye the conditional release ratio is three quarters: with a 10-year sentence, release comes after 7 years 6 months at the earliest. Open prison, supervised release, repeat offending and 2025–2026 changes.
- Criminal LawSupervised Release for Drug Use in Türkiye: Duration, Urine Tests and What Happens If You Breach ItFor possession of drugs for personal use, supervised release lasts at least one year and up to three. When does a positive test or a missed appointment count as a breach? Explained with recent Court of Cassation decisions on 'persistence'.
- Criminal LawDrugs and Your Driving Licence in Türkiye: TRY 150,000 Fine, Cancellation, Five-Year Wait and Licence BanSince the February 2026 amendment, a driver found to have taken drugs is fined TRY 150,000 and loses the licence; a new one cannot be sought for at least five years. Also: can a person with a drug record obtain a licence?
- Criminal LawFacilitating Drug Use in Türkiye (TCK art. 190): Providing a Place, Encouraging Use and Social MediaProviding a place or equipment for drug use, hiding users from the police, explaining how to use drugs or publicly encouraging drug use is punishable by five to ten years' imprisonment. Social media posts can also fall within this offence.
- Criminal LawIs Drug Use a Crime in Türkiye? The Penalty Under TCK Art. 191 and Postponement of the ProsecutionUsing or possessing drugs for personal use is a crime in Türkiye, punishable by two to five years' imprisonment. On the first occasion no case is filed: a five-year postponement and supervised release apply. Fines and recent decisions explained.
- Criminal LawWhat Happens If a Drug Test Is Positive in Türkiye? Legal Consequences and Validity of the TestA positive urine or blood test leads to an investigation for drug use and, in traffic, a TRY 150,000 fine and cancellation of the driving licence. But a sample taken without a judge's order or approval cannot be used as evidence.
- Family LawIs a Spouse's Drug Use a Ground for Divorce in Türkiye? Proof, Fault and CompensationIf it is proven that a spouse used drugs during the marriage, this can count as serious fault in a divorce. But the fact must be expressly relied on in the petition and shown to date from the marriage. With 2024–2026 Court of Cassation decisions.
- Tort LawVehicle Damage and Loss of Value After a Traffic Accident in Türkiye: From the Insurance Claim to the LawsuitIf your car was damaged in an accident, you must first apply in writing to the other party's traffic insurer for repair costs, loss of value and loss of use. How loss of value is calculated, arbitration or court, and limitation periods.
- Property LawSomeone Is Using Your Land or Home? Ending Trespass and Claiming Occupation Compensation (Ecrimisil) in TürkiyeA neighbour's wall over the boundary, a field farmed without permission, a co-owner using the house alone: how to stop unlawful interference with registered property, seek demolition and claim back-dated occupation compensation (ecrimisil).
- ExpropriationIs Your Property Being Expropriated? Deadlines You Must Not Miss in the Compensation Lawsuit in TürkiyeIf you cannot agree with the authority on expropriation compensation, the amount is determined by the civil court of first instance. Once the court's summons arrives, two critical time limits start to run: 10 days and 30 days.
- Capital MarketsInvestment Funds Placed in Liquidation in Türkiye: Investors' Rights and Available Legal RemediesOn 17 September 2026 the Capital Markets Board placed 131 investment funds of seven portfolio management companies into liquidation. Legal status of fund assets, the payment process, compensation and criminal routes, and what investors should do now.
- Civil ProcedureThe Unquantified Claim Lawsuit Has Been Abolished: Partial Claims and a One-Time Increase InsteadThe July 2026 amendment abolished the unquantified claim lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure (HMK) art. 107. In lawsuits filed after 31 July 2026, a claim is brought as a partial claim and can be increased once during the proceedings.
- Criminal LawChildren in Criminal Proceedings in Türkiye: What Changed in August 2026?The amendment in force since 18 August 2026 replaced 'child pushed into crime' with 'child in judicial proceedings', narrowed the age reduction for serious offences, added new diversion measures and made social inquiry reports mandatory. Rules by age group explained.
- Inheritance LawPartition Lawsuit (İzale-i Şuyu) in Türkiye and the New Auction Procedure Reserved for HeirsCo-owners who cannot agree on an inherited property can ask for partition. We explain mandatory mediation, physical division and sale, and the new procedure in force since 31 July 2026 under which the first auction is held among the heirs only.
- Criminal LawLetting Someone Else Use Your Bank Account or Card in Türkiye: Fraud Charges and the July 2026 AmendmentPeople who let others use their bank account or card for a small fee can be tried for aggravated fraud when scam money passes through it. The new reduction in Turkish Criminal Code (TCK) art. 158 (July 2026 amendment), intent and civil liability explained.
- Enforcement LawReceived a Payment Order in Türkiye? Objection Deadlines, Disputing a Signature and Negative Declaratory ActionsIf a payment order from the enforcement office is not objected to in time, the proceedings become final and attachment begins. We explain the 7-day and 5-day objection periods, disputing a signature, and negative declaratory and restitution actions.
- Criminal LawDrug Possession for Personal Use vs Drug Trafficking in Türkiye: What Is the Difference and Why Does It Matter?A person found with drugs is dealt with under one of two separate offences, depending on whether the drugs were for personal use or for sale. Penalties, postponement of the prosecution, supervised release and effective repentance explained.
- Enforcement LawThe Debtor Objected to Enforcement: Action for Annulment of Objection and Compensation for Bad-Faith DenialAn objection to a payment order halts enforcement. We explain the creditor's options to continue: annulment and removal of the objection, the one-year time limit, the mediation requirement and the 20% compensation for bad-faith denial.
- Property LawWhen Can a Tenant Be Evicted in Türkiye? Grounds, Deadlines and Mandatory MediationThe end of the lease term alone is not a ground for eviction. We explain landlord's need, a new owner's need, the undertaking to vacate, two justified notices, the ten-year extension rule, the one-month filing deadlines and mandatory mediation.
- Inheritance LawCertificate of Inheritance in Türkiye (Veraset İlamı): From a Notary or a Court?When a relative dies, land registry, bank and vehicle formalities all start with a certificate of inheritance. When a notary cannot issue it, the court procedure, challenging the certificate and the deadline to renounce an inheritance explained.