Real Estate Law
Buying property in Turkey as a foreigner, title deed checks before transfer, off-plan and construction contracts, co-ownership and title deed disputes.
Read moreBilgi Law Firm · Bakırköy, Istanbul
Legal advice in Istanbul for local and international clients
Bilgi Law Firm is run by Attorney Mehmet Bilgi from his office in Bakırköy, Istanbul. The firm advises and represents individuals and companies from Turkey and abroad, in English and Turkish, on matters such as Turkish citizenship, property purchases, residence permits, inheritance and family law.
About the firm
One attorney handling your file from the first meeting to the final decision
Bilgi Law Firm (Bilgi Hukuk Bürosu) was founded in 2020 by Attorney Mehmet Bilgi, a member of the Istanbul Bar Association. Every file is handled personally by him: the first consultation, the legal assessment, drafting of petitions and attendance at hearings. You always know who is responsible for your matter and can get updates directly from that person.
For foreign nationals and Turks living abroad, the firm explains each step of Turkish procedures in plain English, coordinates sworn translations and apostilles, and can carry out most steps through a power of attorney while you remain in your home country.
- Clear explanationsYour legal position, the available options, time limits, cost items and risks are explained in plain language.
- ConfidentialityInformation you share is protected by the professional secrecy duty in Article 36 of the Attorneys Act and by the Turkish data protection law (KVKK).
- English and TurkishMeetings, emails and updates in either language.
Practice areas
Guides to Turkish law in English
Each page explains how the process works in Turkey, which court or authority is competent, the time limits, the documents you will need and the most frequently asked questions.
Citizenship Law
Turkish citizenship by investment, by marriage and by residence; preparing the file and challenging refusals before the administrative courts.
Read moreImmigration Law
Residence permits, work permits and the Turquoise Card; objections to deportation decisions and removal of entry ban codes.
Read moreFamily Law
Divorce in Turkey where one or both spouses are foreign, custody, maintenance, division of property and recognition of foreign divorce judgments.
Read moreInheritance Law
Inheritance of property in Turkey by foreigners, certificates of inheritance, foreign wills, renunciation and reserved shares.
Read moreLabour Law
Severance and notice pay, reinstatement claims, overtime, unfair dismissal and the mandatory mediation step for employment disputes.
Read moreCommercial Law
Company formation in Turkey (LLC and JSC), foreign shareholders, share transfers, commercial contracts and shareholder disputes.
Read moreContracts and Obligations
Drafting and reviewing contracts under Turkish law, debt collection lawsuits, penalty clauses, termination and tort claims.
Read moreIT and Internet Law
Removal of online content and access bans, the right to be forgotten, online defamation, cybercrime and e-commerce compliance.
Read moreTax Law
Objections to tax assessments and penalties, settlement (uzlaşma), tax audits and tax obligations of foreigners in Turkey.
Read moreAdministrative Law
Annulment and full remedy actions against public authorities, stay of execution, zoning fines and public procurement disputes.
Read moreEnforcement and Bankruptcy
Debt enforcement proceedings, objections to payment orders, attachment of assets, enforcement of judgments and bankruptcy.
Read moreConsumer Law
Defective goods and services, consumer arbitration committees, distance sales and the right of withdrawal, off-plan housing purchases.
Read moreIntellectual Property Law
Trademark registration and oppositions in Turkey, bad-faith filings, non-use revocation, patents, designs and copyright infringement.
Read moreData Protection (KVKK)
KVKK compliance for companies, VERBİS registration, data breach notification, cross-border transfers and Board complaints.
Read moreArbitration and Mediation
Mandatory mediation, arbitration clauses, setting aside awards and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Turkey.
Read moreCriminal Law
Rights in custody, interpreters and consular access, detention and travel bans, victims' rights, HAGB and appeals.
Read moreMedical Law
Medical malpractice claims, informed consent, health tourism disputes and cosmetic surgery, against private clinics and public hospitals.
Read moreCompensation and Insurance
Traffic accident claims in Turkey, including tourists and rental cars, diminished vehicle value, injury and loss of support, insurance disputes.
Read moreLandlord and Tenant Law
Leases for expats and foreign owners, the rent increase cap, rent review, eviction grounds, deposits and short-term holiday lets.
Read moreSocial Security Law
SGK pensions and EYT, unreported work, foreign employees and social security agreements, periods abroad, invalidity and survivors' pensions.
Read morePractical points for foreigners
Handling a legal matter in Turkey from abroad
Whatever the subject, a few practical requirements come up in almost every file involving a foreign national.
Power of attorney
Issued at a Turkish consulate, or before a local notary and apostilled. The powers granted (selling property, filing lawsuits, collecting money) must be stated expressly; for land registry transactions a photograph of the principal is required.
Sworn translation and apostille
Foreign documents such as birth, marriage or death certificates and court judgments must be apostilled or legalised in the issuing country and translated into Turkish by a sworn translator, usually with notarisation.
Turkish tax number
A foreign tax identification number (vergi kimlik numarası), obtained from a tax office, is needed for property purchases, opening a bank account and many other transactions. Holders of a residence permit also receive a foreigner identification number.
How we work
Consult, plan, act
When you contact the firm about a legal problem, the work generally proceeds in three stages.
-
Consult
In the first meeting, in person or online, the facts are discussed, your documents are reviewed and any running time limit is identified. Your legal position and options are explained.
-
Plan
The possible routes (negotiation, mediation, a formal notice or a lawsuit) are assessed. The proposed approach is shared with you together with the expected duration, cost items and risks.
-
Act
With your approval, applications and petitions are filed and hearings are attended. You are informed of every significant development and decision in your file.
Good to know
Some time limits you should not miss
Under Turkish law many rights are lost if they are not exercised within a statutory period. The table below summarises a few periods that come up frequently.
| Step | Time limit | Legal basis | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objection to a payment order (general enforcement without judgment) | 7 days from service of the payment order | Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law No. 2004, Art. 62 | Enforcement |
| Application to a mediator for reinstatement after dismissal | 1 month from notice of termination | Labour Law No. 4857, Art. 20; Law No. 7036, Art. 3 | Labour law |
| Renunciation of an inheritance | As a rule, 3 months from learning of the inheritance | Turkish Civil Code No. 4721, Art. 606 | Inheritance |
| Annulment action against an administrative decision | As a rule, 60 days from service (30 days before tax courts) | Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, Art. 7 | Administrative law |
| Lawsuit against refusal of a citizenship application | 60 days from service of the decision | Law No. 2577, Art. 7 | Citizenship |
Important
The start and length of a period can vary with the facts, the way documents were served and changes in legislation. This table is for general information only; check the current legislation and calculate the deadline with a lawyer before taking action. Turkish legislation is published at mevzuat.gov.tr (in Turkish).
Articles
Latest articles
Family Law
Uncontested divorce in Turkey: requirements and process
The requirements for an uncontested divorce in Turkey, what the divorce protocol must cover, which court to apply to and how the process works for foreigners.
Frequently asked questions
Working with the firm
Can I work with the firm in English?
Yes. Meetings, correspondence and updates on your file can be in English or Turkish. Proceedings before Turkish courts and authorities are conducted in Turkish, so documents in a foreign language that will be submitted to them must be translated by a sworn translator in Turkey and, where required, carry an apostille or consular legalisation.
Do I need to travel to Turkey for my case?
In many matters, no. A power of attorney allows a lawyer in Turkey to represent you before courts, enforcement offices, the land registry and other authorities. The power of attorney can be issued at a Turkish consulate abroad or before a local notary and then apostilled if the country is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Some steps, such as giving biometric data for certain applications or attending a hearing in person when the court requires it, may still need your presence.
Which areas does the firm cover for international clients?
The most common matters for foreign clients are Turkish citizenship, buying property in Turkey, residence and work permits, inheritance, divorce and recognition of foreign judgments and company formation. The firm also handles disputes in labour, contract, tax, administrative and enforcement law. See Services for the full list.
How are legal fees determined in Turkey?
Under Articles 163 and 164 of the Turkish Attorneys Act (No. 1136), the fee is agreed in a written fee agreement between the lawyer and the client. The agreed fee cannot be lower than the amounts in the Minimum Attorney Fee Tariff published each year by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. Court fees, expert fees and other litigation costs are separate from the attorney's fee.
Why does this website not show client reviews or success rates?
Lawyers in Turkey are prohibited from advertising to attract clients (Article 55 of the Attorneys Act and the rules of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations). For this reason, the website does not contain testimonials, client lists, success rates or similar promotional content. Its purpose is to provide information about the firm and about Turkish law.
Office and contact
Our office in Bakırköy
Meetings are held by appointment, at the office or online. Use any of the channels below to request an appointment.
- AddressKartaltepe Mah., İncirli Cd. No:112
34145 Bakırköy / İstanbul, TürkiyeGet directions - Phone+90 534 820 30 21
- WhatsApp+90 534 820 30 21
- Emailinfo@bilgihukukburosu.com
- Office hoursMonday–Saturday 09:00–18:00 (Istanbul time, UTC+3) · Closed on Sundays
The map is loaded from Google Maps when you click; Google may set cookies at that point.
The information on this website is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a lawyer about your specific situation.