Yes. You can start your legal process without travelling to Turkey by granting a power of attorney to a lawyer. Your lawyer can file lawsuits, submit petitions, attend hearings and handle procedures with public authorities on your behalf. Some cases, however, require a power of attorney with specific powers, so the scope of the intended action should be clarified before the power of attorney is drawn up.

Turkish citizens living in the Netherlands can have a power of attorney drawn up at the Turkish embassy or consulates. Before doing so, you should ask your lawyer which powers are needed. Matters such as divorce, recognition and enforcement, title deeds, inheritance or sale transactions may require specific powers. An incomplete power of attorney can delay proceedings in Turkey.

A divorce granted in the Netherlands is not automatically entered in the Turkish civil registry. So even if you are divorced in the Netherlands, you may still appear as married in Turkish official records. This can cause problems when remarrying, or in inheritance, title deed or other official procedures. The solution is to have the divorce judgment recognised in Turkey, enforced if necessary, or registered administratively where the conditions are met.

First, a certificate of inheritance showing who the heirs are must be obtained. Next, the property must be transferred to the heirs at the land registry and inheritance tax obligations must be assessed. If all heirs agree on the sale, the process is much easier. If one of the heirs lives in the Netherlands, the sale and land registry procedures can be handled by a lawyer under an appropriate power of attorney.

Yes. If the heirs disagree on the division, sale, use or rental income of the estate, a lawsuit can be filed. In particular, if an inherited property cannot be sold, an action for partition (dissolution of co-ownership) may be considered. If one heir uses the property alone or does not share the income, claims for payment or compensation for unauthorised use (ecrimisil) may also be considered. Which lawsuit to file depends on the cause of the dispute.

To evict a tenant in Turkey, the lease agreement, payment status and grounds for eviction must first be examined. Depending on the situation, different legal routes may apply: rent arrears, eviction for personal need, a written eviction undertaking or the end of the lease term. Each ground has its own time limits and procedure. Even if you live in the Netherlands, a formal notice, enforcement proceedings or an eviction lawsuit against the tenant can be handled by a lawyer.

If a person or company in Turkey owes you money, the documents supporting your claim must first be reviewed. Evidence such as contracts, invoices, promissory notes, bank receipts, messages or written acknowledgements is important in the collection process. Depending on the case, enforcement proceedings, a collection lawsuit or a formal notice may be considered. If the debtor objects, the matter may need to be taken to court.

In most cases, a company can be set up in Turkey remotely with the required documents and an appropriate power of attorney. However, the company type, shareholder structure, capital, signing authority and field of activity must be planned correctly from the start. If a limited or joint-stock company is to be formed, the articles of association, trade registry procedures and tax registration are considered together. For shareholders living in the Netherlands, it is particularly important that the power of attorney and powers of representation are set up correctly.

Your legal proceedings in Turkey are followed closely by your lawyer and developments are shared with you. You receive information about the filing of the case, hearing dates, interim decisions, expert reports, notifications and the judgment. Depending on the case, documents can be shared by email, phone, video call or written reports. This way, you can follow your case in Turkey remotely and in a controlled manner while living in the Netherlands.