This is the English version of a Turkish article. The original, with further detail and linked petition templates, is at UYAP'tan Dava Dosyası Sorgulama: Neye Bakmalısınız?.
Through the national judicial portal you can see, free of charge, every case and enforcement file you are a party to, using your e-government credentials. But there is a critical limit: seeing something on the portal is not service. Time runs as a rule from proper service; the portal only lets you know sooner.
Proceedings were issued, months have passed, and you do not know what is happening. If you have a lawyer they are following it; if not, finding out is up to you.
The citizen portal lets you see the files you are a party to. This article covers what it shows, what each entry means, and which deadlines it helps you catch.
Getting In, and What You See
Access is through e-government credentials, a mobile signature or an electronic signature. Your civil, criminal, enforcement and administrative files are listed.
Opening a file shows:
- the case number and the court holding it
- the parties and their lawyers
- the hearing date and time
- the case history — the steps taken, in date order
- the document list — pleadings, the court's first directions, expert reports, interim decisions
The content of some documents is shown only in part on the citizen portal; for a full copy you can obtain one from the courthouse or through a lawyer.
What the Entries Mean
The case history is the story of the file. The entries you will see most often:
- The court's first directions. The court's first interim decision after issue. The periods given to the parties are set out there — most rights are lost because this document was never read.
- Preliminary examination hearing. Where the issues are identified and the periods for putting in evidence are fixed.
- Request to another authority. The court asking an institution for information or documents. The file waits until the answer comes.
- Expert report filed. The moment you see this entry, the two-week period to object is in play.
- Judgment given / reasoned judgment written. The appeal period runs from service of the reasoned judgment.
- Case struck out of the list. The parties did not attend; unless it is restored within three months, the claim is treated as never having been brought.
| Entry | What it means |
|---|---|
| First directions | The file has been reviewed and the route mapped out |
| Preliminary examination hearing | Pleadings complete; the issues are to be identified |
| Request issued to an authority | Information or documents have been sought |
| Referred to an expert | The file has gone for technical examination |
| Judgment given | The decision is made; the reasons may not yet be written |
| Reasoned judgment written | It will be served; time runs from service |
| Sent to the regional court of appeal | The appeal examination is about to begin |
Seeing “judgment given” on the portal does not start the appeal period; that runs from service of the reasoned judgment.
Seeing It Is Not Being Served
An important distinction: time runs as a rule from the date of service, not from the date you saw something on the portal.
That cuts both ways. Seeing the expert report on the portal does not start the clock — but it does let you start preparing instead of waiting. Conversely, if service has reached you and you never looked at the portal, time has run all the same.
If you use electronic service, the rule is different: service made electronically is treated as effected at the end of the fifth day following the date it reached the recipient's address.
So never neglect to notify the court of a change of address. Service at an address you failed to update can still be valid.
The Deadlines It Helps You Catch
- Objecting to an expert report — two weeks from service.
- The list of evidence and witnesses — the peremptory period fixed at the preliminary examination, usually two weeks.
- The defence — two weeks from service, extendable on request by up to a month.
- Appeal — two weeks from service of the reasoned judgment.
- Restoring a struck-out case — three months.
Checking once a month is enough for most files; weekly is safer as a hearing approaches or while a report is awaited.
The most-skipped document in any file is the court's first directions — the periods given to the parties are written there. And remember that the date you saw something on the portal does not start time: periods run from service, and electronic service is treated as effected at the end of the fifth day after it arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I see on the portal?
Every civil, criminal, enforcement and administrative file you are a party to: the case number, the parties, the hearing date, the case history and the document list.
Does seeing a document there start the clock?
No. Time runs from proper service. The portal lets you prepare earlier, but it neither starts nor stops a period.
How does electronic service work?
Service made electronically is treated as effected at the end of the fifth day following the day it reached your address.
Which entry should I watch for?
“Expert report filed” — the two-week period to object follows service of it — and the court's first directions, which contain the periods given to the parties.
My case was struck out. Is it over?
Not yet. It can be restored within three months; after that the claim is treated as never having been brought.