An independent law office based in Sapanca, Sakarya, advising individuals and foreign nationals on Turkish law. Correspondence in English is welcome.
For Foreigners
- Turkish CitizenshipRoutes to Turkish citizenship: investment, marriage and ordinary naturalisation. Requirements, documents and the stages of the application.
- Residence PermitShort-term, family and long-term residence permits in Turkey: who qualifies, how renewal works and what to do if an application is refused.
- Work PermitWho applies for a Turkish work permit, what the employer must satisfy, and what happens when a permit is refused or employment ends.
- Buying PropertyTitle deed procedure, military clearance, valuation reports and the checks to make before paying a deposit on Turkish real estate.
- Power of AttorneyHow to issue a Turkish power of attorney from abroad, what special authorities it must contain and when personal attendance is still required.
Family
- DivorceJurisdiction, applicable law, uncontested and contested divorce in Turkey, and recognition of a foreign divorce decree.
- CustodyHow Turkish courts decide custody, personal relationship arrangements, child maintenance and international child abduction.
- InheritanceTurkish succession law for foreign heirs: which law applies, reserved shares, the certificate of inheritance and disclaiming a debt-laden estate.
Disputes
- Employment ClaimsSeverance and notice pay, overtime, the compulsory mediation stage and time limits for employment claims under Turkish law.
- Property and TenancyRent increases, eviction grounds, title deed cancellation and unauthorised occupation compensation under Turkish law.
- Debt RecoveryEnforcement proceedings without judgment, the seven-day objection, attachment of assets and recovery against a debtor with no assets.
- Criminal DefenceDetention limits, the right to an interpreter and a lawyer, judicial control as an alternative to arrest, and consular notification.
How This Office Works
The office is run by Av. Saliha Senem Mercan, a member of the Sakarya Bar Association. Under Turkish law an advocate may appear before any court in the country; bar registration determines professional supervision, not geography. Matters in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir or elsewhere can therefore be handled from here.
Most work for clients abroad is carried out under a power of attorney, which can be issued at a Turkish consulate without travelling to Turkey. The power of attorney page explains what the document must contain.
A Note on Language
Documents filed with Turkish courts must be in Turkish, and the main site is published in Turkish. These English pages explain the legal framework; they are not translations of the Turkish material.
The Turkish site contains a far larger library — over 200 petition templates, a 186-term legal glossary and the official text of 70 statutory provisions with commentary. If you read Turkish, start at senemmercan.av.tr.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. An advocate admitted to any Turkish bar may act before courts throughout Turkey.
Often not. A power of attorney issued at a Turkish consulate allows the case to be conducted in your absence, although some proceedings require personal attendance.
Yes, for correspondence and explanation. Court filings themselves must be in Turkish.