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Recognition & Enforcement

Enforcing a Foreign Judgment in Turkey

Recognition and enforcement proceedings to give a foreign court judgment legal effect in Turkey.

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A judgment obtained abroad — a divorce decree, a custody order, a commercial damages award — does not automatically take effect in Turkey; it generally needs to pass through a Turkish recognition and enforcement (tanıma ve tenfiz) proceeding first.

Legalwise handles recognition and enforcement proceedings for foreign judgments, checking in advance whether the judgment meets the statutory conditions (such as reciprocity and proper notice to the other party) before filing.

  • Pre-filing review of whether a specific foreign judgment meets Turkey's recognition conditions
  • Recognition and enforcement proceedings for divorce, custody, commercial and monetary judgments
  • Coordination with the foreign counsel who obtained the original judgment where useful
  • Follow-on enforcement action once a judgment is recognised, where the debtor has assets in Turkey

Turkish Legal Matters We Assist With

Enforcement & Bankruptcy LawWe track your debt collection and enforcement files closely through UYAP and act quickly.Learn moreFamily LawWe handle divorce, custody and alimony matters with sensitivity, planning your case together from the first meeting.Learn more

Team Members Working with International Clients

The lawyers below communicate directly with clients in English or French, in addition to Turkish.

Av. Enes Rasim KaraçamFounding PartnerTurkish · English · FrenchAv. Gökçen Ahsen KaraçamFounding PartnerTurkish · English · French · Spanish

Frequently Asked Questions

Is every foreign judgment automatically enforceable in Turkey?

No — a Turkish court must first recognise the judgment, which requires certain conditions to be met (such as the judgment being final and the other party having been properly notified in the original proceeding).

How long does recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgment take in Turkey?

It varies by court workload and whether the other party contests recognition; a pre-filing review of the judgment can flag issues that would otherwise cause delay.

Guides for Clients Abroad

Immigration & Citizenship LawRecognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in TurkeyHow a foreign court judgment — including one ordering payment — can be recognized and enforced in Turkey, and what a Turkish court typically examines.Immigration & Citizenship LawRecognition of a Foreign Divorce Judgment in TurkeyWhy a divorce granted abroad is not automatically valid in Turkey, and the general process for having it recognized by a Turkish court.

Legalwise is a law firm based in Ankara, Turkey. Our services concern Turkish law and legal matters requiring action in Turkey. Matters governed by another country's law may require coordination with locally qualified counsel in that jurisdiction. Legalwise does not have offices in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or any other country, and our lawyers are admitted to Turkish bar associations.