When you lose a loved one in Turkey while living in Germany, you’re left with a difficult question in the middle of a hard time: how do you take over the inheritance — or will you need to renounce it? To resolve these concerns, you first need to obtain a veraset ilamı, a certificate of inheritance. This is especially important if you may need to file a formal renunciation of inheritance, since the certificate is typically the first step in that process. You can read our article on formal renunciation of inheritance here. For general information on the certificate of inheritance — what it is, where to obtain it, and the annulment lawsuit — you can also read our article titled ‘What Is a Certificate of Inheritance?“
This guide covers everything you need to know about the certificate of inheritance process.
What Is a Certificate of Inheritance (Veraset İlamı)?
A certificate of inheritance, or veraset ilamı, is an official document issued under Article 598 of the Turkish Civil Code that establishes who the legal heirs of a deceased person are and what share of the estate each is entitled to. Heirship itself is acquired automatically at the moment of death; however, to assert this status before banks, land registry offices, tax authorities, and other official bodies, you must actually present this certificate.
Can You Get a Certificate of Inheritance Through e-Devlet?
No. It is not possible to issue a new certificate of inheritance through Turkey’s e-Devlet (e-Government) portal; the system only allows you to look up a certificate that has already been issued by a notary or a court (the “Certificate of Inheritance Inquiry” service). If you don’t already have a certificate, you cannot request one simply by logging into e-Devlet from Germany.
Where to Get a Certificate of Inheritance in Turkey: Civil Courts of Peace and Notaries
In Turkey, you can apply for a certificate of inheritance either through a notary or through the Civil Court of Peace (Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi). If you apply to the court, the court with jurisdiction is the one at the deceased’s last place of residence. As noted, it’s also possible to obtain the certificate from a notary — however, certain circumstances prevent a notary from issuing it, which we explain below.
2026 Current Fees and Court Costs for the Certificate of Inheritance
- Notary route (if there is no foreign element): approximately 2,500–4,000 TL, with the fee increasing based on the number of copies requested.
- Court route (mandatory where a foreign element is present): the initial cost — court fee plus advance for expenses — is approximately 4,000–4,500 TL; any unused portion of the expense advance is refunded at the end of the process.
These figures provide a general framework for 2026; exact amounts may vary depending on the current court fee and notary tariffs at the time of application.
What Happens If an Heir Holds a Mavi Kart or Is a Foreign National?
Under normal circumstances, Turkish notaries can issue a certificate of inheritance. However, if any of the heirs holds a Mavi Kart (Turkey’s card for former Turkish citizens who acquired another nationality — not to be confused with Germany’s own EU Blue Card work-permit scheme), holds German citizenship, or is a national of any other foreign country, notaries are legally barred from issuing the certificate, because establishing civil registry records and family ties in cases involving a foreign element requires a formal judicial process. In this situation, the only route is to file a case for a certificate of inheritance with the competent Civil Court of Peace. Since most Turkish families in Germany have at least one heir who has acquired German citizenship or holds a Mavi Kart, in practice most of these families are directed straight to the court route.
How Can You Handle the Process Without Traveling to Turkey?
An heir living in Germany does not need to travel to Turkey to carry out this process. The standard approach is to grant a power of attorney to a lawyer in Turkey:
- Through a Turkish Consulate: A power of attorney issued at a Turkish Consulate General in Germany qualifies as an official Turkish document, so it is valid in Turkey without needing an Apostille.
- Through a German notary: A power of attorney issued before a German notary must go through the Apostille process and then be translated by a certified translator and notarized in Turkey before it can be used. This route can take longer than the consulate option.
Which Certificate of Inheritance Applies for a Turkish Citizen Who Died While Resident in Germany, for Assets in Germany and/or Turkey?
For a deceased Turkish citizen’s estate, whether the certificate of inheritance needs to come from the Turkish or the German authorities depends on whether the assets are movable or immovable, and on which country they are located in. Thanks to international agreements between Turkey and Germany, a certificate of inheritance issued by the Turkish authorities and one issued by the German authorities are, with certain exceptions, treated as equivalent in terms of legal effect. That said, this equivalence does not mean it is unimportant which country you apply to: applying to the right authority based on where the assets are located matters greatly for how quickly and smoothly the process moves.
If the deceased Turkish citizen had both movable and immovable assets in Turkey, and only movable assets in Germany, then — provided the Turkish certificate of inheritance is certified at a Turkish representative office in Germany — you can also use it to carry out transactions with the German authorities.
However, for inheritance matters concerning immovable property located in Germany, you cannot proceed directly on the basis of a certificate of inheritance obtained in Turkey. In this case, where you need to apply depends on where you, as the heir, reside. If you live in Germany, you must apply to the German probate court (Nachlassgericht) at the deceased’s last place of residence. If you live in Turkey, you instead apply through the German representative offices in Turkey.
Which Certificate of Inheritance Applies for a German Citizen of Turkish Origin, for Assets in Germany and/or Turkey?
Here too, the process generally follows the international agreements between the two countries. If a German citizen of Turkish origin who was resident in Germany passes away leaving only movable and immovable assets in Germany, the certificate of inheritance needed for the estate is obtained from the German authorities. If the heirs live in Turkey, the certificate is obtained by applying through Germany’s representative offices in Turkey. Likewise, if the deceased had movable assets in Turkey, a certificate of inheritance issued by the German authorities covering those assets will be required.
However, if a German citizen of Turkish origin resident in Germany passes away leaving immovable property in Turkey, dealing with that property will in every case require a certificate of inheritance issued by the Turkish authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you prepare the petition for a case seeking a certificate of inheritance, and against whom is it filed? An inheritance determination case is generally filed without a named defendant. The petition should be accompanied by documents such as the deceased’s civil registry record, death certificate, and the heirs’ identification details. Documents issued abroad must be submitted with an Apostille and a certified translation.
Which court has jurisdiction? As a general rule, the competent court is the Civil Court of Peace at the deceased’s last place of residence in Turkey.
If the deceased died in Germany, can I apply directly for a Turkish certificate of inheritance without taking any steps in Germany first? Yes — for assets located in Turkey, you can apply directly to the Turkish court.
Can you get a certificate of inheritance through e-Devlet? You can only look up whether a previously issued certificate of inheritance exists, view its contents, and check whether it has been annulled; a new certificate cannot be issued through e-Devlet.
As explained in this guide, obtaining a certificate of inheritance is, in most cases, the key document you need before you can begin handling inheritance matters. Where you need to apply for the certificate can vary depending on whether the heir holds Turkish or German citizenship, their last place of residence, which country the assets are located in, and whether the assets are movable or immovable. Although it may seem straightforward, the certificate of inheritance process involves a number of detailed technical steps, which is why getting legal advice is important. You are always welcome to contact us regarding certificate of inheritance matters in both Germany and Turkey.
One Comment
Comments are closed.