Everything You Need to Know About Inheritance in Turkey and Inheriting Properties

The inheritance law in Turkey is one of the most important laws that investors consider in order to know the fate of their properties and real estate after their death.

Moreover, inheritance transfer procedures vary from one country to another according to the laws applicable in each country, but the Turkish inheritance law is clear in its conditions and details, and as well as in relation to the inheritance tax within Turkey.

And as we in Istanbul Experts are concerned with providing everything related to real estate, we will talk in this article about what is meant by inheriting property in Turkey and everything related to inheritance.

First – What is meant by the law of real estate inheritance in Turkish law?

By the concept of inheriting property in Turkey, we mean the procedures by which the assets of the property owner are transferred from their ownership to the ownership of their legal heirs after their death, according to specific conditions that we will mention in this article.

However, the Turkish government grants the right to inherit and own property after the death of its owner to the majority of foreigners, except for those who belong to certain countries, which are subject to restrictions on property ownership.

Second – Who are the heirs of the property according to Turkish law?

Under the inheritance law in Turkey, the heirs of the deceased property owner are the relatives of the deceased property owner, and they can obtain their immovable property if there is no official and certified will. The estate is distributed as follows:

• The children of the deceased and their spouse are the first to inherit their share of the estate.
• If the deceased did not have children, their parents inherit the estate.
• If the deceased had no children or their parents have passed away, the spouse shares the estate with the deceased’s grandparents and siblings.
• According to Turkish law, grandchildren and their children are the last to receive their share of the estate.
• If there are no relatives of the deceased, all their property goes to their spouse.
• If there are no heirs to the deceased, their property goes to the Turkish government.

It is also possible to apply the inheritance law applicable in the country of origin of the deceased, provided that all the heirs agree to it.

Third – What are the papers required to transfer ownership of the property to the heirs?

Inheritance law in Turkey requires when transferring ownership of the property to the heirs of the deceased to submit a set of identification papers, as follows:

• An official document listing the inheritance and its value, translated into Turkish and certified by a notary public.
• Registration with the Turkish tax authorities and obtaining a tax identification number.
• A valid passport.
• Personal photos.

Fourth – What does inheritance tax mean in Turkey and what are its types?

When foreigners inherit or transfer their properties after death, they are required to pay inheritance tax and transfer tax, provided that the property is located in Turkey.

The heirs pay this tax after receiving the money through inheritance or transfer, and the imposed inheritance tax is estimated at a rate of 1% to 10% depending on the geographical location of the property.

As for the types of inheritance tax in Turkey, they are of two types according to Turkish law:

• Property transferred to a person for free, such as gifts, awards, donations, or similar.
• Property obtained by a person through inheritance.

Fifth – The period of time required to transfer the estate to the heirs

The person who inherits a property should register it with the General Directorate of Land Registry, as well as the Real Estate Registry, to become registered in their name.

In this case, foreign heirs must submit a document informing about the inheritance and a list of the estate, and pay the inheritance tax within a maximum of 3 years, which is paid in May and November of each year. Then, the properties are registered under the name of the heirs a few days after submitting the application.

In conclusion

This article addressed an important question for many real estate investors in Turkey who are interested in knowing some information about inheritance in Turkey, especially knowing the fate of their property after their death.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to get the best real estate opportunities within the Turkish territories. We are always ready to assist you.

Edited by: Istanbul Experts^©

Sources: Turk Press