Turkish lawyer for Turkish-law matters from the U.S.

• Turkish ID card (T.C. kimlik kartı); former citizens bring the new-type Blue Card issued after 12 April 2013.
• The agent's full name, Turkish ID number and date of birth; for a lawyer, the bar, bar registration number and address.
• Two color passport photos taken in the last 6 months, on a white background, for property, divorce and vehicle powers of attorney.
• Title deed (tapu) details for property matters; for a Turkish company, its signature circular or Trade Registry Gazette.
• For a divorce or judgment: a certified copy of the U.S. decision and proof that it is final, each with an apostille and a certified Turkish translation (MÖHUK Art. 53). In Texas, a certified copy of a recorded document such as a divorce decree must be less than 5 years old to be apostilled.
• For an inheritance: the death certificate (apostilled and translated if issued in the U.S.), a Turkish civil registry record (nüfus kayıt örneği) and any will.
• Your own wording for the power of attorney in Word format, if you have one; the Houston consulate asks for it by email before the appointment.

• Using an apostilled U.S. notarial power of attorney for a land-registry sale when the office expects a consular one.
• Naming the buyer or seller as the agent in a sale power of attorney.
• Missing the 3-month window to renounce an estate that may carry debts.
• A U.S. judgment that is not final, or was given without proper notice to the defendant, can be refused enforcement (MÖHUK Arts. 50 and 54).
• Uncertified copies or translations: the court asks for certified originals and certified translations (MÖHUK Art. 53).
• Old photos or an old Blue Card: the consulate asks for photos from the last 6 months and the Blue Card issued after 12 April 2013.
• Writing a will without the reserved shares (saklı pay) of children, parents or spouse in mind.

• U.S. wills and estate plans: see wills and trusts.
• Turkish criminal cases, INTERPOL notices or extradition: see extradition.
• Applications to the European Court of Human Rights: see human rights.
• A Turkish company setting up in the U.S.: see company formation.

Who this is for

• Turkish citizens in the U.S. who need someone in Turkey to sell property, collect an inheritance, run a bank account or act in a case for them.
• People divorced in a U.S. court who still appear as married in the Turkish civil register.
• Heirs in the U.S. after a death in Turkey, or after a death in the U.S. that leaves property in Turkey.
• Parties with a U.S. judgment to enforce in Turkey, and U.S. litigants who need Turkish law explained to a U.S. court.

Key requirements

• Power of attorney at the consulate: the Turkish Consulate General in Houston serves Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. You apply in person with an appointment from konsolosluk.gov.tr, your Turkish ID card (or Blue Card) and the agent's name, Turkish ID number and date of birth. For property (tapu), divorce and vehicle matters it asks for two color photos taken in the last 6 months. The fee depends on the subject and page count.
• Power of attorney by apostille: the U.S. and Turkey are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention (in force for the U.S. since 15 October 1981 and for Turkey since 29 September 1985). A document notarized in Texas is apostilled by the Texas Secretary of State for $15. The Los Angeles Consulate General's 2026 notice says the apostille route is not available for land-registry (tapu) powers of attorney, so confirm the route with the Turkish lawyer before you sign.
• U.S. divorce: a foreign divorce can be entered in the Turkish civil register without a court case if both spouses apply together (or one alone if the other has died or is a foreign national), the decision is final, comes from a competent authority and is not clearly against Turkish public order. Turkish consulates in the country that issued the decision do the registration (Law No. 5490, Art. 27/A). Otherwise recognition goes to a Turkish court.
• Recognition and enforcement: a final foreign civil judgment is enforced in Turkey only after a Turkish court of first instance grants enforcement (tenfiz). The court checks reciprocity, exclusive Turkish jurisdiction, public order and the defendant's right to be heard; recognition alone does not need reciprocity. If the other side has no residence in Turkey, the case can be filed in Ankara, İstanbul or İzmir (MÖHUK Arts. 50–58).
• Inheritance: succession follows the deceased's national law, but Turkish law always governs real estate in Turkey (MÖHUK Art. 20). A certificate of inheritance (mirasçılık belgesi) is issued by a civil court of peace or a notary (Turkish Civil Code Art. 598). Legal heirs can renounce within 3 months of learning of the death (Art. 606).
• Reserved shares: a will cannot take away the reserved share (saklı pay) of descendants (half of their legal share), each parent (a quarter of theirs) or the surviving spouse (Turkish Civil Code Art. 506).
• Inheritance tax return: after a death in Turkey, heirs in Turkey file within 4 months and heirs abroad within 6 months. After a death abroad, heirs in the same country file within 4 months, heirs in Turkey within 6 months and heirs in a third country within 8 months. Heirs abroad file with a Turkish consulate (Law No. 7338, Arts. 8–9).
• Property: a transfer of title in Turkey is signed as an official deed at the land registry office (Land Registry Law No. 2644, Art. 26). In a power of attorney to buy or sell, the buyer or seller cannot be named as the agent (Houston Consulate General).
• Turkish law in court: in a U.S. federal court, a party relying on foreign law must give written notice, and the court may consider any relevant material, including testimony (Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 44.1). In a Turkish court, a party may submit a written scientific opinion (bilimsel mütalaa) on the issue (HMK Art. 293); court-appointed bilirkişi are not used for questions a judge can answer with legal knowledge (HMK Art. 266).

What to check with an attorney

• Whether the consulate route or the apostille route fits the Turkish office that will receive the document.
• Whether a U.S. divorce can be registered at a consulate (both spouses together) or needs a Turkish court case.
• Deadlines: 3 months to renounce an estate; 4, 6 or 8 months for the inheritance tax return.
• Which country's law governs each asset; real estate in Turkey always follows Turkish law.
• Who signs what: in a sale power of attorney the agent cannot be the buyer or seller.

Fees and rules reviewed 16 Oct 2026. Sources below.

Official sources:

1. T.C. Houston Consulate General: power of attorney application (2026)
2. T.C. Los Angeles Consulate General: power of attorney application (2026)
3. HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
4. Texas Secretary of State: how to request an apostille
5. Texas Secretary of State: apostilles and authentication of documents
6. Law No. 5718 on Private International Law and Procedure (MÖHUK)
7. Law No. 5490 on Civil Registry Services, Art. 27/A
8. Law No. 4721, Turkish Civil Code
9. Law No. 7338 on Inheritance and Transfer Tax
10. Law No. 2644, Land Registry Law
11. Law No. 6100, Code of Civil Procedure (HMK)
12. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 44.1 (uscourts.gov)
13. T.C. Houston Consulate General: service area (2026 notice)

What changed: added the consulate and apostille routes for powers of attorney, consular registration of U.S. divorces, MÖHUK enforcement rules, inheritance deadlines and who handles the Turkish and U.S. sides.