Debt Collection Lawyer in Antalya

If someone in Turkey owes you money and will not pay, a debt collection lawyer in Antalya can start formal enforcement proceedings on your behalf, often without you needing to travel. We act for creditors and debtors before the enforcement offices, the enforcement courts and the civil courts, and we explain every step to you in English.

Turkish enforcement law is fast and largely electronic, but its deadlines are short and strict. A missed deadline or the wrong type of proceeding can cost a creditor the claim, or leave a debtor paying a debt they do not owe.

How we can help

• Enforcement for unpaid invoices, loans, rent, deposits, judgments and mortgages
• Collecting on cheques and promissory notes
• Requesting attachment (haciz) of bank accounts, salaries, vehicles, real estate and other assets
• Filing a lawsuit for annulment of the debtor's objection when a payment order is disputed
• Applying to the courts for interim attachment to stop a debtor moving assets before the case is decided
• Recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments and arbitral awards in Turkey
• Defending debtors: objections, complaints, negative declaratory actions and claims for repayment of money paid but not owed
• General advice on bankruptcy and concordato (court-supervised debt restructuring) for creditors and companies

Enforcement with and without a court judgment

Enforcement in Turkey is governed by the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law No. 2004. There are two main routes.

Without a judgment (ilamsız takip)

You do not need to win a lawsuit first. The enforcement office serves a payment order on the debtor at the creditor's request. If the debtor does not object in time, the proceeding becomes final and the creditor can move on to attaching assets. If the debtor objects, the proceeding stops. The creditor then has to have the objection set aside, either at the enforcement court (where the claim is backed by certain documents) or through a lawsuit for annulment of the objection at the civil court. A debtor who objects without good reason can be ordered to pay extra compensation.

With a judgment (ilamlı takip)

Where you already hold a court judgment or an equivalent document, the enforcement office sends the debtor an enforcement order. The debtor's options to resist are much narrower, and the process usually moves faster.

Cheques and promissory notes

Cheques, promissory notes and bills of exchange have their own procedure, with shorter time limits for the debtor and a quicker path to attachment.

Defending against unjust enforcement

Foreign residents sometimes receive a payment order for a debt they do not recognise, such as a disputed service charge or a rent claim after moving out. Do not ignore it. The time limit to object to a payment order is short (generally seven days from service in ordinary proceedings and shorter for cheque-based proceedings), and once it passes the debt can become final. Depending on the situation, we can file an objection, challenge a forged signature, bring a negative declaratory action to establish that you owe nothing, or protect assets that the law says cannot be seized, such as part of your salary and essential household items.

Foreign judgments and arbitral awards

A judgment from a court outside Turkey cannot be enforced directly at a Turkish enforcement office. It must first be recognised and declared enforceable by a Turkish court under the Law on International Private and Procedural Law No. 5718. The court checks matters such as reciprocity, finality of the judgment, the defendant's right to be heard and Turkish public policy. It does not re-examine the merits. Foreign arbitral awards follow a similar enforcement route, and Turkey is a party to the New York Convention. Once the Turkish court decision is final, we can start enforcement against the debtor's assets in Turkey.

How the process works

1. You send us the documents behind your claim, such as the contract, invoices, cheques or judgment.
2. We assess the claim and the right type of proceeding, and agree our fee with you in writing.
3. We file the enforcement request electronically through UYAP, Turkey's national judicial network, and track service on the debtor.
4. If the debtor objects, we advise on the next step: enforcement court, lawsuit or mandatory mediation where it applies.
5. Once the debt is final, we search for assets and request attachment of bank accounts, salary, vehicles or property.
6. Collected money is paid into the enforcement office file and transferred to you.

If you live abroad

You can follow the whole process from your home country. You will need to give us a power of attorney, which can be signed at a Turkish consulate or before a local notary with an apostille and a sworn Turkish translation. Because files are kept on UYAP, we can send you updates and documents electronically. If your claim relates to property or a tenancy, see also our real estate lawyer in Antalya page, and for disputes that start with a contract, our contract lawyer page.

Frequently asked questions

The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different; please consult a lawyer before taking any legal step. This page is published in accordance with the Professional Rules of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and the advertising ban for attorneys.