Cansu
Lawyer · Izmir, Turkey
- 209 cases handled
- 13+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Law, Yeditepe University
-
4.96(9 reviews)
Dealing with a Death Abroad in Turkey
When a foreign national dies in Turkey, the family deals with the death report and registration, burial or repatriation, and then the estate. English-speaking lawyers explain the steps and can act for relatives abroad.
About Dealing with a Death Abroad in Turkey
Dealing with a death abroad in Turkey (also death of a relative abroad, what to do when someone dies in Turkey, death certificate abroad or repatriation of remains; in Turkish the medical death report is the ölüm belgesi) covers the steps a family faces when a relative or partner dies while living in or visiting Turkey. It is meant for families abroad and for expat partners in Turkey, and sets out, step by step, what usually happens next. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Managing the Death Abroad of a Loved one”.
The first steps
A doctor or hospital records the death and issues the death report, which the health authority passes to the civil registry (nüfus müdürlüğü). When a death is sudden, violent or unclear, the police or gendarmerie and the public prosecutor are involved, and a post-mortem may be ordered, which can delay the release of the body. The family can then obtain a death certificate, often in a multilingual form, and register the death with the consulate of the deceased’s country.
Burial or repatriation
Burial in Turkey needs a burial permit (defin ruhsatı); a death certificate alone is not enough. As reported by consular guidance, cremation is not available in Turkey. Repatriation (cenaze nakli) involves an international funeral director, embalming, a transfer permit from the municipal funeral service and papers from the consulate. Travel or life insurance may cover part of the costs.
What to watch for
- Personal belongings can be held by the police or the prosecutor for a time.
- Families abroad often need certified and translated copies of every document for use at home.
- An accident may raise questions of liability and insurance claims.
What a lawyer does
A lawyer can deal with the authorities for relatives who are not in Turkey, follow the prosecutor’s file, obtain certificates and start the estate. Related pages: inheritance, birth, marriage and death certificate applications and power of attorney.
Questions and answers
Who is told when someone dies in Turkey?
The doctor or hospital records the death, and the police are called for a death at home or in an accident. The consulate and the family are informed next.
Can the body be flown home?
Yes, through a funeral director, with a death certificate, an embalming certificate and a transfer permit. The consulate helps with its part of the paperwork.
Can a cremation take place in Turkey?
As reported, there are no cremation facilities in Turkey. Families who want a cremation arrange it after repatriation.
Is a death certificate available in English?
Turkish registries can issue a multilingual extract. Some authorities abroad may still ask for an official translation.
What happens to property in Turkey?
Real estate in Turkey passes under Turkish law. The heirs obtain a certificate of inheritance and transfer the property at the land registry.
4 lawyers who provide Dealing with a Death Abroad in Turkey
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
-
-
Gamze
Lawyer · Bodrum, Turkey
- 123 cases handled
- 14+ years in practice
- Speaks: Turkish, English
- Law, Yeditepe University
-
4.94(4 reviews)
-
Sadi Berk
Lawyer · Kusadasi, Turkey
- 80 cases handled
- 15+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Law, Marmara University
-
5.00(6 reviews)
-
Mert
Lawyer · Antalya, Turkey
- 43 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Bachelors of Law, Ankara University
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Dealing with a Death Abroad
4 registered lawyers provide this service in Turkey. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.
Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
What our clients say about our service in Turkey
-
A Google search led me to this service when I needed legal help in Lithuania. The lawyer offered a well-informed opinion along with a quote for the fees, the job was done efficiently and effectively, and the solution to my problem pleased me.
— David11 Mar 2024Dealing with a Death Abroad -
His service to me was very professional and prompt, and he went out of his way to keep me informed about what he was doing, all in perfect English.
— Alan16 Oct 2023 -
The lawyer went above and beyond in every possible way. Several steps had to be completed in a specific order, and she replied to everything within minutes, every time. She explained it all in perfect detail and advised us on what would give the best chance of success. She was kind and friendly yet professional. She gave us the legal help we needed and also eased our stress, because it felt like having a friend in the country who wanted to help, and we are very satisfied with the outcome.
— Brandon31 Jan 2023Residency Visa, Turkey -
A fast response and excellent advice.
— Elena03 Jan 2023 -
I experienced nothing but the highest level of professionalism and responsiveness from the lawyer. She was always extremely knowledgeable, calm and very responsive, with excellent communication skills in perfect English, and she got things done quickly. I am very grateful for all the help she gave me and would recommend her very highly.
— Michael08 Sep 2022 -
Excellent service. We needed to set up a company in Turkey and get legal support, and they quickly connected us with a lawyer there, with great results.
— Sergio27 Jun 2022 -
The lawyer knows Turkish law extremely well, including the options open to me as a dual Turkish and American citizen living abroad, and I was amazed at how fast she understood my situation. At each stage she laid out the possible next steps, and I never felt stuck or pushed in one direction. Costs were agreed in advance and were very reasonable for the work done. I truly felt she was on my side throughout, and I am completely satisfied with the result. She is extremely friendly and very professional, and I will certainly keep using her for any other legal matter I need handled in Turkey.
— Cheryl28 Apr 2022 -
The lawyer was very professional and responsive. On every matter we discussed she offered solutions drawn from her experience and expertise, and we found that very useful. We are very pleased with how she worked with us, and her English was perfect.
— Mohammed14 Feb 2022 -
He made me feel as if I were his only client, and in my view he went far beyond what was needed to look after my requirements. I felt completely safe in his hands, I am very satisfied with his work, and I count myself lucky to have him as my lawyer. I plan to use his office for as long as I am in Kusadasi.
— Dennis18 Aug 2021EU Residency Visa (Non-EU), Turkey -
The lawyer is great and guided me through the whole process. I am very happy with the help she gave, and her English was flawless. I would certainly recommend her to friends and to anyone who needs a professional with a problem-solving mindset.
— Fabio08 May 2021 -
Working with her is very easy, and for any future needs I will hire her again.
— Fahimeh29 Mar 2021EU Citizen Registration Certificate (Residency Certificate), Turkey -
The lawyer was extremely helpful and could not have done any more for me.
— Andrew16 Feb 2021Family Law Consultation, Turkey