Introduction
Your client, distributor, or supplier in Turkey has failed to pay. You’ve sent reminders, legal notices — and still no result?
Recovering a debt in Turkey is possible, but it requires following local enforcement procedures under Turkish law — through the İcra ve İflas Kanunu (Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law).
At RT-Union – Russian-Turkish Law & Consulting Firm, we help European businesses and law firms enforce judgments, collect debts, and secure assets legally and efficiently in Turkey.
Recovering a debt in Turkey is possible, but it requires following local enforcement procedures under Turkish law — through the İcra ve İflas Kanunu (Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law).
At RT-Union – Russian-Turkish Law & Consulting Firm, we help European businesses and law firms enforce judgments, collect debts, and secure assets legally and efficiently in Turkey.
Can Foreign Creditors Recover Debts in Turkey?
Yes. Turkish law allows both Turkish and foreign creditors to initiate debt recovery proceedings through:
You do not need to be a Turkish citizen or company to enforce your claim — but you must comply with local rules, documents, language, and procedure.
- Ordinary collection procedures (without court decision), or
- Enforcement of court judgments or arbitral awards
You do not need to be a Turkish citizen or company to enforce your claim — but you must comply with local rules, documents, language, and procedure.
Legal Framework
Debt recovery in Turkey is governed by:
RT-Union handles both amicable pre-litigation steps and judicial enforcement procedures.
- Turkish Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law (Law No. 2004)
- Civil Procedure Code
- Turkish Code of Obligations (for contract enforcement)
- Applicable treaties (for foreign judgment/arbitral award recognition)
RT-Union handles both amicable pre-litigation steps and judicial enforcement procedures.
Debt Recovery Options in Turkey
1. Payment Order without Judgment (İlamsız Takip)
For uncontested debts (e.g. invoices, promissory notes):
Fast and cost-effective, especially for clear receivables.
For uncontested debts (e.g. invoices, promissory notes):
- RT-Union files a payment request at Enforcement Office
- Debtor has 7 days to object (or 5 days for bills of exchange)
- No objection = enforcement proceeds directly
- Objection = must resolve via court
Fast and cost-effective, especially for clear receivables.
2. Court Judgment Enforcement (İlamlı Takip)
If you already have:
3. Precautionary Measures
If you fear asset dissipation, RT-Union can request:
These tools are critical in high-risk or cross-border disputes.
If you already have:
- A Turkish court decision, or
- A recognized foreign judgment/arbitral award,
- you can initiate execution directly through the bailiff (İcra Dairesi).
3. Precautionary Measures
If you fear asset dissipation, RT-Union can request:
- Preliminary seizure (ihtiyati haciz)
- Injunction orders
- Bank account freezes
These tools are critical in high-risk or cross-border disputes.
Required Documents
- Valid contract, invoice, or judgment
- Apostilled POA (if foreign company)
- Turkish translation of all key documents
- Evidence of default (e.g. emails, delivery receipts)
RT-Union handles full document preparation and certification.
Timeline
- Stage: Pre-enforcement notice
- Stage: Objection period
- Stage: Lawsuit (if contested)
- Stage: Execution (asset seizure, sale)
Total recovery time depends on debt size, asset type, and debtor cooperation.
What Can Be Seized?
- Bank accounts
- Vehicles
- Machinery and business equipment
- Real estate
- Receivables from third parties (garnishment)
RT-Union coordinates with bailiffs to locate and attach assets efficiently.
Case Example: Dutch Manufacturer v. Turkish Importer
A Dutch client faced €190,000 unpaid invoices. RT-Union:
- Filed direct enforcement based on acknowledged debt
- Located debtor’s account in Izmir
- Secured injunction and bank freeze
- Collected full amount within 5 months (including interest and legal fees)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover interest and legal costs?
Yes — statutory or contractual interest may be added. Legal costs may be partially recovered via court.
Do I need to go to Turkey?
No — RT-Union represents you under POA. You can monitor the process remotely.
Can I enforce an EU court judgment or arbitral award?
Yes — but it must go through recognition procedure in Turkish court first. RT-Union handles this fully.
What if the debtor files for bankruptcy?
We can register your claim and represent you in the insolvency proceedings.
Yes — statutory or contractual interest may be added. Legal costs may be partially recovered via court.
Do I need to go to Turkey?
No — RT-Union represents you under POA. You can monitor the process remotely.
Can I enforce an EU court judgment or arbitral award?
Yes — but it must go through recognition procedure in Turkish court first. RT-Union handles this fully.
What if the debtor files for bankruptcy?
We can register your claim and represent you in the insolvency proceedings.
Why Work with RT-Union – Russian-Turkish Law & Consulting Firm
- Full-cycle debt recovery: from notice to execution
- Licensed court and enforcement representation
- Asset search and protection tools
- Multilingual: English, French, German, Russian, Turkish
- Serving European manufacturers, law firms, trade platforms
We don’t just send letters. We recover your money — by law.
Start Collecting What You're Owed
🕊️ Unpaid invoice or foreign court award in Turkey?
Let RT-Union lead the enforcement process — quickly, transparently, and with local expertise.
📞 Free case evaluation with recovery strategy.
👉 Recover Your Debt with RT-Union
Let RT-Union lead the enforcement process — quickly, transparently, and with local expertise.
📞 Free case evaluation with recovery strategy.
👉 Recover Your Debt with RT-Union
