Key points
- A typical matter has nine stages; the first statutory deadline starts when the payment order is served: the debtor has 7 days to object (EBL Art. 62).
- If the debtor objects, the creditor has 6 months to seek removal of the objection, or 1 year, after mediation, to sue for its annulment.
- After enforcement becomes final, attachment must be requested within 1 year and sale within 1 year of attachment (EBL Arts. 78, 106).
- Your main inputs: documents at the start, a signed power of attorney, instructions on attachment and settlement.
Which matters this page covers. Commercial money claims based on invoices, a contract or an account statement, pursued through enforcement without a judgment (ilamsız takip). Claims based on promissory notes, cheques or a court judgment follow different deadlines. For the full legal background, read debt collection in Türkiye.
The stages in brief#
- File review and conflict check
- Checking the debtor
- Formal notice (optional)
- Choosing the route: enforcement, precautionary attachment or lawsuit
- Power of attorney
- Request for enforcement and payment order
- If the debtor objects: removal of objection, or mediation and an action for annulment of objection
- Final enforcement and attachment
- Sale and collection
Stage table#
| Stage | What happens | Documents | Statutory deadline and basis | What we need from you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. File review | Summary of the claim, conflict check, written fee agreement | Debtor's trade name, tax ID, address | None | A short chronology |
| 2. Calculation | Principal, due dates, interest, partial payments | Contract, invoices, delivery proof, statement | Allocation of payments: TCO Art. 100 | Scanned copies |
| 3. Debtor check | Trade registry, concordat and bankruptcy notices | Known banks, property, vehicles | Effect of a moratorium: EBL Art. 294 | Any asset information |
| 4. Formal notice | Demand through a notary, registered mail or KEP | Claim calculation | Form: TCC Art. 18(3) | Approval of amount and deadline |
| 5. Route | Enforcement, attachment, negotiable instruments or lawsuit | Depends on route | EBL Art. 257; TCC Art. 5/A | Decision on counter-security |
| 6. Power of attorney | Notarized, apostilled, translated into Turkish | Corporate authority documents | Filing: HMK Art. 76 | Signature before a notary |
| 7. Payment order | Request for enforcement, fees, service | Documents supporting the claim | Objection within 7 days: EBL Art. 62 | Fee and cost advance |
| 8. Objection | Removal of objection, or mediation and annulment action | Debt acknowledgment (for removal) | 6 months: EBL Art. 68; 1 year: EBL Art. 67 | Witnesses, documents, settlement range |
| 9. Attachment and sale | Bank accounts, receivables, vehicles, real estate | Asset information | Attachment 1 year: EBL Art. 78; sale 1 year: EBL Art. 106 | Bank details for payment |
Each stage in detail#
File review and conflict check#
What happens: we learn the source of the claim, the amount and the debtor, and check for conflicts of interest before we accept the matter. We review the documents and calculate principal, interest and partial payments. What we need from you: the contract or purchase orders, invoices, delivery documents, the statement of account and correspondence; the documents checklist lists them. Decision point: whether the file is ready for enforcement and how gaps can be filled.
Checking the debtor and the formal notice#
What happens: we confirm the debtor's full trade name, tax ID and registered address, and check for concordat or bankruptcy announcements. If you choose to send a formal notice, between merchants it goes through a notary, registered mail, telegram or registered e-mail (KEP) with a secure electronic signature (TCC Art. 18(3)). What we need from you: what you know about the debtor's banks, customers, vehicles or property. Decision point: send a notice, or apply for a precautionary attachment before the debtor is alerted.
Choosing the route and the power of attorney#
What happens: based on the documents, we recommend enforcement without a judgment, enforcement on a negotiable instrument, a precautionary attachment or a lawsuit. A precautionary attachment for a due and unsecured money claim requires no additional ground (EBL Art. 257), but counter-security is generally required (EBL Art. 259). Your company signs a power of attorney before a notary, obtains an apostille, and the document is translated into Turkish. It must expressly include powers such as settlement, waiver, mediation and lifting an attachment (HMK Art. 74). What we need from you: the signed original and documents showing the signatory's authority. Decision point: whether to commit funds for counter-security.
Request for enforcement and payment order#
What happens: we file the request with the enforcement office, stating the claim, interest and its cause (EBL Art. 58). The payment order gives the debtor 7 days to pay or object (EBL Art. 60). Companies in Türkiye are served electronically; service is deemed made at the end of the fifth day after delivery to the electronic address (Notification Law Art. 7/a). What we need from you: the advance for fees and costs. Decision point: for a foreign-currency claim, which exchange-rate date to use.
If the debtor does not object#
What happens: once the 7 days pass, enforcement becomes final and we can request attachment without waiting for the debtor's declaration of assets. Attachment must be requested within 1 year of service of the payment order, or the file is set aside (EBL Art. 78). What we need from you: any asset information. Decision point: which assets justify the cost of attachment.
If the debtor objects#
What happens: a timely objection stops enforcement (EBL Art. 66). If the claim rests on a document in which the debtor acknowledged the debt with an acknowledged or notarized signature, or on an official document, we ask the enforcement court to remove the objection within 6 months of notice (EBL Art. 68). Otherwise, for a commercial claim, we first apply to mediation (TCC Art. 5/A) and then file an action for annulment of objection within 1 year of notice (EBL Art. 67). Limitation is suspended and preclusive periods do not run during mediation (Mediation Law Art. 18/A(15)). What we need from you: witnesses, additional documents and a settlement range for mediation. Decision point: removal or annulment; whether to offer settlement. See objection to a payment order.
Attachment and sale#
What happens: bank accounts, vehicles, real estate and receivables held by third parties are attached; a third party receiving a garnishment notice must respond within 7 days (EBL Art. 89). Sale must be requested within 1 year of attachment, with costs paid in advance (EBL Art. 106); otherwise the attachment on that asset lapses (EBL Art. 110). What we need from you: the bank account for payment of proceeds. Decision point: whether selling real estate or a vehicle is worth the cost.
If no assets are found#
What happens: if nothing attachable is found, the attachment record serves as a certificate of shortfall; if assets are insufficient, it serves as a provisional certificate (EBL Art. 105). Holding such a certificate allows an action to set aside certain transfers that reduced the debtor's assets (EBL Art. 277). Decision point: a further asset search or an action to set aside transfers.
If the debtor applies for concordat#
What happens: during the moratorium no enforcement may start, pending enforcement stops and precautionary attachment orders are not executed (EBL Art. 294). Claims are filed within 15 days of the commissioner's announcement (EBL Art. 299). Decision point: claim filing, voting and objections. See concordat for unsecured suppliers.
Types of cost#
No amounts are given here. The cost categories are: enforcement fees (filing, advance and collection fees), service costs, notary costs for a formal notice, court fees and refundable counter-security for a precautionary attachment, court fees, cost advances and expert fees in a lawsuit, mediator fees, and the costs of attachment, storage, valuation and sale. These are separate from the lawyer's fee and change with the annual tariffs. See how fees work.
A note on timing#
How long each stage takes depends on service, the debtor's response and the court's workload. No timeline or outcome is guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a court judgment before enforcement starts?
No. In enforcement without a judgment, the creditor files directly with an enforcement office on the basis of invoices, a contract or an account statement (EBL Art. 58). A court becomes involved only if the debtor objects or if you apply for a precautionary attachment. See the main guide.
What if the debtor pays part of the debt?
The payment is reported to the enforcement file and the balance is recalculated. If the debtor was late with interest or costs, a partial payment is applied to those first (TCO Art. 100). Enforcement continues for the balance.
Can our costs be recovered from the debtor?
Enforcement and court costs and the statutory attorney fee can be charged to the debtor if you succeed. You advance the costs first, and actual recovery depends on the debtor's ability to pay. See the fees page.
How will we be kept informed?
Each stage ends with a decision point. We report what happened, what the next deadline is and what we need from you before that deadline. Reporting frequency and format are agreed in the engagement letter.
Sources
- Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law (Law No. 2004), Arts. 58, 60, 62, 66, 67, 68, 78, 89, 105, 106, 110, 257, 259, 277, 294, 299: mevzuat.gov.tr
- Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102), Arts. 5/A, 18(3): mevzuat.gov.tr
- Law No. 6325 on Mediation in Civil Disputes, Art. 18/A: mevzuat.gov.tr
- Code of Civil Procedure (Law No. 6100, HMK), Arts. 74, 76: mevzuat.gov.tr
- Turkish Code of Obligations (Law No. 6098), Art. 100: mevzuat.gov.tr
- Notification Law (Law No. 7201), Art. 7/a: mevzuat.gov.tr
Change log
- : First published.
Law stated as at: October 11, 2026. Leyla Başkaya Şentürk is a lawyer (avukat) admitted to the Istanbul Bar Association, Türkiye (Reg. No. 67063). She advises on Turkish law only, is not admitted to practise law in any U.S. jurisdiction and does not advise on U.S. law. Content on this website is general information, not legal advice, and no outcome is promised. Using this website or submitting the contact form does not create an attorney-client relationship.