Inheritance and Family Law: What Foreigners Should Know (2026)

Updated 8 July 2026 · By Bayraktar Attorneys

Quick answer: In Turkey, a surviving spouse inherits alongside children or other close relatives, and the law protects certain heirs through reserved shares, so a will cannot fully disinherit them. Real estate in Turkey is generally handled under Turkish rules. A former spouse stops being an heir once a divorce is final.

Inheritance sits at the crossroads of family and property law, and it catches many foreign families by surprise. Turkish rules on who inherits, and how much, can differ sharply from the freedom to make a will that people expect from home.

The Surviving Spouse and Children

A surviving spouse is an heir in Turkey. The size of the spouse's share depends on who else survives, most often the children, but sometimes the deceased's parents or siblings. The spouse's portion sits beside the children's shares rather than replacing them. This interacts with the division of marital property, which is settled first.

Reserved Shares

Turkish law does not allow complete freedom to disinherit close family. Certain heirs, such as children and the spouse, are entitled to reserved shares that a will cannot take away. You are free to dispose of the remaining portion as you wish, but not the protected part.

Foreign-Owned Property

For foreigners, the location of assets matters. Real estate in Turkey is generally dealt with under Turkish rules, while other questions may bring in the deceased's national law. Estates that span countries need coordination so that a plan made in one place is not undone in another, a theme shared with protecting foreign assets.

Key Points

The surviving spouse inherits alongside children or other relatives.
Reserved shares protect close heirs from being disinherited.
Turkish real estate is generally handled under Turkish rules.
Divorce ends a former spouse's inheritance rights.

How Divorce Changes the Picture

Once a divorce is final, a former spouse is no longer an heir. This is why property and inheritance are frequently reviewed together at divorce, and why updating your planning after a marriage ends is important. If an estate is already open, the same coordination between family and inheritance rules applies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the surviving spouse inherit in Turkey?

Yes. A surviving spouse is an heir and receives a share that depends on which other relatives survive, such as children or the deceased's parents. The spouse's share sits alongside the children's shares.

Can I leave my estate to whoever I want?

Not entirely. Turkish law protects certain close heirs through reserved shares, so a will cannot fully disinherit them. You can dispose freely only of the portion beyond those protected shares.

How is a foreigner's property in Turkey inherited?

Real estate located in Turkey is generally handled under Turkish rules, while other questions may involve the deceased's national law. Cross-border estates need careful coordination.

Does divorce affect inheritance?

Yes. A former spouse is no longer an heir once the divorce is final. This is one reason property and inheritance are often reviewed together at divorce.