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Category IIEnforcement and Bankruptcy

Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law

This section covers debt collection, attachment, composition with creditors (concordato) and bankruptcy proceedings. The articles are prepared in light of the current provisions of the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Code (No. 2004) and the settled case law of the 12th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

10 articlesWith statutory referencesAll Categories
LatestInitiating Enforcement Proceedings: Enforcement With and Without a Judgment18 April 2026
10 February 2026

Preliminary Attachment: Conditions, Security and Practice

Provisional protection securing the claim

What is preliminary attachment, on what conditions is it granted, what are the security rates? The provisional-protection procedure for matured and immature claims.

Preliminary (precautionary) attachment is the provisional seizure of the debtor's assets by court order to secure collection of a claim not yet final. While it offers the creditor a fast and effective tool of compulsory enforcement, an unjustified preliminary attachment can lead to serious liability in damages and must therefore be pursued with great care.

General Conditions (İİK m.257)

Preliminary attachment may be requested for monetary claims that are due and unsecured by pledge. The claim need not be proven by written document, but the court must be persuaded to a prima facie (probable cause) standard (İİK m.258).

For claims not yet due, two exceptional grounds are required: the debtor having no known place of residence, or the debtor concealing, removing or preparing to flee with assets to escape obligations. These grounds must be substantiated with concrete evidence.

Security Obligation (İİK m.259)

The creditor seeking preliminary attachment must lodge security set by the court for damages that the debtor and third parties may suffer if the request proves unjustified. In practice this is generally set at between 10 % and 20 % of the claim.

No security is required where the claim rests on a judgment; where it rests on a document equivalent to a judgment, the court decides whether security is required. Security may be in cash, bank guarantee or government bonds.

Implementation and Conversion to Enforcement Proceedings

A preliminary attachment decision must be implemented by application to the enforcement office within ten days of issue; otherwise it lapses automatically (İİK m.261). After implementation, the creditor must initiate enforcement proceedings or bring an action within seven days (İİK m.264); otherwise the preliminary attachment lapses.

The debtor may, within seven days of service, object to the decision (İİK m.265). The objection is filed before the issuing court and heard in adversarial proceedings.

Practical Considerations

In enforcement and bankruptcy proceedings, the choice of enforcement track must be determined by the basis of the claim and the available documents. Although ordinary enforcement, commercial-paper enforcement, judgment-based enforcement, preliminary attachment, composition with creditors and bankruptcy may pursue the same outcome, they differ in time limits, available objections and costs.

Dates of service, objection or payment deadlines, attachment requests, sale-request periods and complaint deadlines are the most critical stages of the file. For this reason the dates of service of the payment order, enforcement order, attachment record, valuation report and sale notice should be tracked in a separate schedule.

For the creditor, interest calculation, the clarity of the enforcement request and the inquiry into the debtor's assets are decisive; for the debtor, grounds of objection, claims of exempt assets and the possibility of a negative declaratory action must be assessed from the outset. Otherwise, a procedural oversight may eclipse a meritorious position.

Relevant Statutory Provisions

  • İİK m.257Conditions for preliminary attachment

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 257 – Rehinle temin edilmemiş ve vadesi gelmiş bir para borcunun alacaklısı, borçlunun yedinde veya üçüncü şahısta olan taşınır ve taşınmaz mallarını ve alacaklariyle diğer haklarını ihtiyaten haczettirebilir.
    Vadesi gelmemiş borçtan dolayı yalnız aşağıdaki hallerde ihtiyati haciz istenebilir:
    1 – Borçlunun muayyen yerleşim yeri yoksa;
    2 – Borçlu taahhütlerinden kurtulmak maksadiyle mallarını gizlemeğe, kaçırmağa veya kendisi kaçmağa hazırlanır yahut kaçar ya da bu maksatla alacaklının haklarını ihlâl eden hileli işlemlerde bulunursa;
    Bu suretle ihtiyati haciz konulursa borç yalnız borçlu hakkında muacceliyet kesbeder.

    English summary (non-binding):

    The creditor of a matured monetary debt that is not secured by pledge may have movables, immovables, claims and other rights of the debtor — held by the debtor or by third parties — attached on a preliminary basis. For a debt not yet due, preliminary attachment may be sought only where: 1) the debtor has no definite place of residence; 2) the debtor conceals or removes assets, or prepares to flee or flees, or engages in fraudulent transactions infringing the creditor's rights, in order to escape obligations. Where preliminary attachment is granted on such grounds, the debt becomes due only as to that debtor.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • İİK m.258Authority and procedure for granting preliminary attachment

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 258 – İhtiyati hacze 50 nci maddeye göre yetkili mahkeme tarafından karar verilir. Alacaklı alacağı ve icabında haciz sebepleri hakkında mahkemeye kanaat getirecek deliller göstermeğe mecburdur.
    Mahkeme iki tarafı dinleyip dinlememekte serbesttir.
    (Ek fıkra:17/7/2003-4949/60 md.) (Değişik üçüncü fıkra:22/7/2020-7251/50 md.) İhtiyati haciz talebinin reddi kararı gerekçeli olarak verilir ve bu karara karşı istinaf yoluna başvurulabilir. Yüzüne karşı aleyhinde ihtiyati haciz kararı verilen taraf da istinaf yoluna başvurabilir. Bölge adliye mahkemesi bu başvuruları öncelikle inceler ve verdiği karar kesindir.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Preliminary attachment is decided by the court competent under m.50. The creditor must provide evidence persuading the court of the claim and, where applicable, the grounds for attachment. The court is free to hear or not to hear the parties. A refusal of the preliminary-attachment request is issued with reasons and may be appealed; a party against whom preliminary attachment has been ordered after a hearing may also appeal. The regional court of appeal hears such appeals on a priority basis, and its decision is final.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • İİK m.259Security requirement

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 259 – (Değişik: 3/7/1940-3890/1 md.)
    İhtiyati haciz istiyen alacaklı hacizde haksız çıktığı taktirde borçlunun ve üçüncü şahsın bu yüzden uğrayacakları bütün zararlardan mesul ve Hukuk Usulü Muhakemeleri Kanununun 96 ncı maddesinde yazılı teminatı vermeğe mecburdur.
    Ancak alacak bir ilama müstenid ise teminat aranmaz.
    Alacak ilam mahiyetinde bir vesikaya müstenid ise mahkeme teminata lüzum olup olmadığını takdir eder.
    Tazminat davası ihtiyati haczi koyan mahkemede dahi görülür.

    English summary (non-binding):

    The creditor seeking preliminary attachment is liable for all damage suffered by the debtor and third parties if the attachment proves unjustified, and must lodge the security under Civil Procedure Code m.96. No security is required where the claim rests on a judgment. Where it rests on a document equivalent to a judgment, the court decides whether security is needed. The damages action may also be brought before the court that granted the preliminary attachment.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • İİK m.261Period for implementation

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 261 – (Değişik: 18/2/1965-538/101 md.)
    Alacaklı, ihtiyati haciz kararının verildiği tarihten itibaren on gün içinde kararı veren mahkemenin yargı çevresindeki icra dairesinden kararın infazını istemeye mecburdur. Aksi halde ihtiyati haciz kararı kendiliğinden kalkar.
    İhtiyati haciz kararları, 79 dan 99 uncuya kadar olan maddelerdeki haczin ne suretle yapılacağına dair hükümlere göre icra edilir.
    (Ek son fıkra: 17/7/2003-4949/61 md.) İhtiyati haczin infazı ile ilgili şikayetler infazı yapan icra dairesinin bağlı olduğu icra mahkemesine yapılır.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Within ten days of the preliminary-attachment decision the creditor must apply for enforcement to an enforcement office within the granting court's jurisdiction; failing this, the decision lapses automatically. Preliminary-attachment decisions are implemented in accordance with the attachment rules in m.79-99. Complaints concerning implementation are filed with the enforcement court to which the implementing enforcement office is attached.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • İİK m.264Period for conversion to enforcement

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 264 – (Değişik: 18/2/1965-538/104 md.)
    Dava açılmadan veya icra takibine başlanmadan evvel ihtiyati haciz yaptırmış olan alacaklı; haczin tatbikinden, haciz gıyabında yapılmışsa haciz tutanağının kendisine tebliğinden itibaren yedi gün içinde ya takip talebinde (Haciz veya iflas) bulunmaya veya dava açmaya mecburdur.
    İcra takibinde, borçlu ödeme emrine itiraz ederse bu itiraz hemen alacaklıya tebliğ olunur. Alacaklı, tebliğ tarihinden itibaren yedi gün içinde icra mahkemesinden itirazın kaldırılmasını istemeye veya mahkemede dava açmaya mecburdur. İcra mahkemesi, itirazın kaldırılması talebini reddederse alacaklının kararın tefhim veya tebliği tarihinden itibaren yedi gün içinde dava açması lazımdır.
    Alacaklı bu müddetleri geçirir veya davasından yahut takip talebinden vazgeçerse veya takip talebi kanuni müddetlerin geçmesiyle düşerse veya dava dosyası muameleden kaldırılıp da bir ay içinde dava yenilenmezse veya davasında haksız çıkarsa ihtiyati haciz hükümsüz kalır ve alakadarlar isterse lazım gelenlere bildirilir.
    Borçlu müddeti içinde ödeme emrine itiraz etmez veya itirazı icra mahkemesince kesin olarak kaldırılır veya mahkemece iptal edilirse, ihtiyati haciz kendiliğinden icrai hacze inkılabeder.

    English summary (non-binding):

    A creditor who has obtained preliminary attachment before bringing an action or initiating enforcement must, within seven days of implementation (or, if attached in absentia, of service of the minutes), either file an enforcement request (attachment or bankruptcy) or bring an action. In enforcement, any debtor objection is served immediately on the creditor; the creditor must, within seven days of service, seek removal of the objection before the enforcement court or bring an action. If the court refuses removal, the creditor must bring an action within seven days of pronouncement or service. Where preliminary attachment is granted during a pending claim action or the creditor has brought an action under the first paragraph, the creditor must file an enforcement request within one month of service of the substantive judgment. If the creditor misses these periods, withdraws the action or request, lets it lapse, or loses on the merits, the preliminary attachment lapses and interested parties may have it notified to the relevant offices. If the debtor does not object in time, or the objection is definitively removed or annulled, the preliminary attachment is automatically converted into an executory attachment.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • İİK m.265Objection to preliminary attachment

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 265 – (Değişik: 18/2/1965-538/105 md.)
    (Değişik birinci fıkra: 17/7/2003-4949/63 md.) Borçlu kendisi dinlenmeden verilen ihtiyatî haczin dayandığı sebeplere, mahkemenin yetkisine ve teminata karşı; huzuriyle yapılan hacizlerde haczin tatbiki, aksi hâlde haciz tutanağının kendisine tebliği tarihinden itibaren yedi gün içinde mahkemeye müracaatla itiraz edebilir.
    (Ek ikinci fıkra: 17/7/2003-4949/63 md.) Menfaati ihlâl edilen üçüncü kişiler de ihtiyatî haczi öğrendiği tarihten itibaren yedi gün içinde ihtiyatî haczin dayandığı sebeplere veya teminata itiraz edebilir.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Where preliminary attachment has been ordered without hearing the debtor, the debtor may apply to the court within seven days — from implementation in the debtor's presence, otherwise from service of the minutes — objecting to the grounds, the court's jurisdiction or the security. Third parties whose interests are infringed may likewise object to the grounds or security within seven days of learning of the preliminary attachment. The court examines the objection only on the grounds raised. The objector must annex all supporting documents. After hearing the parties (or, if both fail to appear, on the documents), the court may modify or set aside the decision if it finds the objection well-founded. Appeal is available against the decision on objection; the regional court of appeal hears it on a priority basis and its decision is final. Appeal does not stay implementation.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • İİK m.266Lifting the attachment against security

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 266 – (Değişik: 18/2/1965-538/106 md.)
    Borçlu, para veya mahkemece kabul edilecek rehin veya esham yahut tahvilat depo etmek veya taşınmaz rehin yahut muteber bir banka kefaleti göstermek şartı ile ihtiyati haczin kaldırılmasını mahkemeden istiyebilir. Takibe başlandıktan sonra bu yetki, icra mahkemesine geçer.

    English summary (non-binding):

    The debtor may request the court to lift the preliminary attachment by depositing money or court-approved pledge, securities or bonds, or by providing an immovable pledge or a reliable bank guarantee. After enforcement proceedings have begun, this power passes to the enforcement court.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

The statutory provisions are reproduced for information purposes only. The current and official text on mevzuat.gov.tr is authoritative.

Conclusion

Preliminary attachment is a provisional legal protection securing the collection of a claim. Prima facie proof, security, the ten-day implementation period and the seven-day deadline to convert it into enforcement proceedings must be tracked together.

This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you would like professional assistance on a specific matter, you may request a consultation.

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