Inheritance Law Law
This section addresses certificates of inheritance, wills, reduction (tenkis) and testator-collusion actions, and the partition of estates under the Turkish Civil Code.
Renunciation of Inheritance: Time Limits, Form and Effects
Protection from an insolvent estate under TMK arts.605-618
How is inheritance renounced and when does the three-month period start running? Express and constructive (de jure) renunciation and their effects.
Where the debts of the testator exceed the assets, heirs may renounce the inheritance to avoid assuming liability for the estate. TMK arts.605-618 regulate both express (sarih) renunciation and constructive (de jure) renunciation.
Express Renunciation: The Three-Month Period
Under TMK art.606, the inheritance may be renounced within three months. For statutory heirs, this period runs from the date on which they learned of the testator's death — unless they prove that they learned of their heirship later; for heirs appointed by will, it runs from the date on which the testator's disposition was officially notified to them.
The three-month period is a period of forfeiture; an heir who does not renounce within that time is deemed to have accepted the inheritance. The declaration of renunciation is made to the Civil Court of Peace of the testator's last domicile; it may be made in writing or orally and must be unconditional and unqualified (TMK art.609). Acts implying acceptance of the estate are separately assessed for their effect on the right to renounce.
Constructive Renunciation
TMK art.605/2 provides that, where the insolvency of the testator at the time of death is manifest or has been officially established, the inheritance is deemed to have been renounced. In such cases the heirs do not need to make a separate declaration of renunciation; the position is raised by way of defence when creditors bring claims.
An heir relying on constructive renunciation bears the burden of proving that the estate is insolvent. A certificate of insolvency, an enforcement procedure that yields no recovery, or evidence that the debts manifestly exceed the assets, may be used for this purpose.
Effects of Renunciation and Protection of Creditors
Where one of the heirs renounces, his or her share passes to the others as if that heir had predeceased the testator (TMK art.611). Where all statutory heirs renounce, the estate is officially liquidated by the Civil Court of Peace according to bankruptcy rules (TMK art.612).
Under TMK art.617, where the heir renounces the inheritance with the intention of prejudicing his or her own creditors, those creditors — or the bankruptcy administration — may, within six months from the date of renunciation, bring an action for the annulment of the renunciation. The estate is then officially liquidated.
Practical Considerations
In inheritance disputes, the first step is to clarify the status of the heirs, the scope of the estate and any dispositions on death. Civil-registry records, certificates of inheritance, land-registry records, bank correspondence, the records of the opening of a will and any transfers made by the deceased during their lifetime should be reviewed together.
The time limits and types of action for matters such as reduction, testator collusion, renunciation of inheritance, annulment of a will and inheritance waiver differ from one another. Correctly identifying the date of knowledge, the opening of the estate, the opening of the will and the date of any renunciation declaration prevents the loss of rights.
Because intra-family transactions are often conducted without written documents, bank receipts, the values reflected in the deed, the testator's economic needs, witness accounts and patterns of actual use are particularly important. The earlier the evidence is prepared, the more soundly the legal framework of the dispute can be established.
Relevant Statutory Provisions
- TMK m.605Renunciation of inheritance (express and constructive)
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 605-Yasal ve atanmış mirasçılar mirası reddedebilirler. Ölümü tarihinde mirasbırakanın ödemeden aczi açıkça belli veya resmen tespit edilmiş ise, miras reddedilmiş sayılır.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 605- Statutory and appointed heirs may renounce the inheritance. Where the testator's insolvency at the date of death is manifest or has been officially established, the inheritance is deemed to have been renounced.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.606Period of renunciation (3 months)
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 606- Miras, üç ay içinde reddolunabilir. Bu süre, yasal mirasçılar için mirasçı olduklarını daha sonra öğrendikleri ispat edilmedikçe mirasbırakanın ölümünü öğrendikleri; vasiyetname ile atanmış mirasçılar için mirasbırakanın tasarrufunun kendilerine resmen bildirildiği tarihten işlemeye başlar.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 606- The inheritance may be renounced within three months. For statutory heirs, the period runs from the date on which they learned of the testator's death — unless they prove that they learned of their status as heirs later; for heirs appointed by will, it runs from the date on which the testator's disposition was officially notified to them.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.609Form of renunciation
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 609- Mirasın reddi, mirasçılar tarafından sulh mahkemesine sözlü veya yazılı beyanla yapılır. Reddin kayıtsız ve şartsız olması gerekir. Sulh hâkimi, sözlü veya yazılı ret beyanını bir tutanakla tespit eder. Süresi içinde yapılmış olan ret beyanı, mirasın açıldığı yerin sulh mahkemesince özel kütüğüne yazılır ve reddeden mirasçı isterse kendisine reddi gösteren bir belge verilir. Tutanağın ve kütüğün nasıl tutulacağı Cumhurbaşkanınca çıkarılan yönetmelikle düzenlenir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 609- Renunciation of the inheritance is made by heirs by oral or written declaration to the Civil Court of Peace. The renunciation must be unconditional and unqualified. The judge records the oral or written declaration in a minute. A renunciation made within the time limit is entered in the special register kept by the Civil Court of Peace of the place where the succession was opened, and, on request, the renouncing heir is issued with a document evidencing the renunciation. The form of the minute and of the register is set out in a regulation issued by the President of the Republic.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.611Effects of renunciation
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 611- Yasal mirasçılardan biri mirası reddederse onun payı, miras açıldığı zaman kendisi sağ değilmiş gibi, hak sahiplerine geçer. Mirası reddeden atanmış mirasçının payı, mirasbırakanın ölüme bağlı tasarrufundan arzusunun başka türlü olduğu anlaşılmadıkça, mirasbırakanın en yakın yasal mirasçılarına kalır.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 611- Where a statutory heir renounces the inheritance, his or her share passes to those entitled as if that heir were not alive at the opening of the succession. The share of an appointed heir who renounces passes to the nearest statutory heirs of the testator, unless a different intention is apparent from the testator's testamentary disposition.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.612Renunciation by all heirs
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 612- En yakın yasal mirasçıların tamamı tarafından reddolunan miras, sulh mahkemesince iflâs hükümlerine göre tasfiye edilir. Tasfiye sonunda arta kalan değerler, mirası reddetmemişler gibi hak sahiplerine verilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 612- Where the inheritance is renounced by all the nearest statutory heirs, it is liquidated by the Civil Court of Peace according to the rules of bankruptcy. Any surplus remaining after liquidation is delivered to those entitled as if they had not renounced.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.617Renunciation prejudicing creditors of the heir
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 617- Malvarlığı borcuna yetmeyen mirasçı, alacaklılarına zarar vermek amacıyla mirası reddederse; alacaklıları veya iflâs idaresi, kendilerine yeterli bir güvence verilmediği takdirde, ret tarihinden başlayarak altı ay içinde reddin iptali hakkında dava açabilirler. Reddin iptaline karar verilirse, miras resmen tasfiye edilir. Bu suretle tasfiye edilen mirastan reddeden mirasçının payına bir şey düşerse bundan, önce itiraz eden alacaklıların, daha sonra diğer alacaklıların alacakları ödenir. Arta kalan değerler ise, ret geçerli olsa idi bundan yararlanacak olan mirasçılara verilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 617- Where an heir whose property is insufficient to meet his or her debts renounces the inheritance with the intention of prejudicing his or her creditors, the creditors — or the bankruptcy administration — may, in the absence of adequate security, bring an action for the annulment of the renunciation within six months from the date of renunciation. If the renunciation is annulled, the inheritance is officially liquidated. If any part of the share of the renouncing heir remains from the inheritance thus liquidated, it is used first to pay the objecting creditors and then the other creditors. Any surplus is delivered to those heirs who would have benefited had the renunciation been valid.
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
Where the estate is indebted, the three-month period is the most critical element. Missing it means the heir will be liable for the estate's debts with his or her own personal assets.
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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