1. Access via UYAP Citizen Portal and e-Government 

The primary method for citizens of the Republic of Turkey, even if they are abroad, to access the files they are party to in judicial and administrative court units and enforcement offices in Turkey is the UYAP Citizen Portal Information System. According to the decisions of the Constitutional Court, individuals with a T.C. (Republic of Turkey) identification number can access this system online using an e-Government password, mobile signature, or electronic signature. Through this system, all case files and document contents across the country can be viewed (Constitutional Court, 17/11/2021). First instance court decisions have also determined that individuals living abroad or foreign nationals become aware of enforcement proceedings against them by logging into the system with their e-Government password (Istanbul 1st Assize Court, 2022/299K; Istanbul 6th Assize Court, 2019/518).

2. Obtaining Information Through Consulates and Foreign Missions 

Consulates play a critical role in notification and address search processes for citizens living abroad. In judicial decisions, it is observed that research is conducted with local authorities such as the T.C. Consulate General in Hannover to determine the current addresses of debtors, or that notifications are attempted to be delivered through missions such as the Consulate in New York (Kayseri 2nd Civil Court of First Instance, 2022/853; Constitutional Court, 21/6/2023). Furthermore, it has been recorded that citizens abroad follow their legal processes in Turkey and declare their addresses through powers of attorney issued by units such as the Consulate General in Berlin (Court of Cassation 12th Civil Chamber, 2013/19849).

3. Learning Upon Entry to Turkey or Through External Means 

In some cases, individuals living abroad only become aware of legal proceedings against them when they enter Turkey or learn about them by chance. In Court of Cassation decisions, there are examples where a debtor became aware of proceedings against them while in Turkey for real estate sale transactions, or became aware of a notification on the date they entered Turkey (Court of Cassation 12th Civil Chamber, 2022/9664; Court of Cassation 12th Civil Chamber, 2012/17193). Furthermore, it is observed that individuals abroad grant power of attorney to a lawyer in Turkey to follow their cases “externally” (from outside/indirectly) (İzmir 7th Civil Court of First Instance, 2020/536Source).

4. Official Records and Address Inquiries (MERNIS and Police) 

Courts conduct MERNİS (Central Population Administration System) address inquiries via UYAP to ascertain the status of individuals residing abroad and obtain entry-exit records from the relevant Police Directorates (Supreme Court 5th Civil Chamber, 2022/9816; Antalya 3rd Administrative Court, 2022/639). Citizens residing abroad are obligated to report address changes within 20 business days in accordance with Law No. 5490; failure to fulfill this obligation may result in notifications being sent to the MERNİS address or made by public announcement (Constitutional Court, 21/6/2023).

5. Secondary Source Assessments 

In light of the information presented as a secondary source;

It has been stated that a debtor residing in Sweden accidentally learned about the enforcement proceedings while checking their files via e-government, and this date of learning was taken as the basis for a “delayed objection”. However, the judiciary does not impose a general legal obligation on citizens to continuously check the e-government system (Supreme Court General Assembly of Civil Chambers, 2021/412).

It has been emphasized that date and time-based “document transaction log” records of transactions made through the UYAP system (such as opening and reading files) are kept, and these records can be used as conclusive evidence at the commencement of forfeiture periods (Constitutional Court, 20/10/2020).

It has also been confirmed that criminal records are kept electronically via UYAP and can be queried by judicial authorities through this system (Supreme Court General Assembly of Criminal Chambers, 2012/1277).

6. Conclusion and Summary 

The most effective and official way to find out about lawsuits or enforcement proceedings in Turkey from abroad is to log in to the UYAP Citizen Portal system with an e-government password or electronic signature. In addition, among the recommended methods are making an address inquiry through consulates, having a lawyer from Turkey examine the files, or checking the up-to-dateness of MERNİS records. In cases where notifications are not made in accordance with the procedure, the date of entry into Turkey or the date of the first inquiry made via e-government is of importance as the “date of learning” in legal processes.

Why is Expert Lawyer Support Necessary? | 2M Law Firm – Istanbul Anatolian Side

The process for individuals living abroad to learn about their lawsuit and enforcement files in Turkey; due to notification law, address registration system (MERNİS), UYAP records and forfeiture periods, is a highly technical field. Incorrectly determined dates of learning or objections not made within the legal timeframe can lead to irreparable loss of rights.

Especially in enforcement and lawsuit files opened on behalf of citizens living abroad in the regions of Istanbul, Anatolian Side, Tuzla, Pendik, Kartal, Aydınlı, Bayramoğlu and Gebze; the detection of irregular notifications, calculation of deadlines, and determination of the correct legal path require expertise.

Why is Expert Lawyer Support Important?

The legally accurate determination of the initial date of learning for the file,

Effective assertion of claims of improper notification,

Prevention of delayed objections and missing deadlines,

Correct use of UYAP records as evidence,

In processes conducted from abroad, the complete execution of the power of attorney and representation process

is only possible with the follow-up of a lawyer specialized in the field.

Secure Legal Follow-up with 2M Hukuk Law Office

2M Hukuk Law Office, based in Istanbul, provides effective and professional legal support in the regions of Anatolian Side, Tuzla, Pendik, Kartal, Aydınlı, Bayramoğlu, and Gebze; for the follow-up of lawsuits and enforcement files of citizens living abroad in Turkey, objections to improper notifications, and enforcement law processes. 📌 To manage legal processes in Turkey correctly and on time from abroad, expert lawyer support is of vital importance.