Answers to Your Questions
Av. Aydın is a multidisciplinary law firm providing comprehensive legal solutions to the legal needs of the Aegean Region. From family law to criminal law, commercial disputes to real estate and inheritance matters, and employment law to enforcement proceedings, we offer solution-focused, transparent, and ethical legal counsel to both individual clients and corporate customers across a wide range of areas. In this article, we summarize our practice areas, how legal processes work, and what you need to pay attention to in order to protect your rights, in plain and accessible language.
When you encounter a legal problem, the most critical step is acting at the right time with the right information. Under Turkish law, many rights are subject to strict time limits, such as filing deadlines, statutes of limitations, and forfeiture periods. Property division in a divorce case, severance and notice pay in an employment relationship, material and non-pecuniary damages in a traffic accident, or a reserved share in an inheritance distribution — all of these can turn into irreparable losses if not asserted within certain periods. For this reason, our firm prioritizes informing clients not only during litigation, but also before a dispute even arises, through preventive legal counsel.
Family and Divorce Law
Family law is a field that requires both legal knowledge and empathy, as it covers people's most sensitive and emotional processes. Uncontested and contested divorce cases, custody and personal contact arrangements, alimony (interim, child support, poverty and assistance alimony), liquidation of the matrimonial property regime, and claims for contribution/participation receivables are among the areas our firm works on most intensively. In an uncontested divorce, the essential elements are the parties' mutual intent to end the marital union and their agreement on a divorce settlement protocol (boşanma protokolü); this route is generally faster and less taxing. In a contested divorce, matters such as fault, compensation, and custody are established through evidence.
In custody arrangements, courts base their decisions on the principle of "the best interests of the child"; the child's age, the environment they are accustomed to, and the parents' economic and social circumstances are all evaluated. In cases of domestic violence and threats, protective and preventive measures can be obtained quickly under Law No. 6284. In these processes, the correct collection of evidence, the meticulous preparation of petitions, and building the hearing strategy from the outset directly affect the outcome.
Liquidation of the matrimonial property regime is often the most complex and financially significant dimension of divorce cases. Under the participation in acquired property regime that came into force in 2002, both spouses are, as a rule, deemed entitled to half of the property acquired during the marriage. However, gratuitous acquisitions such as inheritance and gifts, as well as personal property owned before the marriage, are not included in this calculation. Correctly calculating claims such as contribution shares, participation receivables, and value increase shares requires a meticulous review of bank records, title deed information, and financial documents. In addition, material and non-pecuniary damages arising from the breaking of an engagement and the return of gifts, actions to deny paternity (soybağının reddi) and paternity suits, adoption, and guardianship and custodianship proceedings are also among the services we provide within the scope of family law.
Employment and Social Security Law
Disputes arising from working life produce significant financial consequences for both employees and employers. Our firm has the experience to represent either the employee or the employer side separately. For employees, we pursue claims for severance pay, notice pay, overtime, annual leave, national holiday and general holiday pay, as well as bad-faith and discrimination compensation claims; we also follow reinstatement lawsuits and mobbing (workplace bullying) allegations.
- Severance and notice pay: Correctly distinguishing between justified and valid termination is the most critical factor determining the amount that can be claimed.
- Reinstatement lawsuit: Under certain conditions, mediation (arabuluculuk) must be sought within the legal period following termination, followed by litigation if needed.
- Overtime and wage receivables: Claims proven through payroll records, timesheets, and witness evidence must be pursued with attention to statutes of limitations.
- Workplace accidents and occupational diseases: Social Security Institution (SGK) procedures, material and non-pecuniary compensation, and subrogation (rücu) lawsuits are handled as a coherent whole.
For employers, structuring employment contracts and human resources processes in a legally sound manner from the outset significantly reduces the risk of future lawsuits. Since most employment disputes require a mandatory mediation (arabuluculuk) stage before a lawsuit can be filed, managing this process professionally is of great importance.
Criminal Law
Criminal law is the field that requires the most careful defense strategy, as it directly concerns personal liberty. Having a professional defense counsel by your side at every step — from the investigation stage (law enforcement and the public prosecutor's office) to the prosecution stage (the court) — is critical for protecting your right to a fair trial. Our firm provides defense counsel services for suspects and defendants, as well as representation for victims and complainants.
The correct exercise of the right to remain silent and the right to benefit from defense counsel during statement-taking and interrogation forms the foundation of the defense in later stages. Objections to detention, arrest, and judicial control decisions, requests for acquittal or deferral of the announcement of the verdict (HAGB), and appeals to the regional courts of appeal and the Court of Cassation constitute the technical aspects of criminal proceedings that are bound by strict deadlines. For this reason, early and correct intervention in criminal case files is the factor that determines the outcome.
The criminal case files we handle cover a wide range of offenses, including intentional and negligent injury, threats, insult, blackmail, fraud and breach of trust, drug and narcotic substance offenses, damage to property, theft, offenses against sexual inviolability, and endangering traffic safety. In recent years, alongside digitalization, cybercrimes, insults and threats committed via social media, misuse of bank or credit cards, and the unlawful acquisition of personal data have become increasingly common. In such case files, obtaining and evaluating digital evidence (message records, IP information, HTS call detail reports) in a lawful manner ensures that the defense or the prosecution rests on solid foundations. In representing victims and complainants, the priorities are compensation for damages, the punishment of the defendant, and ensuring the client does not experience secondary victimization throughout the proceedings.
Commercial, Corporate and Contract Law
The pace of commercial life makes legal security even more important. Given the commercial density in and around Izmir, company incorporation, partnership structures, share transfers, general assembly and board of directors transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial disputes between companies are among our firm's important areas of practice. A well-structured contract clarifies the parties' rights and obligations before a dispute even arises, largely preventing disagreements that could occur in the future.
We provide advisory and litigation services in the preparation and negotiation of commercial contracts, risk analysis of existing contracts, evaluation of penalty clause and security provisions, collection of commercial receivables, and cheque-promissory note disputes. For our corporate clients, we can also develop subscription-based advisory models that provide continuous legal support for their day-to-day operations.
With its port, organized industrial zones, free zone, and strong export infrastructure, Izmir is one of Turkey's leading commercial centers. This dynamic economic structure necessitates qualified legal support in areas such as export and import contracts, international sale of goods (CISG), distributorship and dealership relationships, and transportation and logistics law. Taking into account the needs of both local businesses and companies engaged in international trade, our firm determines the most suitable method for each case among different dispute resolution approaches such as arbitration (tahkim), mediation (arabuluculuk), and litigation. Throughout the entire life cycle of a company, from its incorporation to its dissolution, we help our clients manage risks by anticipating the legal consequences of commercial decisions in advance.
Real Estate and Tenancy Law
Real estate is the most valuable asset for most individuals and institutions; therefore, legal diligence in title deed and tenancy relationships is essential. Title deed cancellation and registration lawsuits, prevention of interference with property (müdahalenin men'i), partition of co-ownership (izale-i şuyu), disputes arising from condominium ownership, and expropriation and zoning matters are among the topics our firm handles.
In tenancy law, frequently encountered matters include the determination and adjustment of rent, eviction lawsuits (based on grounds such as a written undertaking to vacate, eviction due to need, or two justified warnings), collection of rent receivables, and deposit disputes. Correctly structuring the lease agreement from the outset significantly reduces the potential for future grievances for both the landlord and the tenant.
Rising housing prices and tenancy disputes in recent years have made this one of the hottest topics on the agenda. Legal limitations on rent increase rates, the mutual obligations of tenants and landlords, and the adaptation of previously executed contracts to current conditions all require careful evaluation from both a legal and an economic perspective. Due to the special provisions applied to residential and roofed workplace leases, it is of great importance that the eviction process be based on the correct grounds and the correct procedure; otherwise, a right may be lost after months of litigation. In real estate sales, on the other hand, a due diligence review conducted before the transfer of title protects our clients from potential grievances by identifying risks such as mortgages, liens, annotations, and zoning restrictions in advance.
Inheritance Law
Inheritance law is a sensitive field both technically and in terms of family relationships. Obtaining a certificate of inheritance (veraset ilamı), renunciation of inheritance, determination and distribution of the estate, drafting and cancellation of wills and inheritance contracts, actions for abatement (tenkis) due to violation of a reserved share, and lawsuits concerning a sham transaction to circumvent forced heirship (muris muvazaası, i.e., concealment of assets from the estate) are the most frequently encountered matters.
In particular, what is known as "muris muvazaası" — the apparent sale transactions made by a deceased person during their lifetime to exclude certain heirs — forms the basis of lawsuits filed to protect the rights of heirs with a reserved share. In situations such as renunciation of inheritance and an estate that is over-indebted, complying with the short forfeiture periods is of great importance; missing these deadlines can leave heirs unexpectedly burdened with debt obligations.
Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law
Just as important as the existence of a receivable is the actual ability to collect it. Enforcement and bankruptcy law enables a creditor to enforce their rights through legal means. Enforcement proceedings with and without a court judgment, enforcement routes specific to negotiable instruments (cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange), attachment and sale proceedings, and lawsuits for the annulment or removal of an objection are among the matters our firm handles.
When representing the debtor's side, legal remedies come to the fore such as objecting to enforcement proceedings, lawsuits for negative declaratory judgment and restitution, objecting to the debt, and legal recourse against unlawful attachments. In composition with creditors (konkordato) and restructuring processes, we provide a legal roadmap for businesses experiencing financial difficulty. In enforcement law, speed and the selection of the correct enforcement route are factors that directly affect the outcome.
Compensation Law: Traffic and Workplace Accidents
An unexpected accident can profoundly affect a person's life and financial situation. Claims for material and non-pecuniary damages arising from traffic accidents, compensation for loss of support, permanent and temporary disability compensation, and applications and litigation against insurance companies are among our firm's areas of expertise. The correct determination of fault ratios, the calculation of loss of earnings, and the evaluation of actuarial reports are the critical stages that determine the amount to be claimed.
In compensation arising from workplace accidents and occupational diseases, the employer's liability, the Social Security Institution's (SGK) right of subrogation (rücu), and the victim's material and non-pecuniary damages are evaluated as a whole. In compensation lawsuits, paying attention to statutes of limitations and to the complete collection of evidence (accident report, hospital records, expert reports) prevents the loss of rights.
Compensation calculations require a technical infrastructure that is far more complex than most people expect. In cases of permanent disability, the loss of earnings a person will suffer for the rest of their life is calculated using current actuarial methods and expert reports. The insurance company's initial payment often does not fully cover the actual damage; for this reason, additional applications and litigation should be considered to complete any shortfall in payment. In accidents resulting in death, the compensation rights of the surviving spouse, children, and, under certain conditions, the parents who have lost their means of support are examined separately. In these sensitive processes, our priority is both the accurate determination of the damage and making the process as manageable as possible for the victim and their family.
Administrative and Tax Law
In the relationships between citizens and businesses and the state, ensuring legal protection against administrative actions is of great importance. We support our clients in lawsuits for the annulment of administrative acts, full remedy (compensation) lawsuits filed due to the administration's faulty service, expropriation disputes, and disciplinary and personal rights matters arising from civil servant and public personnel law.
In tax law, matters include settlement and litigation processes against tax and penalty notices, advisory services regarding tax audits, objections to payment orders, and the evaluation of tax technique reports. Since the deadlines for filing lawsuits in administrative and tax disputes are very short and strict, time management is a decisive factor in this field.
Consumer, Insurance and Intellectual Property Law
Consumer transactions are among the most frequently encountered disputes in daily life. We represent our clients before Consumer Arbitration Committees and Consumer Courts in matters concerning defective goods and services, subscription agreements, distance sales, banking transactions, and unfair terms. In insurance law, we work on the evaluation of policy coverage, incomplete or delayed claim payments, subrogation (rücu) lawsuits, and applications to the Insurance Arbitration Commission.
In the field of intellectual and industrial property, the protection of trademarks, patents, designs, and copyrights, registration processes, lawsuits for determination and compensation against rights infringements, and matters of unfair competition are of growing importance, particularly for our commercial clients. Protecting your brand and your work safeguards both your competitive advantage and your corporate reputation.
Personal Data Protection and IT Law
In an increasingly digital world, the protection of personal data has become a vital area of legal responsibility, not only for individuals but for every business that processes data. Under Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK), businesses have numerous obligations, including the duty to inform, management of explicit consent, registration with the Data Controllers' Registry (VERBİS), preparation of a data inventory, and implementation of data security measures. Failure to comply with these obligations can lead to serious administrative fines as well as reputational damage.
Our firm provides advisory services to corporate clients on KVKK compliance processes, supporting the preparation of the necessary policies and contracts, and the lawful processing of employee and customer data. For individual clients, matters such as the unlawful processing or unauthorized sharing of personal data, or the exercise of the right to be forgotten, may give rise to applications to the Personal Data Protection Board and judicial remedies. In cases of insult, reputation-damaging content, and violations of privacy committed online, rapid legal intervention is possible through requests for access blocking and content removal.
How the Legal Process Works: What You Should Know
Many people, when faced with a legal problem, either make a mistake at the very start of the process or delay taking action because they do not know what path to follow. In general terms, a legal process consists of the following stages:
- Initial consultation and file review: The existing documents and the sequence of events are evaluated; the legal situation and possible scenarios are clarified.
- Strategy determination: Whether litigation, mediation, or an amicable settlement is the most suitable method is decided together with the client.
- Mediation or administrative application: In many disputes, mandatory mediation (arabuluculuk) or a preliminary application stage is a precondition for filing a lawsuit.
- Litigation stage: Petitions, evidence, hearings, and expert examinations are carried out.
- Legal remedies: Appeals to the regional court of appeal and, where necessary, to the Court of Cassation are filed against the first-instance decision.
- Enforcement: The decision rendered in the client's favor is actually put into effect.
We adhere to the principle of transparency at every stage of this process. We regularly inform our clients about the progress of the file, potential risks, the estimated duration, and costs. No outcome in law can ever be guaranteed in advance; however, the correct strategy, meticulous preparation, and compliance with deadlines are the factors that maximize the likelihood of success.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods
Not every dispute has to end in a lengthy litigation process. The Turkish legal system has, in recent years, placed increasing emphasis on alternative dispute resolution methods. In a significant portion of employment law, commercial disputes, and consumer cases, applying to a mediator before filing a lawsuit is now a precondition for litigation. Mediation (arabuluculuk) is a confidential, fast, and generally less costly method in which the parties, in the presence of a neutral mediator, produce their own solution.
Obtaining legal advice during the mediation process is also of great importance, since the agreement reached at the table produces binding results that are enforceable, just like a court decision. A mediation record signed without fully understanding your rights and interests can lead to irreversible losses down the line. For this reason, our firm represents its clients in both mediation and settlement negotiations; where an amicable resolution is possible, we aim for the solution that will reduce the litigation burden and duration while best protecting the client's interests. Arbitration (tahkim), on the other hand, is another flexible and expertise-based method of resolution, conducted through arbitrators predetermined by the parties, particularly in commercial and international disputes.
Why Should You Seek Professional Legal Support?
In the vast majority of legal disputes, the greatest loss people suffer is losing a right they were entitled to, simply because they were unaware of procedural rules or deadlines. A deficiency in a petition, a missed objection period, or improperly collected evidence can put even a party who is fundamentally in the right in a difficult position. Professional legal support is not just about conducting the litigation; it is about choosing the right path from the very beginning, anticipating risks, and protecting the client's interests to the greatest extent possible.
As Av. Aydın, we work with an approach that prioritizes confidentiality, honesty, and the client's best interests. We evaluate every case within its own unique circumstances, set realistic expectations, and manage the process together with you. Trust and confidentiality lie at the foundation of the attorney-client relationship; every piece of information you share is meticulously protected under professional privilege. Never leaving you alone throughout the legal process, informing you in plain language, and sharing the reasoning behind every step we take are inseparable parts of our working philosophy.
Our experience with the courthouses in and around Izmir, local court practices, and regional dynamics contributes to your case files being handled in a more predictable manner. The rich industrial, commercial, agricultural, and tourism-based structure of the Aegean Region brings with it a wide variety of legal needs. A tradesperson's commercial receivable, a family's divorce and custody process, an employee's compensation claim, or a company's contract dispute — each requires its own unique approach. Thanks to our multidisciplinary structure, we are able to develop a holistic and consistent strategy even in complex case files that concern different branches of law.
In the frequently asked questions section below, you can find short answers to the topics our clients are most curious about. For a more comprehensive assessment, contacting us directly is the most reliable way to receive information tailored to your specific situation. Remember: taking the right step early in a legal matter often prevents a great deal of effort and cost that would otherwise have to be spent later.
Note: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Since every dispute involves its own unique circumstances, you are strongly advised to consult a lawyer regarding your specific situation.