E-Government Inheritance Inquiry refers to checking the inheritance rights that belong to an individual from a deceased relative via the e-Government (e-Devlet) system. To perform an e-Government inheritance inquiry, the Turkish ID number (T.C. kimlik numarası) of the deceased must be known. This inquiry is carried out through the official e-Government portal.
Note that this service is available for people who died in 1990 or later; heirs of people who passed away from 1990 onward can obtain the certificate of inheritance through this method. The listed inheritances are subject to taxation.
How to Check Inheritance via the E-Government Portal
To perform an inheritance inquiry on e-Government, follow these steps:
Click the E-Government service for inheritance inquiry on the relevant portal
- On the opened page, click the login button located in the top-right corner.
- There are five ways to log in: e-Government password, mobile signature, electronic signature, T.C. identity card, and internet banking. The most commonly used method is the e-Government password. This password can be obtained from PTT branches for a fee. Citizens living abroad can obtain it via consulates.
- After logging in with the T.C. identity number and e-Government password, click the e-services (e-hizmetler) button on the main page.
- The page will list institutions that provide services. Select the Ministry of Justice (Adalet Bakanlığı) from that list.
- Then view the services available through the Ministry of Justice and select “Veraset İlamı Sorgulama” (Certificate of Inheritance Inquiry).
- To perform the inquiry, enter the Turkish ID number of the deceased and click the inquiry (sorgula) button. The page will display the inheritances registered under the entered ID number.
Since When Has the E-Government Inheritance Inquiry Been Available?
The transition of inheritance inquiry processes to electronic systems occurred after a specific date. Previously, it was not possible to query a certificate of inheritance via e-Government or similar platforms. As of March 6, 2015, requests for issuance of inheritance certificates began to be accepted through UYAP following a judicial decision.
Additionally, for non-litigious decisions such as issuance or cancellation of the certificate of inheritance, electronic service access became possible from December 16, 2016.
What to Do If an Inheritance Is Found in an E-Government Inquiry?
Taxes are applied to inheritances discovered through electronic inquiries. This tax is known as inheritance and transfer tax (veraset ve intikal vergisi). Therefore, when an inheritance is found, the first step is to pay the applicable tax.
According to the application in force since 2018, if the inherited amount is less than 240,000 TL, the tax rate is 1% of the inheritance amount. If the inherited amount exceeds 240,000 TL, the tax rate may be up to 10% of the inheritance, depending on the amount and applicable brackets.
What Does “No Record Found” Mean in an E-Government Inheritance Inquiry?
When performing an inheritance inquiry on e-Government, there are two possible outcomes: either a list of inheritances left by the deceased appears, or a “no record found” message is displayed.
If “no record found” appears, it indicates that the person whose ID number was entered did not leave any registered inheritance. If there is a concern about loss of rights, the necessary legal actions can be initiated to clarify or challenge the situation.
What Is a Certificate of Inheritance?
The certificate of inheritance, also called the veraset ilamı, is a legal document rooted in inheritance law. It certifies the rights and obligations that transfer to heirs over the deceased’s estate. The certificate is prepared in two possible scenarios.
If the deceased left a will or entered into an inheritance agreement, the estate is distributed according to the deceased’s wishes. If there is no such document, the distribution appears on the certificate of inheritance according to the degree system set out in the Civil Code. The principles of this ranking system are defined in the Turkish Civil Code.
How Is a Certificate of Inheritance Obtained?
To obtain a certificate of inheritance, the deceased must be confirmed dead or declared legally missing (gaiplik). The applicant must have the status and right of an heir and be able to prove it.
The methods to obtain the certificate include:
- Applying to a notary public to obtain the certificate. This is a faster method for issuing the veraset ilamı.
- Applying to the Civil Court of Peace (Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi). One of the heirs’ application is sufficient for this process.
Points to Consider When Obtaining a Certificate of Inheritance
There are two primary methods to obtain the certificate of inheritance, and not every method applies in every case.
Important considerations include:
- If at least one heir is a foreign national, the process cannot be handled through a notary. Under international private law rules, the certificate should be issued through the Civil Court of Peace for recognition purposes.
- When biological relationships or legal heirship cannot be established, the Civil Court of Peace must be petitioned.
- If population records are unclear or incomplete, the notary cannot complete the procedure.
- Certificates of inheritance cannot be issued through a notary when the deceased left a will.
Against Whom Is a Lawsuit to Cancel a Certificate of Inheritance Filed?
An action to annul a certificate of inheritance is a contentious lawsuit. Since the validity of the certificate is challenged, every person listed as an heir in the certificate is a potential defendant. It is not possible to file such a lawsuit against a single named person or anonymously without naming opposing parties.
Which Court Handles the Action to Cancel a Certificate of Inheritance?
According to procedural rules, the lawsuit to cancel a certificate of inheritance may be filed either at the deceased person’s last place of residence or at the residence of any of the heirs. The competent court is the Civil Court of First Instance (Asliye Hukuk Mahkemesi). Because the case is contentious, it proceeds with a hearing where both plaintiff and defendants are heard before a decision is reached.
Who Are Legal Heirs?
Those who are legally entitled to inherit include:
- Children born during marriage are legal heirs.
- An adopted child is treated as an heir in the first rank.
- Children born out of wedlock also have inheritance rights.
- The surviving spouse becomes a legal heir upon the death of their partner. However, this does not apply if the couple was divorced. A will favoring a former spouse is invalid if death occurs after the divorce.
What Is Renunciation of Inheritance?
Renunciation of inheritance means relinquishing all rights to the estate left by the deceased. According to Article 599 of the Turkish Civil Code, inheritance transfers immediately to heirs upon death; those who wish to relinquish their rights must formally renounce the inheritance. The renunciation action must be filed at the Civil Court of Peace in the deceased’s place of residence.
Heirs may inform the magistrate of peace in writing or orally that they abandon their inheritance rights. Under Article 608 of the Civil Code, the renunciation action must be filed within three months.
If Heirs Renounce the Inheritance, Can They Still Receive Pension Benefits from the Deceased?
After performing an e-Government inheritance inquiry, heirs who decide to give up the listed rights may renounce the inheritance. However, renouncing the inheritance does not automatically forfeit pension or salary benefits they would be entitled to receive from the deceased. Pension rights are not considered part of the inheritance estate.