The Role of a Notary in Turkish Property Transactions

A common source of confusion for international buyers is the role of the Turkish notary (noter). In Turkey, property ownership transfers are not handled by notaries — they go through the Land Registry directly. However, notaries are still essential at several stages of a property transaction.

What Notaries Do in Property Transactions

Power of Attorney (Vekâletname): If you cannot be present for the title deed transfer, a notarised power of attorney allows a representative to act on your behalf. If signed abroad, this must be apostilled and then certified by a Turkish notary.

Preliminary Sale Agreement: While not legally required to be notarised, a notarised preliminary contract (ön sözleşme) gives you stronger legal protection if the seller defaults.

Certified Translation: Notaries certify the accuracy of documents translated by sworn translators.

Notary Fees

Notary fees are regulated by the government and are modest — a power of attorney typically costs ₺2,000–₺4,000. Using a private lawyer to draft contracts is separate and typically costs ₺10,000–₺30,000 depending on complexity.