Debt Recovery, Enforcement and Insolvency Lawyer in Bursa

Being unable to collect a receivable, or facing unjustified enforcement proceedings, is a serious problem for individuals and companies that causes not only financial loss but also loss of time and reputation. Turkish enforcement and bankruptcy law is a highly technical field that enables creditors to obtain what they are owed fully and as quickly as possible, while protecting debtors against unlawful or disproportionate proceedings. Neka Legal acts for both creditors and debtors, including foreign companies collecting receivables from Turkish buyers, at every stage of enforcement proceedings.

Matters we handle

On the creditor side, we handle enforcement proceedings with and without a judgment, proceedings specific to bills of exchange (cheques, promissory notes, drafts), the enforcement of mortgages and pledges, and the eviction of leased property through enforcement.

On the debtor side, we provide a strong defence against unjustified or disproportionate proceedings. From objections to payment orders to actions for a negative declaration and restitution, third-party ownership claims, actions to annul auctions and complaints against acts of the enforcement office, we use every legal tool to protect our clients’ rights.

We also handle actions to set aside transactions made to put assets out of creditors’ reach, and trials concerning bounced cheques and other enforcement-related offences.

Types of enforcement proceedings and deadlines

The route of enforcement depends on the document on which the claim is based. Choosing the wrong route may lead to the proceedings being cancelled and to lost time, so the nature of the document should be assessed before starting.

For claims not based on a judgment, such as contracts, invoices or current accounts, proceedings without a judgment are used; the debtor may pay or object within seven days of service of the payment order (Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law, İİK, Arts. 60, 62). In proceedings based on bills of exchange, such as cheques, promissory notes and drafts, the debtor has ten days to pay and five days to object or complain (Art. 168). In proceedings based on a court judgment or a document with the force of a judgment, the period is seven days from service of the enforcement order (Art. 32). For claims secured by a mortgage or a pledge over movables, proceedings for the realisation of the security are used; the deadlines vary by type of security and route.

How do enforcement proceedings without a judgment work?

1. Request for enforcement: The creditor files a request with the competent enforcement office; proceedings can also be started electronically via the UYAP system.
2. Payment order: The enforcement office sends a payment order to the debtor.
3. Seven-day period: The debtor pays the debt or objects within seven days. If there is no objection, the proceedings become final.
4. Attachment: In final proceedings, the debtor’s assets, rights and receivables are attached at the creditor’s request.
5. Sale and distribution: The attached assets are sold and the proceeds are paid to the creditor.

What happens if the debtor objects to the payment order?

An objection filed on time stops the proceedings. The creditor then has two options:

• Removal of the objection: If the claim is based on a document whose signature has been acknowledged or on an official document, the creditor asks the enforcement court to remove the objection. The deadline is six months from service of the objection (İİK, Art. 68).
• Action for annulment of the objection: In other cases, an action is filed with the general courts. The deadline is one year from service of the objection (Art. 67).

If the objection is found to be unjustified, the debtor may be ordered to pay compensation for bad-faith denial of at least twenty per cent of the claim for liquidated claims. For commercial claims, mediation is mandatory before filing an action for annulment of the objection.

Deadlines are preclusive. If the seven-day objection period, or the five-day period for bills of exchange, is missed, the proceedings become final even if no debt exists, and the debtor can only be protected through a separate lawsuit.

What should you watch out for in enforcement of cheques and promissory notes?

Enforcement based on bills of exchange offers creditors a fast and strong means of collection; however, this route can only be used if the instrument contains the mandatory elements required by law. If an element such as the date of issue, maturity, payee or signature is missing from a promissory note, it may lose its character as a bill of exchange and the proceedings may be cancelled.

For cheques, the presentment period is also important. A cheque must be presented to the bank within ten days if payable in the place of issue, or within one month if payable elsewhere in Türkiye; if it is not presented on time, recourse against endorsers is lost. For the debtor, objecting within the five-day period to the signature, the debt or the instrument’s character as a bill of exchange is vital.

Enforcement for unpaid rent and eviction

For unpaid rent, the landlord can start proceedings without a judgment with a request for eviction (İİK, Art. 269). The payment order sent to the tenant gives thirty days to pay the rent debt, while the objection period is seven days. If the tenant neither pays nor objects on time, the landlord can ask the enforcement court for an eviction order.

This route often produces results faster than an eviction lawsuit and is not subject to the pre-action mediation requirement. For details, see our real estate and tenancy law page.

What are your rights as a debtor?

The remedies available to a debtor facing unjustified proceedings depend on the stage of the proceedings:

• Objection: An objection to all or part of the debt, the interest or the signature can be filed within the deadline.
• Complaint: Unlawful acts of the enforcement office can be challenged before the enforcement court; the deadline is, as a rule, seven days from learning of the act (İİK, Art. 16).
• Action for a negative declaration: This can be filed before or during the proceedings to establish that no debt is owed (Art. 72).
• Action for restitution: This is filed within one year of payment to recover money paid under threat of enforcement even though no debt was owed.

How are attachment and wage garnishment applied?

In final proceedings, the debtor’s movable and immovable property, bank accounts, receivables and wages can be attached. However, the law exempts certain assets necessary for the debtor and their family to live (İİK, Art. 82).

Salaries and wages can be attached after deducting the amount necessary for the subsistence of the debtor and their family; the attached portion cannot be less than one quarter of the salary (Art. 83). Maintenance claims take priority in this order.

Bankruptcy and concordat

Aware of how critical bankruptcy and concordat (konkordato) proceedings are for merchants and companies in financial difficulty, we act for both sides in ordinary and direct bankruptcy proceedings, the preparation of concordat projects and requests for a moratorium, and the negotiation and court approval stages with creditors.

Concordat is a restructuring agreement that a debtor unable to pay its debts on time, or at risk of being unable to do so, makes with its creditors under court supervision. During the moratorium, no enforcement proceedings can be brought against the debtor and pending proceedings are stayed.

Enforcement proceedings in Bursa

The competent enforcement office is determined by the debtor’s domicile, the place of performance of the contract or, for bills of exchange, the place of payment. In proceedings started at an incompetent office, the debtor may object to jurisdiction. Disputes such as complaints and removal of objections are heard by the Bursa enforcement courts, while actions for annulment of objections and negative declarations are heard by the general courts.

Given our region’s busy commercial life, managing parallel files in which companies are both creditors and debtors at the same time is particularly important. Neka Legal provides commercial clients with long-term advice on bulk receivables collection, drafting contracts so that they are suitable for enforcement, and managing collection processes. You can see approximate interest amounts with our interest calculator (in Turkish).

Frequently asked questions

How do I object to a payment order?

The objection is made in writing or orally to the enforcement office that sent the payment order, within seven days of service. Giving reasons is not mandatory; however, an objection to the signature must be stated separately and expressly.

What is the objection period in enforcement based on a promissory note?

In enforcement based on bills of exchange and promissory notes, the debtor may file an objection or complaint with the enforcement court within five days of service of the payment order; the payment period is ten days.

If I pay the debt, will the attachment be lifted?

If the debt is paid together with interest and costs, the file is closed and the attachments can be lifted.

Can my bank account be attached?

Yes. In finalised enforcement proceedings, the debtor’s bank accounts can be attached; however, for wages paid into a salary account, the limits on wage attachment apply.

Can enforcement proceedings become time-barred?

If the creditor does not request attachment within the statutory period in finalised proceedings, the right to make the request may lapse. The debt itself is subject to limitation periods that vary by type, so the proceedings should be monitored regularly.

Responsible attorney: Kaan Kaplan

This page has been prepared for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Last updated: 6 November 2026.