Antalya · Coastal District

Demre Lawyer

Legal support in Demre for heirs, greenhouse owners and families

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Demre lies west of the Gulf of Antalya, in the south of the Teke peninsula, bounded by Finike to the east, Kaş to the west and the Mediterranean to the south. It separated from Kaş in 1987 as a district named Kale and took the name Demre in 2005. The Church of St Nicholas (Santa Claus), the ancient city of Myra and its theatre, the ancient cities of Andriake and Simena, rock tombs and the Kekova islands are known around the world.

Most of Demre’s economy rests on agriculture. The district is known for its “Demre sivrisi” pepper, and since the 1970s greenhouse vegetable growing has replaced the citrus groves. Beymelek, Kaleüçağız, Davazlar, Gökyazı, Kapaklı and Yavu are among its 17 neighbourhoods.

The legal topics we see most often from Demre are inherited greenhouse businesses and their debts, division of farmland and family law. Many heirs of Demre families now live in other cities or abroad, and the three-month period for renouncing an inheritance (Civil Code art. 606) is the deadline they most often miss. Ozturk Law Office serves clients in Demre in English and Turkish, from our office in Muratpaşa and through online meetings.

Key Legal Issues in Demre

Greenhouse Businesses and Debts

Greenhouse vegetable growing replaced citrus in Demre from the 1970s. When a greenhouse owner dies, debts taken on for the business pass to the heirs unless they act in time.

Inheritance lawyer ›

Dividing Farmland

Greenhouses and farmland inherited by several heirs are a frequent source of partition cases and title deed disputes.

Co-ownership and partition ›

Family Law

Divorce, custody and maintenance cases from Demre are heard at the Demre Courthouse.

Divorce lawyer ›

Serious Criminal Cases in Elmalı

Demre has its own courthouse; for cases within the jurisdiction of the high criminal court, the district falls under the Elmalı High Criminal Court.

Criminal defence lawyer ›

Heirs Living Abroad: Renouncing an Inheritance

Heirs acquire the estate as a whole on death and become personally liable for the deceased’s debts (Civil Code art. 599). If the debts of a greenhouse business may exceed its value, these are the rules to follow:

  • Three months: legal heirs can renounce within three months of learning of the death (Civil Code art. 606).
  • How: by an oral or written declaration to the civil court of peace, without conditions or reservations (Civil Code art. 609).
  • Deemed renunciation: if the deceased was clearly or officially insolvent at death, the inheritance is deemed renounced (Civil Code art. 605).
  • Do not act as owner: acts beyond ordinary administration, hiding estate assets or taking them for yourself end the right to renounce (Civil Code art. 610).
  • Official inventory: if the debts are unclear, any heir may ask for an official inventory within one month; the court records the assets and liabilities (Civil Code art. 619, Civil Code art. 620).
  • Gifts before death: heirs who renounce the estate of an insolvent person may still be liable to creditors up to what they received from the deceased in the five years before death (Civil Code art. 618).

Which Courthouse Hears Cases from Demre?

According to the Judicial Directory of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK, May 2024), Demre has its own courthouse; for cases within the jurisdiction of the high criminal court, the district falls under the Elmalı High Criminal Court. Most cases from Demre are therefore heard locally, while serious criminal cases are heard in Elmalı.

Where a particular case must be filed also depends on the type of case. We handle cases from Demre from our office in Muratpaşa, Antalya, and lawyers in Turkey may appear before any court in the country.

Source: Hâkimler ve Savcılar Kurulu, Adli Yargı Rehberi (Mayıs 2024) (official Turkish document). Court organisation may change; the current position is checked before any case is filed.

Our Practice Areas in Demre

Frequently asked questions

Demre: Frequently Asked Questions

Legal heirs have three months from learning of the death to renounce the inheritance (Civil Code art. 606). The renunciation is declared to the civil court of peace, without conditions (art. 609). Living abroad does not extend the period.

Any heir entitled to renounce may ask the civil court of peace, within one month, for an official inventory of the estate; one heir’s request benefits all (Civil Code art. 619).

Be careful. An heir who acts beyond ordinary administration of the estate, hides estate assets or takes them before the period ends can no longer renounce (Civil Code art. 610).

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Call us on 0534 340 95 40, visit our office in Muratpaşa, Antalya by appointment, or request an online consultation by video or phone from anywhere in the world.

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