From THE BODRUM OBSERVER Boring but Important As a foreigner, what do I need a lawyer for Of course you need a lawyer in Turkey for all the procedures that you would need a lawyer for back home getting divorced, changing your name, taking someone to court, defending a law suit. But there are some issues where it's not altogether clear whether a lawyer is needed or not. If we take for example the issue of buying immovable property - there is no immediate need to get a lawyer involved. But for a foreigner who is not familiar with the Turkish legal system, who is not completely sure that the estate agent tells them the truth or who has doubts whether they will ever get their tapu (title deed), using a lawyer is strongly recommended. Here are some situations where you definitely need a lawyer. Please note that this list is far from exhaustive. Traffic accident. If you are involved in a traffic accident in your own own car you should definitely get a lawyer because it is quite possible that, even if the other party is guilty, you will be held liable to pay. As a first measure of precaution, don't sign the police protocol before being completely sure about the contents. Insist on getting a lawyer or official translator. Reaction to an ihtarname, a notarised statement, usually a warning. You might receive an ihtarname from your landlord asking you to pay more rent or to leave the house. Any person can send an ihtarname in order to claim money that is owed. If you disagree with the contents of the ihtarname you will need a lawyer to give the proper reply, via a notary. Inheritance. When a foreign person dies, the home country issues the heirs with a certificate of inheritance (probate). If that person owned property in Turkey, the certificate of inheritance needs to be recognised by a Turkish court before the property can be transferred to the heirs. This procedure is dealt with by a lawyer. Foreigners are often concerned about the fee charged by lawyers. There doesn't seem to be any limit as to how much a lawyer can ask for. Actually, there is no upper limit but there is a minimum fee which is fixed by the bar association of each province every six months. The bar association publishes a booklet that contains a comprehensive list of legal procedures. The minimum fees vary according to the province, for example Istanbul is more expensive than Mugla, and a lawyer must not charge less than the minimum fee. When legal action is taken against a debtor, the lawyer's fee is a percentage of the amount in dispute. This is 12 percent for minor amounts and the percentage drops as the disputed value increases. Before issuing your lawyer with a power of attorney - the official proof that he or she is your appointed lawyer - you should discuss the fee formally and make sure you know how much you will have to pay in total and what services will be supplied. If you decide to engage the lawyer, the fee for the discussion is usually included, otherwise you will have to pay for that service. Annette Ertan Bodrum Consulting & Translations E-mail: annette@bodrum-consulting.com Cell phone +90 554 261 8248