Glossary of Fundamental Legal Terms: What You Need to Know

Legal terminology contains specific terms and concepts distinct from daily conversational language. We have compiled the most fundamental terms frequently encountered in court summons, official correspondence, or legal contracts, along with their simplified meanings.

1. Parties in the Legal Process

• Plaintiff (Davacı): The person who initiates a lawsuit in court, claiming that their rights have been violated.

• Defendant (Davalı): The party against whom a lawsuit is filed, defending themselves against the plaintiff's claims.

• Complainant / Victim (Müşteki): The person who has suffered harm from a crime and reports this incident to the judicial authorities (prosecutor's office or police).

• Suspect (Şüpheli): The person who is under suspicion of committing a crime and whose investigation by the prosecutor's office is still ongoing.

• Defendant / The Accused (Sanık): The person whose investigation is completed and whose trial in court has begun on the charge of committing a crime.

2. Court and Decision Terms

• Client (Müvekkil): The person who grants power of attorney to a lawyer to represent, defend, or provide legal consultancy for them.

• Expert Witness (Bilirkişi): An expert person whose opinion is sought on matters requiring specialized or technical knowledge (e.g., account auditing, forensic medicine, construction assessment).

• Mediation (Arabuluculuk): A method that enables the peaceful and rapid resolution of legal disputes between parties with the assistance of a neutral third party before going to court.

• Notice / Cease and Desist (İhtarname): A formal notification made through a notary public, officially stating that a person demands a right or requests the fulfillment of an obligation from the other party.

3. Higher Court and Appeal Processes

• Appeal (İstinaf): The process of carrying the decision of a local court to a higher court, namely the Regional Court of Justice, to be reviewed in terms of procedure and merits.

• Supreme Appeal (Temyiz): The process of bringing the decisions rendered by the regional appeal courts to the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay), the highest court, for review regarding compliance with the law.

• Stay of Execution (Yürütmeyi Durdurma): A decision in administrative lawsuits aimed at halting the implementation of an administrative action until the end of the lawsuit, preventing irreparable damages.

• Public Prosecution / Public Lawsuit (Kamu Davası): A criminal case initiated and maintained automatically by the state (prosecutor's office) against the offender in crimes involving public interest, even if the victim withdraws their complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We have compiled the key questions most commonly asked — and most in need of practical answers — when facing legal processes.

Q1: What should I do if I am arrested?
A: If detained or taken into custody, stay calm and exercise your legal rights. Your most fundamental right is to benefit from the legal assistance of a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, you always have the right to request a free state-appointed lawyer (CMK lawyer) from the bar association. You are not obliged to give a statement without your lawyer present, and you may request that your relatives be notified.

Q2: How is a lawsuit filed?
A: Filing begins with a legal petition addressed to the court competent for the type of dispute. The petition, together with your evidence, is submitted to the Distribution Office (Tevzi Bürosu) at the courthouse. When filing, the legal fees and an expense advance (for notifications and expert costs) must be paid to the court cashier. To avoid loss of rights from incorrectly or incompletely filed cases, it is advisable to carry out this process with a lawyer.

Q3: Is hiring a lawyer mandatory?
A: In the Turkish legal system there is no general obligation to hire a lawyer, except in very exceptional cases (for example, when the accused in certain serious criminal cases is a minor or unable to defend themselves). People may file and follow their own cases in person. However, because procedural rules are complex and missing strict time limits can cause serious harm, professional legal support is highly important.

Q4: What are the court costs?
A: Court costs are essentially of two kinds:

• Initial costs: the application fee paid when filing, part of the judgment fee, and the "expense advance" spent on notifications and official correspondence.

• Process costs: expert witness fees, witness travel allowances, and discovery fees needed during the case.

• Note: The party who wins the case recovers all these costs and the statutory attorney's fee from the losing party at the end of the case.

Q5: What are my rights?
A: Your most fundamental right, guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws, is the "Right to a Fair Trial and Freedom to Seek Justice." You have the right to defend yourself on equal terms, to present your evidence in full, to examine your case files (via UYAP or physically), and to appeal decisions to higher courts. If your financial means are insufficient, your right to request a free lawyer from the bar association (Legal Aid) is also reserved.

Q6: What is appeal to the Court of Cassation (Temyiz)?
A: Temyiz is the process of bringing decisions rendered by the first-instance court and then by the Regional Court of Justice (İstinaf) before the highest court — the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) or the Council of State (Danıştay) — for review of compliance with the law. At this stage the court does not re-examine the facts from scratch; it only reviews whether the lower courts applied the law correctly.

How to Apply to the Consumer Arbitration Committee (Updated 2026 Guide)

You bought a defective product and the seller refused a refund or exchange; or you were harmed by a service and the other party won't resolve it. At this point, there's a cost-free, fast route that doesn't require going to court: the Consumer Arbitration Committee (Tüketici Hakem Heyeti). In this guide, I explain — step by step — the current monetary threshold for 2026, where and how to apply, which documents to prepare, and how to appeal a decision.

What is the Consumer Arbitration Committee?

Consumer Arbitration Committees are administrative bodies established under Law No. 6502 on Consumer Protection to resolve disputes between consumers and sellers/providers in a simple, fast, and low-cost manner. For disputes below a certain monetary threshold, applying to the committee is mandatory; below that threshold, you cannot file a lawsuit directly with the consumer court.

2026 monetary threshold: 186,000 TL

By a communiqué published in the Official Gazette on 23 December 2025, the monetary threshold was raised from 149,000 TL to 186,000 TL, effective from 1 January 2026. Accordingly:

• For disputes below 186,000 TL: Applying to the Provincial or District Consumer Arbitration Committee is mandatory.

• For disputes of 186,000 TL and above: The Consumer Court has jurisdiction, and mandatory pre-litigation mediation must be carried out before filing suit.

An important point: when determining the competent authority, the threshold in effect on the date the application is made is taken as the basis — not the date the dispute arose.

Where do you apply?

You can submit your application to one of two places:

• The Consumer Arbitration Committee at your place of residence, or

• The committee at the place where the consumer transaction took place (where you bought the product / received the service).

If no Consumer Arbitration Committee has been established in the district where you wish to apply, you can submit your application to the district governor's office (kaymakamlık); the office will register the application in the Consumer Information System (TÜBİS) and forward it to the competent committee.

Applying step by step

1. Clarify the dispute. Make your demand concrete: do you want exchange for a defect-free equivalent, a refund, a price reduction, or free repair?

2. Contact the seller in writing first. Before going to the committee, conveying your demand to the seller/provider in writing (email, formal notice, or registered mail with return receipt) both gives a chance for resolution and strengthens your position before the committee.

3. Choose your application method. There are two ways to apply:

• Online via e-Devlet / TÜBİS: The most practical route. Log in with your e-Devlet password, fill out the form, and upload your documents.

• In person or by post: You can deliver the application petition and its attachments to the relevant committee/district governor's office by hand or by post.

4. Prepare the application petition and documents. The following documents will speed up your case:

• Consumer complaint/application petition (state your demand clearly)

• Invoice, receipt, or a copy of the contract

• Warranty certificate, if any

• Correspondence with the seller (email, messages, formal notice)

• Any additional evidence such as photographs, a service report, or an expert/technical report

5. Wait for the decision. The committee reviews the file, issues its decision, and notifies the parties. If the decision favors the consumer, the seller/provider is obliged to comply with it.

Appealing a committee decision

A party that disagrees with a Consumer Arbitration Committee decision may appeal to the Consumer Court within 15 days of being notified of the decision. The appeal is made to the Consumer Court located where the committee sits or at the consumer's place of residence. Keep in mind that an appeal does not automatically suspend enforcement of the decision; to suspend it, you must separately request an injunction (interim measure) from the court.

Common mistakes

• Applying to the wrong authority: Going to the committee for a dispute over 186,000 TL, or straight to court for one below it. Applying to the wrong authority results in the application/lawsuit being dismissed on procedural grounds.

• Stating the demand vaguely: Saying "I was wronged" is not enough; clearly write exactly what you want (refund, exchange, reduction, repair) and the amount.

• Submitting incomplete evidence: Without an invoice, correspondence, and warranty certificate, the application is weak.

• Missing deadlines: In particular, the 15-day period for appealing a decision is a strict (forfeiture) deadline.

Make your application easier: the Tüketici Rehberi app

Instead of working through each of the steps above one by one, the Tüketici Rehberi (Consumer Guide) app makes it easier:

• Petition Generator: Pick your scenario (defective goods, defective service, right of withdrawal, subscription cancellation), enter a few details, and let the app generate a ready-made, personalized Consumer Arbitration Committee application petition. Copy it and use it.

• "Where Should I Apply?" calculator: Enter the dispute amount and instantly see whether the Provincial/District Arbitration Committee or the Consumer Court has jurisdiction.

• Deadline Calculator: Calculate the right-of-withdrawal, defect-notification, and appeal deadlines based on dates.

• Plus procedure guides, information notes, and the current 2026 monetary threshold.

You can access our App Store iOS app on this topic via the links on the home page and the Apps page.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For your specific situation, consulting a lawyer is recommended.

Prepared by: Att. Atilla Kuseyri