Law No. 7589, formally titled the Law Amending Certain Laws for the Effective and Efficient Operation of the Judiciary and commonly described as Turkey’s 12th Judicial Package, was published in Official Gazette No. 33326 on July 31, 2026. Parliamentary records show that the law was adopted on July 16 and sent to the presidency on July 17.
The provisions do not all take effect on the same date
Article 26 establishes different commencement dates. Article 3 entered into force on publication but applies from July 23, 2026. Articles 11, 12 and 22 will take effect three months after publication. The remaining provisions entered into force when the law was published on July 31.
Temporary Article 1 contains transition rules for auctions already announced, lawsuits filed earlier and certain decisions issued before the new provisions took effect. The effect on an existing case therefore cannot be determined from the headline alone. The relevant amendment and the applicable transition clause must be read together.
A first auction limited to heirs in certain property cases
Article 1 changes the sale process when a jointly owned property was acquired entirely through inheritance and no third party holds an ownership right. In that situation, the first auction used to dissolve the joint ownership will be limited to heirs who are owners. This special method applies once, with the later process continuing under the electronic sale rules in the law.
The same article also revises bidding and security requirements in electronic auctions and the consequences when the highest bidder fails to pay the auction price on time. A different minimum-bid calculation is provided for the first auction held only among heirs.
Electronic transmission of notarial documents
Article 2 governs how courts, prosecutors and authorized public bodies may examine or request notarial records. When an authorized body requests a certified copy, a notary may scan the original document, sign the copy with a secure electronic signature and transmit it electronically. If electronic transmission is unavailable, a certified physical copy can be sent.
Administrative courts and appeal routes
The law revises categories of cases that may be decided by a single administrative judge. The published text lists certain annulment and full-remedy actions below a financial threshold, along with specified disputes involving students, public employees and social assistance. It also details when appellate courts may overturn decisions, return files or conduct further review.
A new formula for statutory interest
Under Article 10, when the rate is not set by contract, statutory interest will be calculated at 80% of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey’s short-term credit rediscount rate recorded on December 31 of the previous year. If the rate at the end of June differs by at least five percentage points, 80% of the June 30 rate will apply for the second half of the year.
A limited participation rule under Article 158
Article 13 provides a 50% sentence reduction where participation in fraud offenses is limited to giving another person payment instruments or information and tools enabling the use of an account for an unlawful benefit. The rule does not automatically cover every account-related case. Whether the narrowly defined conditions are met will depend on the facts examined in each proceeding.
The published text is controlling
The law changes rules across civil and criminal procedure, notarial practice, administrative justice, statutory interest and electronic sales. The published text does not contain a general amnesty. For any ongoing case or transaction, the relevant article, commencement date and transition provision need to be considered together. This report summarizes the official text and does not replace case-specific legal assessment.
