Turkish Law in EnglishTÜRKİYE
Turkish Civil Code (Law No. 4721)

Article 771: 3. Acquisition of ownership, return

Book Four: LAW OF PROPERTY › Part One: OWNERSHIP › Chapter Three: OWNERSHIP OF MOVABLE PROPERTY

Where the owner of the thing found does not come forward within five years from the date of public notice or of notification to the law enforcement authorities or the headman, the finder shall acquire ownership of that thing, provided that he or she has fulfilled his or her obligations.

Where the thing found is returned to its owner, the finder may claim reimbursement of the expenses incurred and an appropriate reward.

Where the lost thing was found in an inhabited house or in a workplace or in a place where a public service is performed, the owner of that place, the tenant or the institution shall be deemed to be the finder of that thing. However, they may not claim a reward.

Original Turkish text

MADDE 771 · 3. Mülkiyetin kazanılması, geri verme

Bulunan şeyin maliki, ilân veya kolluk kuvvetlerine ya da muhtara bildirme tarihinden başlayarak beş yıl içinde ortaya çıkmazsa; bulan kimse, yükümlülüklerini yerine getirmiş olmak koşuluyla o şeyin mülkiyetini kazanır.

Bulunan şey malikine geri verilirse, bulan kimse yaptığı giderlerin ödenmesini ve uygun bir ödül verilmesini isteyebilir.

Kaybedilmiş şey oturulan bir evde veya işyerinde ya da kamu hizmeti görülen yerde bulunmuşsa; o yerin sahibi, kiracı veya kurum, o şeyi bulan sayılır. Ancak bunlar ödül isteyemezler.

Text as of 1 October 2026 · Official source (Turkish): mevzuat.gov.tr ↗

Unofficial translation for information only. The Turkish text published in the Official Gazette is the only authoritative version. This page is not legal advice.