A Turkish-speaking lawyer can help you discuss your Dutch legal matter in Turkish. At Arslan Advocaten you can get support with, among other things, personal injury, divorce and problems at work. We look at which lawyer suits your case, which steps are needed and how the costs are arranged.
What do you mean by a Turkish lawyer?
By a Turkish lawyer, many people mean a lawyer who speaks Turkish and understands their situation. A Turkish-speaking lawyer provides legal assistance in Turkish. The language spoken does not determine which law applies or in which country a lawyer is authorised to litigate.
That explanation prevents confusion when you look for help. A conflict with a Dutch employer requires a different assessment than a dispute about land in Turkey. Several countries may also play a role within a single file. Think of a divorce in the Netherlands with a Turkish marriage certificate or assets outside the Netherlands.
So in your first message, say where the problem is and which decision or solution you need. We then assess whether the matter falls within our services. If research into foreign law is needed, we discuss what that requires before you incur further costs.
Why can legal help in Turkish make a difference?
Legal help in Turkish can help you tell your story accurately and understand the consequences of a decision. That is particularly useful for sensitive subjects, complicated documents and conversations in which you have to make a choice. You can ask questions without first translating everything into Dutch yourself.
You may understand Dutch perfectly well at work, yet find a letter from the court difficult. Or you know what an insurer is saying, while it remains unclear what consequences a signature has. During the conversation we can explain the legal concepts in plain language and check that your question has been properly understood.
A discussion in Turkish does not automatically change the language of the Dutch proceedings. Procedural documents are generally drawn up in Dutch. An official translation may be needed for certain documents. Your lawyer discusses when that is useful or required, so that you do not have an entire file translated in advance without knowing what is needed.
Which matters can you come to us with?
You can ask Arslan Advocaten for help in various areas of Dutch law. The content of your problem determines which lawyer handles your file. At the intake we also discuss your language preference. That way you get an explanation that fits your situation and a lawyer with the appropriate legal knowledge.
| Your situation | What we examine first |
|---|---|
| You have been injured in an accident | Liability, evidence, loss and possible reimbursement of lawyer’s fees |
| You want to divorce or change arrangements about children | Jurisdiction, existing arrangements, children, income and assets |
| Your employer is not paying or wants to end your contract | Employment contract, letters, payslips and applicable time limits |
| You have a conflict about your rented home | Contract, correspondence, defects, payments and any proceedings |
| An insurer rejects your claim | Policy, ground for rejection, investigation documents and your response |
| You receive a decision from UWV or another authority | Decision, date of receipt, legal remedies and available documents |
For an accident, you will find more information from our Turkish-speaking personal injury lawyer. If your question concerns a relationship breakdown, see the page on a Turkish-speaking divorce lawyer. A problem about wages or dismissal can be put to our employment lawyers.
Also say if a lawyer, legal adviser or legal expenses insurer is already involved. A new assessment then starts with insight into the earlier steps. We discuss whether taking over the file is possible and useful. Earlier advice or a proposal is not set aside without examination.
How do you prepare for the first meeting?
A first meeting works best with a short timeline and the most important documents. You do not need to put your case in legal terms. Tell us what happened, who is involved and what you want to achieve. Put a hearing date, final response date or imminent signing in your message straight away.
- Write down the main events in chronological order.
- Keep the letter or decision you have to respond to, including attachments.
- Collect documents that support your story, such as an agreement or proof of payment.
- Note which solution you want and which questions remain unanswered.
- Say that you want to hold the discussion in Turkish.
- First discuss how to submit confidential documents securely.
If you have documents on your phone, make sure the full text and the date remain visible. A single screenshot may miss the context. So also keep the original file or conversation. Do not include passwords, access codes or unnecessary medical information in a first contact message.
We start with the question of what needs to happen in the short term. Then we look at the substantive dispute, the available evidence and the possible routes. Sometimes a targeted letter is enough to make progress. Sometimes consultation, further investigation or proceedings are needed. That depends on your file and the response of the other party.
Which costs should you discuss in advance?
A lawyer’s costs depend on the type of case, the work required and the funding. Before the engagement, discuss what the work covers, which costs may arise separately and when you will receive a new estimate. A first introductory meeting is something different from handling a complete file free of charge.
With subsidised legal aid, also called a toevoeging, the government pays part of the lawyer’s costs. The Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand) assesses, among other things, income, assets and the type of case. You usually pay a personal contribution. Other costs may also arise, for example court fees. We assess for each file whether an application is possible.
In principle, the Board uses financial data from two years before the year of application. If your income has fallen since then, a change of reference year (peiljaarverlegging) may be relevant under certain conditions. The explanation of the personal contribution sets out the current principles. Always ask which arrangement applies in your own situation.
In personal injury cases, reasonable extrajudicial costs can be recovered from the liable party. This requires, among other things, that liability has been established and that the costs are reasonable. Where there is a dispute about liability, contributory negligence or proceedings, we discuss the financial consequences in advance. The explanation by De Letselschade Raad about costs describes these conditions.
If you have legal expenses insurance, say so straight away. Cover and any consent must be assessed before costs are incurred. On the basis of the policy and correspondence, we can discuss which questions should be put to the insurer. Insurance does not automatically mean that every lawyer’s bill is paid.
When do you need to act quickly?
You should quickly have it assessed whether a time limit is running as soon as you receive a decision, writ of summons, notice of dismissal or proposal. The correct time limit depends on the type of case. The start of the time limit can also differ. So keep the envelope, e-mail and attachments, and state when you received the document.
Do not wait for a full translation if a deadline is approaching. A lawyer can first examine what is needed to protect your position. Merely contacting the other party or an authority usually does not suspend a time limit by itself. So do not assume you have extra time because you are still waiting for an answer.
Even without an official deadline, delay can have consequences. Witnesses are harder to reach later, camera footage may be overwritten and documents become scattered. Record what you still remember and keep the original material. Then have it assessed which next steps are needed; your own statement does not replace every other form of evidence.
How can a discussion in Turkish work in practice?
A discussion in Turkish starts with your own description of the problem. We then link events to documents and legal questions. We explain which information is missing and which choices lie ahead. You can always indicate when a term or consequence is unclear, before a position is sent to the other party.
A fictitious example: an employee receives a proposal to end the employment. He thinks it is only about the last working day. In a discussion it turns out that the document also covers release from work, outstanding wages, a payment and arrangements about the final settlement. The assessment covers the whole, before he decides whether he wants to sign.
This example does not describe a real client file and contains no promise about an outcome. It shows why a clear explanation is needed. The best next step may be to negotiate, request documents or reject a proposal. A lawyer should also discuss where your evidence or position is less strong.
In which cities can you make an appointment?
Arslan Advocaten has offices in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven and Tilburg. When making your request, say which location is practical for you and that you want to speak Turkish. We discuss which appointment suits your question and the lawyer who can handle the file.
See the information for Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven or Tilburg. There you can read where you can visit by appointment and which preparation helps with a common question.
The office pages contain the address details and information about a visit. Check your appointment confirmation before you set off. If coming in person is difficult, you can discuss whether a first meeting by telephone or video call is possible. Whether that is suitable also depends on the documents and the nature of the case.
The location of your lawyer does not automatically determine which court has jurisdiction. A case may be heard outside your place of residence. We look at this based on the subject, the parties involved and any international connecting factors. Nor does Turkish nationality or a document in Turkish automatically lead to the application of Turkish law.
Which mistakes can you avoid?
You avoid unnecessary problems by only taking important decisions once you understand the content and consequences. An oral promise or reassurance from the other party is not always enough. Ask for clear written arrangements and make sure your lawyer can assess the original documents.
- Do not sign a settlement agreement or arrangement whose consequences you cannot oversee.
- Do not delete messages because they seem unfavourable or unpleasant.
- Do not assume free handling without a clear fee arrangement.
- Do not let family members add sensitive information on your behalf without your consent.
- Do not confuse help in Turkish with a promise that proceedings will be conducted in Turkey.
What questions do we get about a Turkish-speaking lawyer?
Can I tell my whole story in Turkish?
When making your request, you can indicate that you want to discuss your legal problem in Turkish. We tailor the appointment accordingly. Also tell us whether you have difficulty with Dutch letters or digital forms. That way, the intake can cover which explanation and support you need for the rest of the process.
Do I have to live in the same city as my lawyer?
Your place of residence does not have to be the same as your lawyer’s office location. The chosen way of keeping in contact must, however, be practical for your file. We discuss whether a visit is needed and which documents must be provided in advance. The jurisdiction of the court is assessed separately and does not simply follow from the office location.
Is a Turkish-speaking lawyer also authorised to practise in Turkey?
The language a lawyer speaks says nothing in itself about registration or rights of audience in Turkey. So tell us where you need legal help. In a Dutch case, Turkish documents may be relevant. For proceedings in Turkey, it must be established separately which services and which authorised lawyer are needed.
Can I instruct a lawyer on a low income?
That may be possible with subsidised legal aid (toevoeging) from the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand). Financial and substantive conditions apply. You usually pay a personal contribution, and additional costs may arise. We assess for each case whether an application is possible and discuss in advance which costs are relevant to you, including when your income has recently fallen.
Do I need to have Turkish documents translated in advance?
First have it assessed which documents are needed and what they will be used for. For a first discussion, an original document may already be enough to understand the question. For use in proceedings, a translation or other formal processing may be needed. Always keep the original and any earlier official translations.
Can you take over an existing case?
We can examine whether a takeover is possible. The stage of the proceedings, running time limits, earlier advice and the available documents are relevant. Tell us who is currently handling your case and which fee arrangements exist. A takeover only takes place once clear arrangements have been made about it and the engagement has been accepted.
How do you request an assessment of your case?
Briefly describe the problem, mention any deadline and give your language preference. That allows us to assess which lawyer your question belongs with. You do not yet need to have your file fully organised to ask a first question; we do want to know about important time limits and letters received straight away.
You can put your case to Arslan Advocaten. For information in Turkish, there is also our page on a Türkçe konuşan avukat in the Netherlands. If you would first like to read how the firm is organised, see the Arslan Advocaten team.