What is a Petition?
A petition is a written application made by individuals or legal entities to official institutions, courts, or other authorized bodies. In the Turkish legal system, the right to petition is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 74 of the Constitution.
Essential Elements of a Petition
A valid petition must contain the following elements:
1. Header (Addressee)
The recipient of the petition must be clearly stated:
- To Courts: "TO THE ... COURT"
- To Prosecutor's Offices: "TO THE ... PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE"
- To Administrative Bodies: "TO THE ... DIRECTORATE" or "TO THE ... PRESIDENCY"
2. Applicant Information
- Full name
- National ID Number (T.C. Kimlik No)
- Address
- Phone and email (if available)
3. Subject
A brief heading summarizing what the petition is about. For example:
- "Subject: Regarding termination of employment contract"
- "Subject: Request for information"
4. Explanations
The section where the events and legal grounds supporting your request are written clearly and comprehensibly. In this section:
- Chronological order should be followed
- Concrete facts should be stated
- Legal grounds should be indicated
- References to evidence should be made if available
5. Conclusion and Request
This is the most important part of the petition. You must clearly and explicitly state what you are requesting:
"For the reasons stated and explained above; I respectfully request that my request for ... be accepted."
6. Date and Signature
The petition must include a date and wet signature at the end.
Types of Petitions
Petitions Submitted to Civil Courts
- Complaint petition: The initial petition filed to commence a lawsuit
- Response petition: The petition filed by the defendant in response to the lawsuit
- Statement petition: A petition submitted to provide additional information to the file
Administrative Application Petitions
- Freedom of information petition
- Objection petition
- Complaint petition
Prosecutor's Office Petitions
- Criminal complaint petition
- Complainant statement petition
Points to Consider When Writing a Petition
Language and Style: Formal and respectful language should be used; slang or colloquial speech should be avoided.
Brevity and Conciseness: Unnecessary repetitions should be avoided; focus on the subject matter.
Legal Terms: Care should be taken to use correct legal terminology.
Documents and Evidence: Documents to be attached to the petition should be numbered and listed under the "ATTACHMENTS" heading.
Number of Copies: Copies of the petition should be prepared equal to the number of opposing parties.
Conclusion
Writing a petition is an important part of legal processes. Petitions written in the correct format, clearly and comprehensibly, ensure that your requests are evaluated more quickly and effectively. For complex legal matters or important cases, we recommend seeking professional support from a lawyer.
This article has been prepared for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend consulting a lawyer for your specific situation.