Anadolu Courthouse in Kartal, Istanbul: address, getting there, districts and hearing-day guide

The short answer

This information was taken from the courthouse's official website (istanbulanadolu.adalet.gov.tr) on 14 October 2026. Check the same site for the phone directory, announcements and working hours, as these can change.

Where is the Anadolu Courthouse?

The courthouse is in the Kartal district, on the southern service road of the E-5 (D100) highway. Kartal Adliyesi, Anadolu Adliyesi and Anadolu Adalet Sarayı all refer to the same place; there is no separate courthouse in Kartal.

According to the official site, the complex has 8 blocks and around 360,000 square metres of floor space, and is described as the largest courthouse in the world. Because it is so large, finding out in advance which block, floor and courtroom your hearing is in saves a lot of time.

How to get there

By public transport, the M4 Kadıköy line is the most practical. The official site recommends getting off at Hastane-Adliye, between Esenkent and Soğanlık. The metro exit leads towards blocks C and H, close to the front offices, cashiers and case-allocation office.

• From Kadıköy, Ataşehir or Maltepe: M4 directly to Hastane-Adliye.
• From Üsküdar: Marmaray to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then change to the M4.
• From the European side: Marmaray to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then the M4.
• From Pendik, Tuzla or Sabiha Gökçen Airport: M4 towards Kadıköy, to Hastane-Adliye.
• By bus: İETT lines running along the E-5 (D100) to the Adliye stop.
• By car: the official site lists open and covered car parks with room for around 2,600 vehicles. Expect congestion in the morning.

Arriving 30–45 minutes before your hearing usually leaves enough time for security checks and finding the courtroom.

Which districts does the courthouse serve?

According to the official site, the courthouse's jurisdiction covers 14 districts, including its satellite courthouses: the districts of Istanbul's Anatolian side. Three districts have their own satellite (mülhakat) courthouse; cases from the other eleven are heard directly in Kartal.

Satellite courthouses may not have every type of court, so some cases from these districts, such as high criminal court cases, may be heard in Kartal. Üsküdar has no separate courthouse today; its cases go to the courts and prosecutor's office at the Anadolu Courthouse. Districts on the European side fall under other courthouses such as Istanbul (Çağlayan), Bakırköy and Büyükçekmece.

Which courthouse hears a case depends not only on the district but also on the type of case and the jurisdiction rules in the law (for example, the defendant's domicile, where a property is located, or where a workplace is). Filing in the wrong place costs time.

Where each unit is in the building

According to the official layout plan, the main units are located as follows:

Block D houses a nursery, health unit, library and canteen; block F the covered car parks; block G the Forensic Medicine branch. There are also post office (PTT) branches and a prayer room.

Front offices, case allocation and cashiers

A statement of claim is submitted to the front office (ön büro), where the case is registered and allocated to a court by the allocation office (tevzi bürosu). Court fees and cost advances are paid at the cashier. Since 29 November 2021 these units have been on floors -1 and -2 of block H, towards the block C metro exit:

• Floor -1: civil front office, case allocation office, finance and court cashiers, mediation centre.
• Floor -2: criminal front office, criminal records office, enforcement front office, probation liaison office, prosecutor's front office.

Criminal complaints go to the prosecutor's front office or the complaints office. For disputes subject to mandatory mediation (most employment, commercial, consumer and rental disputes), you must apply to mediation before filing a case. Lawyers usually file documents electronically through the UYAP Lawyer Portal.

Checking your case online: UYAP and e-Devlet

You can follow your own case without going to the courthouse. Court registries are often hard to reach by phone, so the electronic systems are the first place to look:

• UYAP Citizen Portal (vatandas.uyap.gov.tr): log in with your e-Devlet password or e-signature to see your files, documents, hearing dates and decisions, and file some petitions online after paying fees.
• e-Devlet (turkiye.gov.tr): Ministry of Justice services include case file search, hearing information and criminal record checks.
• Your lawyer follows every file in which they hold a power of attorney through the UYAP Lawyer Portal.

There is no public online list of the day's hearings; hearing lists are posted outside courtrooms, and online you can only see files you are a party to. Having your case number (esas numarası) and the court's name makes finding the right courtroom much easier.

Practical tips for hearing day

1. Bring your ID card or passport; there are security checks and X-ray machines at the entrance. Do not bring knives or similar items.
2. Bring the notice or summons you received, the case number and any documents you rely on.
3. Check the hearing list outside the courtroom for your name and place in the queue. Hearings often run late, so stay near the courtroom.
4. Switch off or silence your phone in the courtroom; photos and recordings are not allowed.
5. Address the judge as “Sayın Hâkim” and speak when invited. The clerk records statements in the minutes.
6. If you cannot attend, notify the court of your reason, such as illness, with documents before the hearing; in some cases non-attendance has serious consequences.
7. If you do not speak Turkish, tell the court in advance so that an interpreter can be arranged.
8. The Judicial Support and Victim Services Directorate on floor -2 of block B offers support from psychologists, pedagogues and social workers to victims, witnesses and children.

The building has shops, a cafeteria, a bistro, bank branches and post offices, so long waits are manageable. Check the official site for current working hours and lunch breaks.

Mediation, conciliation and legal aid at the courthouse

The courthouse also hosts out-of-court resolution services. The mediation centre is on floor -1 of block H, where mandatory mediation applications can be made. For criminal offences eligible for conciliation, the conciliation office and meeting rooms are in block B.

People who cannot afford a lawyer can use the bar's legal aid service, and in criminal cases a court-appointed lawyer under the CMK; bar offices are in blocks C and E. We explain these and how fees are set in our guide to legal fees. For key concepts in criminal files, see our guide to HAGB, non-prosecution and probation; the probation liaison office is on floor -2 of block H.

Choosing a lawyer for a case at the Anadolu Courthouse

Any lawyer registered with a Turkish bar can represent you at the Anadolu Courthouse; being nearby is a practical convenience, not a requirement. What matters is that the lawyer explains the process, the fees and the possible outcomes clearly and in writing, and keeps you informed as the case progresses.

Our office is in Sultantepe, Üsküdar, with easy access to the courthouse via the Marmaray and M4, and a significant share of our cases are heard there. If you have a family law, criminal or other matter at the Anadolu Courthouse, you can reach us through the contact page.