Earnest money (deposit on contract)

Under Turkish law, earnest money (kapora, statutorily called bağlanma parası) is a sum one party hands to the other when a contract is concluded. By law it is treated as evidence that the contract has been made; unless otherwise agreed, it does not create a right of withdrawal and is credited against the main debt.

It is most common in purchases of homes, vehicles and event services. Although popular belief holds that earnest money is simply forfeited, the actual outcome depends on the parties' agreement and on whether the contract is valid. Where a real estate sale is void for lack of official form, the sum paid can be reclaimed under unjust enrichment rules.

If the parties expressly designated the payment as withdrawal money (cayma parası), either side may walk away: the payer by forfeiting the sum, the recipient by returning a multiple of it.