Family and Divorce Law
Information on divorce, custody, alimony, property division and recognition of foreign divorce judgments in Turkey, for families in Şanlıurfa and abroad.
Family law (aile hukuku) covers marriage, divorce (boşanma), custody of children, maintenance and the division of property between spouses. Cases are heard by the family courts (aile mahkemesi) under the Turkish Civil Code.
Many families have ties to both Turkey and another country. A divorce granted abroad, for example in Germany, does not automatically change the civil registry in Turkey. Questions about where to divorce, which law applies and how a foreign judgment is recognised are therefore common.
Scope of services
- Divorce by mutual consent (anlaşmalı boşanma) and contested divorce (çekişmeli boşanma)
- Custody (velayet) and contact arrangements with children (kişisel ilişki)
- Child support (iştirak nafakası) and spousal maintenance (yoksulluk nafakası)
- Division of marital property (mal rejiminin tasfiyesi)
- Material and moral compensation in divorce cases
- Protective orders under the law on protecting the family and preventing violence against women (Law No. 6284)
- Recognition and enforcement of foreign divorce judgments (tanıma ve tenfiz)
- Paternity and parentage matters (soybağı)
How does the process work?
- The family situation, any existing agreements and foreign judgments are reviewed.
- The available options, including an agreed divorce protocol (anlaşmalı boşanma protokolü), are discussed.
- The petition or protocol is prepared and filed with the family court.
- Hearings are attended and evidence and expert reports, such as social worker reports for custody, are followed.
- After the judgment becomes final, registration in the civil registry (nüfus kaydı) is checked.
Frequently asked questions
Can we divorce by mutual consent in Turkey?
Yes, if the marriage has lasted at least one year, both spouses appear before the judge in person and the court approves a protocol on custody, maintenance and property matters. Otherwise a contested divorce based on the grounds in the Civil Code is required.
We divorced in Germany. Is our divorce valid in Turkey?
A foreign divorce judgment must be recognised before it takes effect in the Turkish civil registry. Depending on the case, this is done through a recognition action before the Turkish family court or, for certain judgments, through an administrative application. A copy of the judgment with a finality certificate, an apostille and a sworn translation (yeminli tercüme) are generally required.
Does a spouse living abroad have to attend the hearing?
In a contested divorce, representation through a lawyer with a power of attorney issued at a consulate or with an apostille is usually sufficient. In a divorce by mutual consent, the spouses must be heard in person by the judge.
For questions about a family matter, please use our contact page.