Who this page is for
Divorce is hard enough in your own country and your own language. Doing it in Türkiye — through a Turkish-speaking court, under a legal system you have never met, possibly while living abroad — can feel impossible. This page is written for the foreign clients we help every week:
- Expats living in Türkiye who married here or abroad and now need to separate.
- Binational couples — one Turkish spouse and one foreign spouse — unsure which country should handle the divorce.
- Two foreigners who married in their home country but are habitually resident in Türkiye.
- People who already divorced abroad and need that decree to be valid in Türkiye so they can remarry, inherit, or clear the population register.
- Parents worried about custody, contact and a possible relocation across borders.
- Spouses with property, a company or savings in more than one country who need a fair division they can actually enforce.
If you recognise yourself in any of these, you are in the right place. Below we explain how Turkish family law really works, what it costs and how long it takes, the mistakes that cost foreigners dearly, and exactly how Lexin Legal handles your matter from first call to final judgment — in English, on a fixed fee agreed up front.
The legal framework: which laws govern your divorce
Two statutes do almost all the work in a cross-border family case, and it helps to know what each one decides.
Turkish Civil Code No. 4721 (TMK)
The Turkish Civil Code (TMK) is the substantive family law. It defines the grounds for divorce (Arts. 161–166), the rules on custody — velayet, the different kinds of maintenance — nafaka, and the matrimonial property regimes (Arts. 202, 218 et seq.). When a Turkish court grants a divorce under Turkish law, these are the rules it applies. Family Courts (Aile Mahkemeleri) are the specialist courts that hear these cases.
Private International Law Act No. 5718 (MÖHUK)
The Act on Private International Law and International Civil Procedure (MÖHUK) is the traffic controller for anything with a foreign element. It answers three separate questions that people often confuse:
- Jurisdiction — can a Turkish court hear your case at all?
- Applicable law — once a Turkish court is hearing it, whose law does the judge apply to the divorce, the property and the children (MÖHUK Art. 14)?
- Recognition and enforcement — will Türkiye accept a judgment a foreign court already gave (MÖHUK Arts. 50–58)?
These three are independent. A Turkish court can have jurisdiction but be required to apply German or English law to part of the case. Sorting this out correctly at the start is one of the highest-value things a cross-border family lawyer does — get it wrong and you can litigate for a year in the wrong forum.
Turkish proceedings are conducted in Turkish. Where a party does not speak the language the court uses a sworn interpreter, and foreign documents must be officially translated and apostilled. We manage all of this and translate everything for you as the case moves.
Uncontested vs contested divorce: choosing your route
Every Turkish divorce runs down one of two paths. Choosing the right one shapes your cost, your timeline and your stress more than almost anything else.
Uncontested divorce (anlaşmalı boşanma)
This is the fast, dignified route, and where possible it is the one we steer toward. The agreement is recorded in a single written document — the settlement protocol (anlaşmalı boşanma protokolü) — which both spouses sign.
The judge reviews the protocol to make sure it is genuinely consensual and that it protects any children and the financially weaker spouse. Crucially, under TMK Art. 166/3 the judge must hear both spouses in person at the decisive hearing — a power of attorney alone does not satisfy this. Where the protocol is complete and fair, an uncontested divorce can often be finalised in a single hearing and become final within a couple of months.
Contested divorce (çekişmeli boşanma)
If the spouses cannot agree — on whether to divorce at all, on the children, on money, or on who is at fault — the case proceeds as contested. The claimant must prove a legal ground, the court hears witnesses and weighs evidence, and the judge decides each disputed issue.
Contested cases are heavier: multiple hearings, witness testimony, expert reports on property or income, and often an appeal. Plan for one and a half to three years to a final, enforceable result.
Side by side
| Feature | Uncontested (anlaşmalı) | Contested (çekişmeli) |
|---|---|---|
| When available | Marriage ≥ 1 year + full agreement (TMK 166/3) | Any time a ground exists and the spouses disagree |
| Need to prove fault? | No — the signed protocol is the evidence | Yes — claimant proves a ground (TMK 161–166) |
| Hearings | Often one; both spouses heard in person | Multiple; witnesses and expert reports |
| Indicative timeline | 1–4 months | 1.5–3 years (longer with appeal) |
| Cost level | Lower | Higher |
How we decide with you
The choice is rarely all-or-nothing. A case that starts contested can often be converted into an uncontested protocol once tempers cool and the numbers are on the table — saving months and considerable cost. We are candid about which route fits your facts.
Grounds for divorce under the Turkish Civil Code
Turkish law does not grant divorce simply because one spouse asks. A ground must exist. The TMK provides one broad general ground and several specific ones. The ground you rely on can affect alimony, compensation and how the court views fault, so the choice is strategic, not just formal.
The general ground: irretrievable breakdown
Most divorces — and all uncontested ones — proceed on irretrievable breakdown of the marital union (evlilik birliğinin temelinden sarsılması) under TMK Art. 166. The test is whether shared life has become so damaged that the spouses cannot reasonably be expected to continue. In an uncontested case, the signed protocol is itself treated as strong evidence that the union has broken down.
The specific (fault-based) grounds
The TMK also lists specific grounds, most of which turn on the fault of one spouse:
- Adultery (zina) — TMK Art. 161.
- Attempt on life, very serious mistreatment or seriously dishonourable conduct (pek kötü or onur kırıcı davranış) — TMK Art. 162, covering violence and grave cruelty.
- Committing a degrading crime or leading a dishonourable life (haysiyetsiz hayat sürme) — TMK Art. 163, where, as a result, living together can no longer be expected.
- Desertion (terk) — TMK Art. 164: leaving the shared home without justification for the statutory period, after a formal warning.
- Mental illness (akıl hastalığı) — TMK Art. 165, of a kind and duration that makes the union unbearable, confirmed by an official medical board report.
Why the ground matters for you
Proving a fault-based ground can strengthen claims for spousal alimony and for material and moral compensation, because Turkish law looks at relative fault. Conversely, if you are the more-at-fault spouse, that can reduce or bar your own alimony. In the first consultation we identify which ground best fits your facts, what evidence supports it, and whether pursuing fault is worth the additional conflict and time.
Compensation on divorce: material and moral damages (TMK 174)
Compensation is a separate concept from maintenance, and confusing the two costs foreigners money. Nafaka (covered below) is ongoing support; compensation under TMK Art. 174 is a one-off award tied to fault.
Two kinds of compensation
- Material compensation (maddi tazminat) — for the less-at-fault or innocent spouse whose existing or expected financial interests are harmed by the divorce.
- Moral compensation (manevi tazminat) — a money award for the personal injury and distress caused by the other spouse's conduct, where that conduct attacked the claimant's personal rights.
Because compensation and alimony both feed off the fault analysis, the ground you plead and the evidence you bring can move the financial outcome. We model a realistic range for your case before you decide whether to fight on fault.
Maintenance: child support and spousal alimony
Turkish law uses several different kinds of nafaka (maintenance), and confusing them is a classic and expensive mistake. They have different purposes, different durations and different triggers.
The three kinds at a glance
| Type | Purpose | Depends on fault? | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim (tedbir) nafaka | Support for a spouse and/or children during the case | No | From early in the case until judgment |
| Child support (iştirak nafakası) | Non-custodial parent's contribution to raising the child | No | Generally until majority; can extend through continuing education |
| Poverty (yoksulluk) nafakası | Spousal maintenance for the spouse who would fall into poverty | Yes — claimant must be no more at fault | See the reform note below |
Child support (iştirak nafakası)
This is the non-custodial parent's contribution to raising the child. It is set in proportion to that parent's means and the child's needs, and — crucially — it is independent of fault in the divorce. A parent at fault still pays; a wronged parent still contributes if they are the higher earner. It can be revised later as needs or income change.
Poverty alimony (yoksulluk nafakası) — and the 2026 reform
This is spousal maintenance under TMK Art. 175. It may be ordered for a spouse who would fall into poverty because of the divorce, provided that spouse is not more at fault than the other. The judge fixes the amount on the parties' incomes, needs and conduct — there is no rigid formula. It ends on events such as the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation.
Interim maintenance during the case (tedbir nafakası)
While a contested case is ongoing, the court can order temporary maintenance for a spouse and/or the children, so no one is left without support during what may be a long proceeding. It runs from early in the case until judgment, when the final orders replace it.
How fault feeds in
Because spousal alimony and compensation turn partly on relative fault, the ground you plead and the evidence you bring can move the financial outcome. We model a realistic range for your case at the outset and then negotiate or litigate to it.
Recognising a foreign divorce in Türkiye (tanıma-tenfiz)
This is one of the most common reasons foreigners and Turkish-foreign couples contact us — and one of the most misunderstood. A divorce granted abroad is not automatically valid in Türkiye. Until it is formally recognised, the Turkish population register may still record you as married, which can block remarriage in Türkiye, complicate inheritance, and cause problems with property and residence matters.
Recognition (tanıma) vs enforcement (tenfiz)
| Recognition (tanıma) | Enforcement (tenfiz) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Makes the foreign divorce legally effective in Türkiye | Lets the operative orders (alimony, costs, sometimes custody) be executed here |
| When you need it | To update the civil register and be free to remarry — what most people need | When you must actually collect or enforce what the foreign court ordered |
| Route | Court action (MÖHUK 5718) — or the registry route below, where eligible | Court action (MÖHUK 5718) |
What the court checks
For a Turkish court to recognise a foreign divorce, the judgment must generally be final and binding, issued by a court that had proper jurisdiction, and the recognition must not breach Turkish public policy (kamu düzeni) or the defendant's basic right to be heard and defend. The court does not re-try the divorce; it checks these gateway conditions.
The simplified registry route
Where this route is open it is faster and cheaper; where it is not — for example one spouse will not co-operate — the court route applies. Our guide to recognising a foreign divorce in Türkiye walks through both paths.
Documents we will need
- The foreign divorce judgment, certified, with a finality/legal-force annotation from the issuing court.
- An apostille (for Hague Apostille Convention countries) or, otherwise, consular legalisation.
- A sworn Turkish translation of the judgment and annotations.
- Identity and marriage records, and a power of attorney authorising us to act.
Is your marriage even recognised in Türkiye?
Before you can divorce, the marriage has to be one Türkiye recognises. For binational couples this is sometimes the first real question.
- Civil marriages performed abroad are generally recognised in Türkiye if they were validly contracted under the law of the place where they took place and are properly documented (certificate, apostille, sworn translation).
- Religious-only marriages with no civil registration are generally not recognised as legal marriages in Türkiye — which changes whether you need a divorce at all, or a different remedy.
Child custody and the best interests of the child
For parents, this is everything. Turkish courts decide custody on a single overriding standard, and money is secondary to it.
The guiding standard
In every decision about a child, the court applies the best interests of the child (çocuğun üstün yararı). Custody — velayet — may be granted to one parent, with the other keeping defined personal contact and visitation rights (kişisel ilişki). The court weighs the child's age and needs, the stability and care each parent can provide, the child's bond with each parent and, where the child is mature enough, the child's own views.
How custody and contact are arranged
Sole custody to one parent with structured contact for the other remains the common pattern, though arrangements are shaped to the family. Contact schedules can cover weekdays, weekends, school holidays and travel, and can be made detailed enough to work across borders. Custody is also not permanently fixed: if circumstances change materially, either parent can ask the court to revisit it.
Cross-border custody and relocation
The hardest cases for international families involve one parent wanting to move abroad with the child, or a child being taken or kept in another country without consent.
We advise on relocation safeguards built into the custody order, on resisting or pursuing a wrongful removal, and on recognising a foreign custody order here. Our guide to international child custody and the Hague Convention in Türkiye explains the return process in detail.
Protection orders and domestic violence (Law 6284)
If you or your children are at risk, you do not have to wait for a divorce to be protected. A separate, fast-track remedy exists alongside the divorce case.
Measures under Law 6284 do not require a divorce case to be open, and a foreign spouse can apply. We can seek protection on an urgent basis and run the divorce in parallel.
Dividing matrimonial property
For many international couples, property is the most contested part of the divorce — especially where assets sit in more than one country, or are held in one spouse's name. Turkish law approaches this through matrimonial property regimes.
The default regime: participation in acquired property
The regime divides assets into two pools:
- Personal property (kişisel mal) — broadly, what a spouse owned before the marriage, plus inheritances and gifts received during it, and items of strictly personal use. This stays with the owning spouse.
- Acquired property (edinilmiş mal) — broadly, what was earned and built up during the marriage: salaries, the fruits of work, and (as a rule) what was bought with them. This is the shared pool.
On divorce, each spouse is, in principle, entitled to a participation share in the value of the other's acquired property, after the law's deductions and adjustments. In practice, the value of wealth built during the marriage is, as a rule, split — even if an asset is registered to only one spouse.
Optional regimes and marriage contracts
Couples can choose a different regime — such as separation of property (mal ayrılığı) — by a contract made before or during the marriage at a notary. If you have, or are considering, a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, its validity and reach are exactly the kind of thing we check, including how a foreign marriage contract is treated here.
International assets and valuation
Where there is real estate, a company, pensions or accounts across several countries, the division becomes a tracing-and-valuation exercise. We identify the relevant assets, obtain valuations, and pursue your fair share through participation and value-increase (katılma ve değer artış payı) claims, working alongside our real estate and corporate and M&A teams where company or property structures are involved.
Jurisdiction and applicable law for binational couples
When spouses hold different nationalities, the very first questions are where you can sue and whose law applies. Getting these right is decisive — and getting them wrong wastes time and money.
Where can you file? (jurisdiction)
Under MÖHUK No. 5718, Turkish courts can hear divorces with a foreign element in defined situations — most commonly where a spouse is habitually resident in Türkiye. Often more than one country will have jurisdiction at the same time: you might be able to file in Türkiye, in your home country, or in your spouse's. That choice has real consequences for property, alimony and speed.
Which law does the judge apply? (applicable law)
So a Turkish judge can be required to decide your divorce under, say, German or English law, with the help of expert evidence on that foreign law.
The danger of parallel proceedings
If both spouses race to court in different countries, you can end up with competing cases (lis pendens), conflicting orders, and a fight over which judgment counts where. This is avoidable with early strategy.
Do you have to mediate first?
Foreign clients often ask whether Türkiye forces couples into mediation before a divorce. The short answer for 2026:
- Divorce itself is not subject to mandatory pre-litigation mediation. You can file a divorce case directly at the Family Court; it will not be dismissed for skipping mediation.
- Family mediation is voluntary (ihtiyari). Spouses can use a neutral mediator to settle custody, support or property points before or during the case — which can speed up a move from contested to uncontested.
How divorce affects your residence permit and surname
Two practical consequences catch foreign spouses off guard. Both are easy to plan for if you know about them early.
Your residence permit
If you live in Türkiye on a family residence permit obtained through your spouse, that basis can lapse when the marriage ends. Depending on how long you held the permit and your circumstances, you may be able to switch to a short-term or independent permit — but this needs handling, not assuming.
Your surname after divorce
Under TMK Art. 173, a wife who took her husband's surname in principle returns to the surname she used before the marriage after divorce. In defined circumstances the court may permit her to keep using the former spouse's surname where she has an interest in doing so and it does not harm him. We address this in the protocol or the petition so the register is updated cleanly.
Costs, timeline and what to expect
Foreign clients deserve straight answers on cost and time. Here is an honest, indicative picture — every case differs, and we confirm your figures in writing before we start.
Timeline (indicative)
- Uncontested divorce: often 1–4 months from filing to a final, recorded judgment, where the protocol is complete and both parties cooperate.
- Contested divorce: commonly 1.5–3 years to a final result, longer with a full appeal through the regional court of appeal and the Court of Cassation.
- Foreign decree recognition (tanıma-tenfiz): typically a few months where the file is clean; the simplified registry route, where available, is faster.
Costs (indicative)
Your total outlay usually has three parts:
| Cost element | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Legal fee | A transparent fixed fee for a defined scope (uncontested divorce, recognition action, or contested representation), agreed before we begin |
| Court & official costs | Filing fees, expert and notification costs — these scale with complexity and the value in dispute |
| Translation, apostille & notary | For foreign documents, the power of attorney and certified sworn translations |
Contested cases cost more than uncontested ones precisely because they involve more hearings, evidence and expert work. Where we can fairly move a case toward settlement, that usually saves you money as well as time.
Common mistakes foreigners make — and how we prevent them
After many cross-border family files, the same avoidable errors recur. Knowing them is half the protection.
- Assuming a foreign divorce is automatically valid here. It is not. Until recognised, you may still be "married" in Türkiye — blocking remarriage and complicating inheritance. We recognise the decree properly.
- Filing in the wrong country, or in two at once. Choosing the forum on instinct, or racing your spouse to court abroad, creates conflict and cost. We map jurisdiction and applicable law first.
- Confusing the kinds of nafaka — and the compensation under TMK 174. People agree to "alimony" without distinguishing child support from poverty alimony from interim maintenance, and forget compensation altogether. We draft precisely.
- Signing an unfair settlement protocol to "get it over with." A bad protocol approved by the court is hard to undo. We review every clause on custody, support and property before you sign.
- Ignoring the property regime. Assuming home-country rules govern a Turkish flat or business — and discovering too late that participation in acquired property gives, or denies, a share you did not expect. We confirm the regime up front.
- Letting the residence permit lapse. A family permit can fall away on divorce; we protect your right to stay in parallel.
- Mishandling children across borders. Taking or keeping a child abroad without consent or an order can be treated as abduction and wreck your custody case. We advise before anyone travels.
- Document gaps. Missing finality annotations, apostilles or sworn translations stall files for months. We prepare the full document set from day one.
A worked example: a binational divorce across two countries
To make this concrete, here is a composite scenario (not a real client) of the kind we handle.
The situation
Anna, a German national, and Mehmet, a Turkish national, married in Munich in 2015 and moved to Istanbul in 2018, where their daughter was born. They own a flat in Istanbul registered in Mehmet's name, and Anna has savings in Germany.
The marriage has broken down. Anna wants the divorce, fair provision for their daughter and her share of what was built during the marriage. She is anxious about whether she can eventually return to Germany with the child.
How we approach it
- Jurisdiction and law. Both are habitually resident in Türkiye, so Turkish courts have jurisdiction. With no common nationality, MÖHUK Art. 14 points the judge to their common habitual residence — Türkiye — and so to Turkish law for the divorce. We confirm this and rule out a damaging parallel case in Germany.
- Route. We test whether an uncontested protocol is achievable: custody to Anna with detailed contact for Mehmet, child support set to the daughter's needs, and a clear split of the flat's acquired-property value and the German savings.
- Property. Although the flat is in Mehmet's name, under participation in acquired property its marital-period value is, as a rule, shared. We value it and fold that into the settlement maths alongside the German savings.
- The child and relocation. Any future move to Germany is addressed openly — through agreed relocation terms or a best-interests determination — rather than a unilateral removal that could be treated as abduction.
- Cross-border effect. We ensure the Turkish judgment can be recognised in Germany, coordinating with German counsel, so Anna is not divorced in one country and married in the other.
The lesson: with the forum chosen deliberately, the property regime applied correctly and the child's position handled lawfully, even a two-country divorce can resolve cleanly — often by agreement.
How Lexin Legal handles your family matter
We are an Istanbul firm built to serve foreigners, and family law is one of our core areas. Here is what working with us is actually like.
Everything in English, end to end
You deal with us in clear English. We translate the documents, brief you before every step, and make sure a Turkish-language process never leaves you guessing. Where the court requires it, a sworn interpreter is arranged for hearings.
A transparent fixed fee
Before any chargeable work, we agree a fixed fee for a defined scope, so you know your legal cost from the start. If the matter genuinely changes shape, we discuss it with you before new costs arise.
When you can act through a power of attorney — and when you cannot
With a properly executed power of attorney, we can represent you and progress most matters without your physical presence — this is true for contested cases and for recognition (tanıma-tenfiz) actions, a real relief for clients living abroad.
One firm for connected problems
Family breakdown rarely stays in one box. We coordinate seamlessly with our inheritance, real estate and residence and immigration teams — because a divorce can change your residence status, your succession rights and your property position all at once.
How we handle your family law matter
Confidential consultation
We review your situation, marriage and any foreign documents, explain your options in plain English, and confirm a fixed fee before any work begins.
Jurisdiction and strategy
We settle the threshold cross-border questions — where to file and which law applies — and choose the route: uncontested protocol, contested case, or recognition of a foreign decree.
Documents and filing
We draft the petition or settlement protocol, gather and translate evidence, arrange apostille, sworn translations and your power of attorney, and file with the competent Family Court.
Negotiation and hearings
We represent you at every hearing, negotiate a fair settlement where that serves you, and present your evidence and witnesses where the case is genuinely contested.
Judgment and finalisation
Once the court rules, we carry the judgment through to finality, update the population register, and handle enforcement of alimony or property orders where needed.
Cross-border recognition
Where the result must count in another country — or a foreign decree must count here — we coordinate recognition so you are not divorced in one country and married in another.
Appeals if needed
If the outcome is wrong in law or fact, we advise on and pursue appeal to the regional court of appeal and, where appropriate, the Court of Cassation.
Divorce & family law FAQ for foreigners
Can foreigners get divorced in Türkiye?
Yes. Turkish Family Courts can hear divorces involving foreigners in defined situations, most commonly where one spouse is habitually resident in Türkiye. Under the Private International Law Act No. 5718 (MÖHUK) we assess both jurisdiction and which country's law the judge will apply at the very outset.
How long does a divorce take in Türkiye?
An uncontested (anlaşmalı) divorce, where both spouses agree on everything, can often finalise within about one to four months. A contested case usually takes one and a half to three years, and longer if it goes through a full appeal. These ranges are indicative and depend on the court and the issues in dispute.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Türkiye?
We work on a transparent fixed fee agreed before any work begins. Your total cost has three parts: our legal fee for a defined scope; court and official costs (filing, expert and notification fees, which scale with complexity); and translation, apostille and notary costs for foreign documents. Contested cases cost more than uncontested ones because they involve more hearings and evidence. We confirm your figures in writing up front.
Is my foreign divorce automatically valid in Türkiye?
No. A divorce granted abroad must be recognised here — through a tanıma-tenfiz court action under MÖHUK No. 5718, or the simplified civil-registry route under Law No. 5490 Art. 27/A where both ex-spouses apply jointly and the decree is final — before Turkish records treat you as divorced and free to remarry. Until then the population register may still show you as married.
What documents do I need to recognise a foreign divorce?
Typically the foreign judgment with a finality annotation, an apostille (or consular legalisation), a sworn Turkish translation, your identity and marriage records, and a power of attorney for us to act. We tell you exactly what your particular decree and country require after one review.
Do both spouses have to be in Türkiye for the divorce?
It depends on the route. For a contested case or a recognition (tanıma-tenfiz) action, a properly executed power of attorney lets us act without your physical attendance. But for an uncontested (anlaşmalı) divorce, TMK Art. 166/3 requires the judge to hear both spouses in person at the decisive hearing, so you will need to attend that one hearing. We plan it as a single, well-prepared appearance.
How is property divided when we divorce?
For marriages from 1 January 2002 the default regime is participation in acquired property (edinilmiş mallara katılma, TMK Arts. 202, 218 et seq.): each spouse keeps their personal property, while property acquired during the marriage is, as a rule, shared by value — even if registered to one spouse. A marriage contract signed before a notary can change this regime. Marriages before 2002 defaulted to separation of property.
Will I have to pay or receive alimony, and is it for life?
It depends on the parties' incomes, needs and relative fault. Poverty alimony (yoksulluk nafakası, TMK Art. 175) may be ordered for a spouse who would otherwise fall into hardship and is not more at fault. Note that on 4 June 2026 the Constitutional Court annulled the wording allowing this alimony to run without a time limit; the change takes effect nine months after publication in the Resmî Gazete, and new awards are expected to be tied to the length of the marriage. Alimony was not abolished, and child support (iştirak nafakası), which is separate and based on the child's needs, is unaffected and payable regardless of fault. We will explain how the reform affects your case.
Who gets custody of the children?
The court decides on the best interests of the child (çocuğun üstün yararı), weighing each parent's stability and care, the child's age and bond with each parent, and, where the child is old enough, their own wishes. The other parent normally keeps defined personal contact and visitation rights, and custody can be revisited if circumstances change materially.
Can I move abroad with my child after divorce?
Only with the other parent's consent or a court order. Relocation should be built into the custody arrangement or decided by the court on the child's best interests. Taking or keeping a child abroad without consent can be treated as wrongful abduction under the 1980 Hague Convention (implemented in Türkiye by Law No. 5717) and can seriously harm your own custody position — always seek advice before travelling.
Which law applies if my spouse and I are different nationalities?
Under MÖHUK No. 5718 Art. 14, the applicable law is set by connecting factors — common nationality, failing that common habitual residence, and failing that Turkish law as the closest connection. A Turkish court can therefore be required to apply foreign law to your divorce, with expert evidence on that law.
What is the difference between recognition (tanıma) and enforcement (tenfiz)?
Recognition (tanıma) makes a foreign divorce legally effective in Türkiye, which is what most people need to update the register and remarry. Enforcement (tenfiz) goes further, allowing the operative orders of the foreign judgment — such as alimony or costs — to be executed here through the enforcement system.
What grounds do I need for a divorce in Türkiye?
Most divorces, including all uncontested ones, rely on the general ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (TMK Art. 166). The Civil Code also provides specific grounds: adultery (Art. 161), attempt on life or grave cruelty (Art. 162), a degrading crime or dishonourable life (Art. 163), desertion (Art. 164) and mental illness (Art. 165). For adultery the right to sue is lost six months after you learn of it and five years after the act. The ground you choose can affect alimony and compensation.
What protection is there if my spouse is violent?
Under Law No. 6284, a court — or in urgent cases the administrative authority — can issue protective and preventive measures such as a restraining/removal order, often within hours and without the abuser present. You do not need an open divorce case to apply, and a foreign spouse can seek protection. If you are in immediate danger, contact the police (155) or emergency services (112) first.
Will my residence permit be affected by divorce?
It can be. A family residence permit obtained through your spouse may lapse when the marriage ends. Depending on how long you held it and your circumstances, you may be able to switch to another permit — but this needs handling promptly. We coordinate with our residence and immigration team so your right to stay is protected alongside the divorce.
What surname will I use after divorce?
Under TMK Art. 173, a wife who took her husband's surname in principle returns to her pre-marriage surname after divorce. In defined circumstances the court may allow her to keep using the former surname where she has a genuine interest and it does not harm the ex-spouse. We address this in the protocol or petition so the register is updated cleanly.
Can a contested divorce become uncontested later?
Yes, and it often does. A case that starts contested can frequently be converted into a signed settlement protocol once the issues and numbers are clear, which saves considerable time and cost. We actively look for the point at which a fair settlement becomes possible.
Do you work in English and on a fixed fee?
Yes. We handle your family matter end-to-end in English and confirm a transparent fixed fee for a defined scope before starting, so you know your legal costs from the beginning. If the matter genuinely changes shape, we discuss it with you before any new cost arises.
Speak to a Turkish lawyer who speaks your language.
Tell us your commercial, corporate or personal matter and get a clear, fixed-fee answer from a real Turkish lawyer — usually within one business day.