Practice Areas
End-to-end representation in divorce, alimony, custody and matrimonial property disputes.
In short
Family law governs disputes arising from family relationships — marriage, divorce, alimony, custody, matrimonial property and parentage. In Türkiye it is set out in the second book of the Turkish Civil Code. Divorce proceedings are either uncontested (Art. 166/3) or contested depending on whether the spouses agree, and are heard by the family courts.
Family law disputes carry personal consequences as much as legal ones. Decisions on alimony, custody and property division continue to shape a family's life for years, which makes getting the structure right at the outset far easier than correcting it later.
Where the spouses can reach agreement, we prepare a complete uncontested divorce protocol; where they cannot, we build the evidence plan from the start and manage the contested proceedings. In both scenarios the best interests of the children remain the decisive criterion.
We review the length of the marriage, the children's circumstances, the assets and your available evidence, and compare the contested and uncontested routes.
For an uncontested divorce we draft the protocol; for a contested one we assemble witnesses, bank and land registry records, messages and expert reports.
The action is filed and, where needed, interim orders are sought on alimony, custody and the family residence.
Once the divorce judgment becomes final, the matrimonial property regime is liquidated and civil registry formalities completed.
If the spouses agree on every issue and the marriage has lasted at least one year, an uncontested divorce is usually decided at a single hearing. From filing to judgment typically takes between a few weeks and two months, depending on the court's caseload. The judgment then has to be served and the appeal period must expire before it becomes final.
Contested divorce proceedings take on average one to two years at first instance, depending on the number of witnesses, any expert examination and the court's workload. Appeal stages add further time.
For marriages entered into after 1 January 2002, the default regime is participation in acquired property. Property acquired during the marriage is in principle shared equally, while inheritances, gifts and pre-marital assets count as personal property. Division is carried out in a separate liquidation action brought after the divorce judgment becomes final.
A spouse who would fall into poverty because of the divorce may claim poverty alimony from the other for an indefinite period, provided their own fault is not greater (Civil Code Art. 175). The amount reflects the parties' financial circumstances and may later be increased, reduced or terminated if circumstances change.
The sole criterion is the best interests of the child. The court considers the child's age, established environment, each parent's capacity to provide care and, where the child is of sufficient understanding, the child's own views. Being the mother or the father is not decisive in itself.
A divorce action is filed with the family court at the domicile of either spouse, or at the place where they last resided together for six months before the action (Civil Code Art. 168).
Legally reviewed: Attorney at Law, Founder Gökay Kahan
Tell us about your file and we will set out clearly which legal routes are open to you and how the process will unfold.
0553 681 31 63Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 18:00