Family Law Law
Articles on uncontested and contested divorce, the liquidation of the matrimonial property regime, alimony, custody and damages claims appear in this section. The provisions on family law in the Turkish Civil Code form the basis of these articles.
Divorce on the Ground of Adultery — Special Ground under TMK m.161
Adultery as an absolute ground for divorce and the statutory time bars
How is a divorce action based on adultery filed? Burden of proof, statutory time bars, and the rule of forgiveness in adultery actions.
Adultery is regulated as a special and absolute ground for divorce in TMK m.161. 'Absolute' means that, once adultery is proved, the judge grants divorce without separately examining whether the marital union has been shaken at its foundations.
Legal Definition of Adultery
Adultery is the voluntary sexual intercourse of a married person with another person other than his/her spouse. Mere flirtation, emotional closeness or online correspondence does not itself constitute adultery; however, these may amount to wrongful conduct relevant in a divorce action based on the breakdown of the marital union under TMK m.166/1.
As direct evidence of intercourse is rarely available, the Court of Cassation's settled case law accepts that hotel records, photographs, messages, witness statements and strong presumptions drawn from the ordinary course of events may be sufficient.
Statutory Time Bars
Under TMK m.161/2, the right of action for adultery lapses six months after the entitled spouse learns of the ground for divorce and in any event five years after the act of adultery. These are statutory time bars: they cannot be suspended or interrupted.
If the action is not filed within these periods, divorce cannot be sought under TMK m.161; however, the same facts may be assessed under TMK m.166/1.
The Rule of Forgiveness
TMK m.161/3 sets out an important rule: the forgiving spouse has no right of action. A spouse who, after learning of the adultery, chooses to continue the marriage — returning to the common dwelling or resuming sexual relations — may be considered to have forgiven. Forgiveness may be express or inferred from conduct.
If divorce is granted on the ground of adultery, the assessment of fault may affect claims for damages and spousal support. As regards the matrimonial property regime, under TMK m.236/2 the judge may equitably reduce or extinguish the share of the spouse at fault in the residual value.
Practical Considerations
In family-law matters, the legal assessment is made by taking into account the fault of the parties, the best interest of the children, their economic circumstances, and the lawfulness of the evidence. Message records, witness statements, bank transactions, medical reports and police reports become effective only when submitted in proper form.
Claims for divorce, support, custody, compensation and division of matrimonial property may produce independent outcomes. The petition must therefore clearly set out which claim is based on which facts and which evidence.
In disputes concerning children, the court takes into account the child's physical, emotional, educational and social needs rather than the parties' assertions. Social-investigation reports, school arrangements, health condition and the parents' communication style play an important role in the court's assessment.
Relevant Statutory Provisions
- TMK m.161Adultery (special ground)
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 161- Eşlerden biri zina ederse, diğer eş boşanma davası açabilir. Davaya hakkı olan eşin boşanma sebebini öğrenmesinden başlayarak altı ay ve her hâlde zina eyleminin üzerinden beş yıl geçmekle dava hakkı düşer. Affeden tarafın dava hakkı yoktur.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 161- If one spouse commits adultery, the other may bring an action for divorce. The right of action lapses six months after the entitled spouse learns of the ground for divorce, and in any event five years after the act of adultery. The forgiving spouse has no right of action.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.166Breakdown of the marital union
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 166- Evlilik birliği, ortak hayatı sürdürmeleri kendilerinden beklenmeyecek derecede temelinden sarsılmış olursa, eşlerden her biri boşanma davası açabilir. Yukarıdaki fıkrada belirtilen hâllerde, davacının kusuru daha ağır ise, davalının açılan davaya itiraz hakkı vardır. Bununla beraber bu itiraz, hakkın kötüye kullanılması niteliğinde ise ve evlilik birliğinin devamında davalı ve çocuklar bakımından korunmaya değer bir yarar kalmamışsa boşanmaya karar verilebilir. Evlilik en az bir yıl sürmüş ise, eşlerin birlikte başvurması ya da bir eşin diğerinin davasını kabul etmesi hâlinde, evlilik birliği temelinden sarsılmış sayılır. Bu hâlde boşanma kararı verilebilmesi için, hâkimin tarafları bizzat dinleyerek iradelerinin serbestçe açıklandığına kanaat getirmesi ve boşanmanın malî sonuçları ile çocukların durumu hususunda taraflarca kabul edilecek düzenlemeyi uygun bulması şarttır. Hâkim, tarafların ve çocukların menfaatlerini göz önünde tutarak bu anlaşmada gerekli gördüğü değişiklikleri yapabilir. Bu değişikliklerin taraflarca da kabulü hâlinde boşanmaya hükmolunur. Bu hâlde tarafların ikrarlarının hâkimi bağlamayacağı hükmü uygulanmaz. (Değişik dördüncü fıkra:14/11/2024-7532/13 md.) Boşanma sebeplerinden herhangi biriyle açılmış bulunan davanın reddine karar verilmesi ve bu kararın kesinleştiği tarihten başlayarak bir yıl geçmesi hâlinde, her ne sebeple olursa olsun ortak hayat yeniden kurulamamışsa evlilik birliği temelden sarsılmış sayılır ve eşlerden birinin istemi üzerine boşanmaya karar verilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 166- (1) If the marital union has been shaken to such a degree that the spouses can no longer be expected to maintain a common life, either spouse may bring an action for divorce. (2) If the petitioner's fault is graver, the respondent has the right to object; if such objection is an abuse of right and continuation of the marriage no longer protects the respondent or the children, divorce may still be granted. (3) Where the marriage has lasted at least one year and the spouses apply jointly — or one accepts the other's action — the marriage is deemed shaken; divorce requires the judge to hear the parties personally, be satisfied of free expression of will, and find the parties' arrangement on financial consequences and the children appropriate; the judge may amend the agreement in the interest of the parties and children, and decree divorce upon their acceptance. The rule that admissions do not bind the judge does not apply. (4) (as amended by Law No. 7532 of 14 November 2024) If a divorce action on any ground has been dismissed and one year has elapsed since that decision became final without re-establishment of a common life, the marriage is deemed shaken and divorce is granted on the application of either spouse.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.174Pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 174- Mevcut veya beklenen menfaatleri boşanma yüzünden zedelenen kusursuz veya daha az kusurlu taraf, kusurlu taraftan uygun bir maddî tazminat isteyebilir. Boşanmaya sebep olan olaylar yüzünden kişilik hakkı saldırıya uğrayan taraf, kusurlu olan diğer taraftan manevî tazminat olarak uygun miktarda bir para ödenmesini isteyebilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 174- The faultless party, or the party less at fault, whose existing or expected interests have been harmed by the divorce may claim an appropriate sum as pecuniary damages from the spouse at fault. The party whose personality rights have been violated by the events giving rise to the divorce may claim an appropriate sum as non-pecuniary damages from the spouse at fault.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.236/2Reduction of participation share in cases of adultery
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 236- Her eş veya mirasçıları, diğer eşe ait artık değerin yarısı üzerinde hak sahibi olurlar. Alacaklar takas edilir. Zina veya hayata kast nedeniyle boşanma hâlinde hâkim, kusurlu eşin artık değerdeki pay oranının hakkaniyete uygun olarak azaltılmasına veya kaldırılmasına karar verebilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 236- Each spouse or his/her heirs is entitled to half of the other's residual value; claims are set off. In divorce on the ground of adultery or attempt on life, the judge may equitably reduce or extinguish the share of the spouse at fault in the residual value.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- HMK m.189Assessment of unlawfully obtained evidence
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 189- (1) Taraflar, kanunda belirtilen süre ve usule uygun olarak ispat hakkına sahiptir. (2) Hukuka aykırı olarak elde edilmiş olan deliller, mahkeme tarafından bir vakıanın ispatında dikkate alınamaz. (3) Kanunun belirli delillerle ispatını emrettiği hususlar, başka delillerle ispat olunamaz. (4) Bir vakıanın ispatı için gösterilen delilin caiz olup olmadığına mahkemece karar verilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 189- (1) The parties have the right to prove their case within the periods and procedures provided by law. (2) Evidence unlawfully obtained may not be considered by the court in proof of a fact. (3) Matters that the law requires to be proved by specific evidence cannot be proved by other evidence. (4) The court rules on the admissibility of evidence offered.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
The statutory provisions are reproduced for information purposes only. The current and official text on mevzuat.gov.tr is authoritative.
Conclusion
Gathering evidence in adultery cases requires great care; evidence obtained in breach of privacy may be inadmissible. Because the statutory periods are short, prompt action is essential.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you would like professional assistance on a specific matter, you may request a consultation.
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