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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.

10 articlesWith statutory referencesAll Categories
LatestUncontested Divorce: Conditions, Procedure and Preparing the Protocol25 April 2026
12 March 2026

Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Damages in Divorce: Conditions and Calculation

Damages claimed from the spouse at fault under TMK m.174

Conditions for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages in divorce and how the amount is determined. Assessment of fault and the limitation period.

Together with the divorce judgment, pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages may be claimed from the spouse at fault for losses suffered as a result of the divorce. Under TMK m.174, the spouse who is faultless or less at fault and whose existing or expected interests have been harmed by the divorce may claim an appropriate pecuniary compensation from the spouse at fault.

Conditions for Pecuniary Damages

TMK m.174/1 requires three conditions: (i) divorce must be granted; (ii) the existing or expected interests of the claimant spouse must be harmed by the divorce; (iii) the claimant spouse's fault must be lighter than the respondent's. Social security of the spouse counts as an existing interest; rights of inheritance or the economic benefits of common life count as expected interests.

The amount is set by the judge equitably, having regard to the parties' economic and social circumstances, the duration of the marriage and the allocation of fault. It may be paid in a lump sum or as a periodic payment.

Non-Pecuniary Damages

TMK m.174/2 provides that a spouse whose personality rights have been violated by the events giving rise to the divorce may claim an appropriate sum from the spouse at fault as non-pecuniary damages. Non-pecuniary damages aim to compensate violations of personality rights.

Conduct such as adultery, physical or psychological violence, persistent denigration and public humiliation are typical grounds. The amount must be set so as to fulfil the consolation function of money, without becoming an instrument of unjust enrichment.

Time Limit and Competent Court

Under TMK m.178, rights of action arising from the termination of marriage by divorce are time-barred one year after the divorce judgment becomes final. Damages must therefore be sought together with the divorce action, or by separate action within one year of the divorce becoming final.

The competent court is the Family Court. Where damages are claimed together with the divorce, they are decided in the same file.

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.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.176Form of payment of damages and alimony

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 176- Maddî tazminat ve yoksulluk nafakasının toptan veya durumun gereklerine göre irat biçiminde ödenmesine karar verilebilir.
    Manevî tazminatın irat biçiminde ödenmesine karar verilemez.
    İrat biçiminde ödenmesine karar verilen maddî tazminat veya nafaka, alacaklı tarafın yeniden evlenmesi ya da taraflardan birinin ölümü hâlinde kendiliğinden kalkar; alacaklı tarafın evlenme olmaksızın fiilen evliymiş gibi yaşaması, yoksulluğunun ortadan kalkması ya da haysiyetsiz hayat sürmesi hâlinde mahkeme kararıyla kaldırılır.
    Tarafların malî durumlarının değişmesi veya hakkaniyetin gerektirdiği hâllerde iradın artırılması veya azaltılmasına karar verilebilir.
    Hâkim, istem hâlinde, irat biçiminde ödenmesine karar verilen maddî tazminat veya nafakanın gelecek yıllarda tarafların sosyal ve ekonomik durumlarına göre ne miktarda ödeneceğini karara bağlayabilir.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 176- Pecuniary damages and spousal support may be paid in a lump sum or, where circumstances require, as a periodic payment. Non-pecuniary damages cannot be ordered as a periodic payment. Pecuniary damages or alimony ordered as a periodic payment terminate automatically upon the recipient's remarriage or the death of either party; if the recipient lives as if married, ceases to be in poverty or leads a dishonourable life, they are terminated by court order. Periodic payments may be increased or reduced where the parties' financial situations change or equity so requires. On request, the judge may rule on the amount payable in future years.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TMK m.178Time limit after divorce (1 year)

    Original (Turkish, official):

    Madde 178- Evliliğin boşanma sebebiyle sona ermesinden doğan dava hakları, boşanma hükmünün kesinleşmesinin üzerinden bir yıl geçmekle zamanaşımına uğrar.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 178- Rights of action arising from the termination of marriage by divorce are time-barred one year after the divorce judgment becomes final.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TBK m.50Proof of loss (and equitable determination of the amount)

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 50- Zarar gören, zararını ve zarar verenin kusurunu ispat yükü altındadır.
    Uğranılan zararın miktarı tam olarak ispat edilemiyorsa hâkim, olayların olağan akışını ve zarar görenin aldığı önlemleri göz önünde tutarak, zararın miktarını hakkaniyete uygun olarak belirler. 

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 50- The injured party bears the burden of proving the loss and the fault of the wrongdoer. If the precise amount cannot be proved, the judge equitably determines the amount, having regard to the ordinary course of events and the precautions taken by the injured party.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TBK m.56Non-pecuniary damages

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 56- Hâkim, bir kimsenin bedensel bütünlüğünün zedelenmesi durumunda, olayın özelliklerini göz önünde tutarak, zarar görene uygun bir miktar paranın manevi tazminat olarak ödenmesine karar verebilir.
    Ağır bedensel zarar veya ölüm hâlinde, zarar görenin veya ölenin yakınlarına da manevi tazminat olarak uygun bir miktar paranın ödenmesine karar verilebilir.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 56- Where a person's bodily integrity is impaired, the judge may, having regard to the circumstances of the case, order an appropriate sum to be paid to the injured party as non-pecuniary damages. In cases of serious bodily injury or death, an appropriate sum may also be ordered to be paid to the injured party or to the relatives of the deceased as non-pecuniary damages.

    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

Claims for damages in a divorce action depend strictly on proof of fault. To set the amount correctly, witness statements, message records, workplace documents and expert reports must be carefully prepared.

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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