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.
Participation-in-Acquired-Property Regime and Its Liquidation: Participation Claim and Increase-in-Value Share
Termination of the statutory matrimonial property regime under TMK m.218-241
How is the participation-in-acquired-property regime liquidated? Calculating the participation claim and the increase-in-value share. Matrimonial property after 2002.
The Turkish Civil Code (Law No. 4721), which entered into force on 1 January 2002, adopts the participation in acquired property as the statutory matrimonial property regime applicable absent contrary agreement (TMK m.202). Upon divorce, asset categories are, as a rule, determined as of the date the regime ends, while market values are calculated as of the time of liquidation.
Acquired Property and Personal Property
Under TMK m.219, acquired property consists of assets a spouse obtains during the marriage for consideration. Earnings from work, payments from social-security institutions, income from personal property, and assets replacing acquired property all qualify as acquired property.
Personal property under TMK m.220 includes items used exclusively by one spouse, property owned before the marriage, property acquired by inheritance or otherwise without consideration, and claims for non-pecuniary damages. Only acquired property is subject to liquidation.
Calculating the Participation Claim
In liquidation, debts attributable to each spouse's acquired property are deducted from its total value to determine the residual value (TMK m.231). Each spouse is entitled to a participation claim equal to one-half of the other's residual value (TMK m.236/1).
The participation claim is, as a rule, a monetary claim; it does not give rise to in rem rights. The spouses may agree on a different proportion by contract; however, in divorce based on adultery or attempt on life, the judge may equitably reduce or extinguish the share of the spouse at fault (TMK m.236/2).
Increase-in-Value Share
TMK m.227 grants a spouse who has contributed — without or below adequate consideration — to the acquisition, improvement or preservation of the other's property a claim, on liquidation, for the increase in value of that property proportional to the contribution. Where there is a loss of value, the original value of the contribution is taken as the basis.
The increase-in-value claim is calculated by reference to the asset's value at the time of liquidation. A different proportion may be agreed in writing between the spouses.
The contribution must be evidenced by bank records, loan-payment receipts, invoices, land-registry documents or witness testimony; mere allegations of family solidarity do not give rise to a claim in every case.
Competent Court and Time Limit
Actions for liquidation of the matrimonial property regime are heard by the Family Court. The action may be brought together with the divorce action or separately after the divorce becomes final. A ten-year limitation period is generally accepted in practice for the participation claim; however, the starting date and the nature of the claim must be assessed on the facts (TMK m.5 referring to TBK m.146).
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.202Statutory matrimonial property regime: participation in acquired property
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 202- Eşler arasında edinilmiş mallara katılma rejiminin uygulanması asıldır. Eşler, mal rejimi sözleşmesiyle kanunda belirlenen diğer rejimlerden birini kabul edebilirler.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 202- The default regime between spouses is participation in acquired property. The spouses may, by matrimonial property contract, adopt one of the other regimes established by law.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.219Scope of acquired property
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 219- Edinilmiş mal, her eşin bu mal rejiminin devamı süresince karşılığını vererek elde ettiği malvarlığı değerleridir. Bir eşin edinilmiş malları özellikle şunlardır: 1. Çalışmasının karşılığı olan edinimler, 2. Sosyal güvenlik veya sosyal yardım kurum ve kuruluşlarının veya personele yardım amacı ile kurulan sandık ve benzerlerinin yaptığı ödemeler, 3. Çalışma gücünün kaybı nedeniyle ödenen tazminatlar, 4. Kişisel mallarının gelirleri, 5. Edinilmiş malların yerine geçen değerler.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 219- Acquired property comprises assets a spouse obtains for consideration during the regime. In particular, a spouse's acquired property includes: 1. Earnings from work; 2. Payments by social-security or social-assistance institutions, or by personnel-assistance funds; 3. Compensation for loss of earning capacity; 4. Income from personal property; 5. Assets substituting acquired property.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.220Personal property
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 220- Aşağıda sayılanlar, kanun gereğince kişisel maldır: 1. Eşlerden birinin yalnız kişisel kullanımına yarayan eşya, 2. Mal rejiminin başlangıcında eşlerden birine ait bulunan veya bir eşin sonradan miras yoluyla ya da herhangi bir şekilde karşılıksız kazanma yoluyla elde ettiği malvarlığı değerleri, 3. Manevî tazminat alacakları, 4. Kişisel mallar yerine geçen değerler.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 220- The following are personal property by operation of law: 1. Items used exclusively by one spouse; 2. Property owned by a spouse at the start of the regime, or acquired later by inheritance or in any other gratuitous manner; 3. Claims for non-pecuniary damages; 4. Assets substituting personal property.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.227Increase-in-value share
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 227 - Eşlerden biri diğerine ait bir malın edinilmesine, iyileştirilmesine veya korunmasına hiç ya da uygun bir karşılık almaksızın katkıda bulunmuşsa, tasfiye sırasında bu malda ortaya çıkan değer artışı için katkısı oranında alacak hakkına sahip olur ve bu alacak o malın tasfiye sırasındaki değerine göre hesaplanır; bir değer kaybı söz konusu olduğunda katkının başlangıçtaki değeri esas alınır. Böyle bir malın daha önce elden çıkarılmış olması hâlinde hâkim, diğer eşe ödenecek alacağı hakkaniyete uygun olarak belirler. Eşler, yazılı bir anlaşmayla değer artışından pay almaktan vazgeçebilecekleri gibi, pay oranını da değiştirebilirler.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 227- Where one spouse has contributed — without or below adequate consideration — to the acquisition, improvement or preservation of property belonging to the other, at liquidation the contributor is entitled to a claim, proportional to the contribution, for the increase in value of that property; the claim is calculated by reference to the property's value at liquidation. In case of a loss of value, the original value of the contribution is taken. If the property has previously been disposed of, the judge equitably determines the amount payable to the other spouse. By written agreement, spouses may waive the increase-in-value share or change its proportion.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.231Determination of residual value
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 231- Artık değer, eklenmeden ve denkleştirmeden elde edilen miktarlar da dahil olmak üzere her eşin edinilmiş mallarının toplam değerinden bu mallara ilişkin borçlar çıkarıldıktan sonra kalan miktardır. Değer eksilmesi göz önüne alınmaz.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 231- The residual value is the amount remaining after deduction of debts attributable to acquired property from the total value of each spouse's acquired property, including amounts obtained through addition and equalisation. A loss of value is not taken into account.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.236Participation claim
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 against each other. In divorce based on 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
- TMK m.239Payment of the participation claim
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 239- Katılma alacağı ve değer artış payı ayın veya para olarak ödenebilir. Aynî ödemede malların sürüm değeri esas alınır; bir mesleğin icrasına ayrılmış birimler ile işletmelerin ekonomik bütünlüğü gözetilir. Katılma alacağının ve değer artış payının derhâl ödenmesi kendisi için ciddî güçlükler doğuracaksa, borçlu eş ödemelerinin uygun bir süre ertelenmesini isteyebilir. Aksine anlaşma yoksa, tasfiyenin sona ermesinden başlayarak katılma alacağına ve değer artış payına faiz yürütülür; durum ve koşullar gerektiriyorsa ayrıca borçludan güvence istenebilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 239- The participation claim and the increase-in-value share may be paid in kind or in cash. Payment in kind is at market value; the economic unity of practice premises and businesses is preserved. If immediate payment would cause serious hardship to the debtor spouse, payment may be deferred for a reasonable period. Unless otherwise agreed, interest accrues on the participation claim and the increase-in-value share from the end of liquidation; security may also be demanded from the debtor where circumstances require.
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
The liquidation of the matrimonial property regime is technically complex, given the separation of asset categories, valuation dates and contribution claims. Bank records, land-registry movements, loan-payment documents and corporate share registers are key evidence in calculating claims.
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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