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.
Spousal Support (Alimony): Conditions, Amount and Termination
Post-divorce maintenance between spouses under TMK m.175
Conditions for spousal support, duration, and circumstances of termination. Indefinite-term alimony and assessment of fault.
Spousal support (yoksulluk nafakası) is the statutory protection afforded to the spouse who would otherwise fall into poverty due to the divorce. TMK m.175 provides that the spouse who would fall into poverty as a result of divorce may, provided his or her fault is not graver than that of the other, claim indefinite-term alimony from the other spouse in proportion to that spouse's financial means.
Statutory Conditions
Three conditions must be met to award spousal support: (i) divorce must have been granted; (ii) the requesting spouse must be exposed to poverty as a result of the divorce; (iii) the requesting spouse's fault must not be graver than the other's. In cases of equal fault, alimony may be claimed; the spouse predominantly at fault, however, may not claim spousal support.
The notion of 'poverty' is interpreted by the Court of Cassation as 'lack of even minimum means of subsistence.' Whether a spouse on the minimum wage falls into poverty is debated, although recent case law assesses the inadequacy of income on a case-by-case basis.
Indefinite-Term Alimony
TMK m.175 expressly provides that spousal support may be claimed 'on an indefinite basis.' This does not mean alimony is necessarily lifelong; the court may remove or reduce it if circumstances change. In practice, the indefinite nature of the alimony may, depending on the continuance of the recipient's poverty, last for life.
The debated practice of 'indefinite alimony' has been the subject of recent legislative initiatives. Under the current legal framework, the judge sets the amount equitably, taking into account the parties' economic situation and the duration of the marriage.
Termination of Alimony
Under TMK m.176/3 et seq., spousal support terminates automatically upon the remarriage of the recipient. If the recipient lives as if married without remarrying, ceases to be in poverty, or leads a dishonourable life, the alimony is terminated by court order.
Changes in the financial circumstances of the debtor may also be the subject of an action for reduction or increase of alimony (TMK m.176/4). Such actions are heard by the Family Court; the venue is the court of the recipient's residence.
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.175Spousal support (alimony)
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 175- Boşanma yüzünden yoksulluğa düşecek taraf, kusuru daha ağır olmamak koşuluyla geçimi için diğer taraftan malî gücü oranında süresiz olarak nafaka isteyebilir. Nafaka yükümlüsünün kusuru aranmaz.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 175- A party who would fall into poverty as a result of divorce may, provided his/her fault is not graver than the other's, claim indefinite-term alimony from the other party for his/her support, in proportion to the latter's financial means. No fault is required on the part of the obligor.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.176Form of payment and termination 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 without remarrying, ceases to be in poverty, or leads a dishonourable life, the payment is 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 according to the parties' social and economic circumstances.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TMK m.178Time limit for actions after divorce (1-year limitation)
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
- TMK m.197Interim support upon suspension of cohabitation
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 197 - Eşlerden biri, ortak hayat sebebiyle kişiliği, ekonomik güvenliği veya ailenin huzuru ciddî biçimde tehlikeye düştüğü sürece ayrı yaşama hakkına sahiptir. Birlikte yaşamaya ara verilmesi haklı bir sebebe dayanıyorsa hâkim, eşlerden birinin istemi üzerine birinin diğerine yapacağı parasal katkıya, konut ve ev eşyasından yararlanmaya ve eşlerin mallarının yönetimine ilişkin önlemleri alır. Eşlerden biri, haklı bir sebep olmaksızın diğerinin birlikte yaşamaktan kaçınması veya ortak hayatın başka bir sebeple olanaksız hâle gelmesi üzerine de yukarıdaki istemlerde bulunabilir. Eşlerin ergin olmayan çocukları varsa hâkim, ana ve baba ile çocuklar arasındaki ilişkileri düzenleyen hükümlere göre gereken önlemleri alır.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 197- A spouse has the right to live separately so long as the common life seriously endangers his/her personality, economic security or the peace of the family. Where suspension of cohabitation is justified, the judge — on the request of either spouse — orders measures concerning monetary contribution by one to the other, the use of the dwelling and household goods, and the administration of the spouses' property. A spouse may make the same requests where the other refuses to cohabit without just cause or common life is otherwise impossible. Where there are minor children, the judge takes the necessary measures under the rules governing parent-child relations.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- 4787 sayılı Kanun m.4Jurisdiction of the Family Court
Original (Turkish, official):
Madde 4- Aile mahkemeleri, aşağıdaki dava ve işleri görürler: 1. 22.11.2001 tarihli ve 4721 sayılı Türk Medenî Kanununun Üçüncü Kısım hariç olmak üzere İkinci Kitabı ile 3.12.2001 tarihli ve 4722 sayılı Türk Medenî Kanununun Yürürlüğü ve Uygulama Şekli Hakkında Kanuna göre aile hukukundan doğan dava ve işler, 2. 20.5.1982 tarihli ve 2675 sayılı Milletlerarası Özel Hukuk ve Usul Hukuku Hakkında Kanuna göre aile hukukuna ilişkin yabancı mahkeme kararlarının tanıma ve tenfizi, 3. Kanunlarla verilen diğer görevler.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 4- Family Courts hear: 1. Family-law disputes arising from Book Two of the Turkish Civil Code (Law No. 4721) — excluding its Third Section — and from Law No. 4722; 2. Recognition and enforcement of foreign family-law judgments under Law No. 2675; 3. Other matters assigned by law.
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
Spousal support is the principal instrument of post-divorce economic protection. Unless the allocation of fault, the duration of the marriage and the parties' true financial situation are established with concrete evidence, obtaining the amount claimed remains difficult.
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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