Turkish Legal Insights & Analysis

Alimony in Turkey for foreign spouses is one of the most consequential — and frequently misunderstood — financial dimensions of a cross-border divorce. Under the Turkish Civil Code (Türk Medeni Kanunu, TMK), spousal and child maintenance is governed by a structured three-tier system that protects the economically weaker spouse and the children of the marriage, with rules that apply equally to Turkish citizens and to foreign nationals appearing before Turkish family courts. Fo

For foreign nationals marrying a Turkish citizen — or for international couples relocating to Turkey — a properly drafted prenuptial agreement is the single most effective instrument for protecting wealth, defining property rights, and avoiding disputes if the marriage ends. Turkish law recognises prenuptial agreements (commonly called evlilik sözleşmesi or mal rejimi sözleşmesi) under Articles 202 to 241 of the Turkish Civil Code (TMK), giving spouses the freedom to depart f

Matrimonial property division in Turkey is one of the most consequential — and frequently misunderstood — aspects of divorce proceedings for foreign nationals. When a marriage ends, the Turkish Civil Code (TMK) imposes a default property regime that determines how every asset accumulated during the marriage is classified, valued, and divided between the spouses. For foreign investors, expatriates married to Turkish citizens, and high-net-worth individuals with cross-border ho

Divorce in Turkey for expats is one of the most legally intricate processes a foreign national can face within the Turkish judicial system. When a marriage between spouses of different nationalities breaks down in Istanbul, Ankara, or any other Turkish city, the questions multiply: which court has jurisdiction, which country's law governs the proceedings, who gets custody of the children, and will your prenuptial agreement hold up? For high-net-worth individuals, multinationa

Divorce is not just an emotional separation; it is the termination of an economic partnership. Under the Turkish Civil Code, the division of assets is governed by strict rules depending on when the marriage took place and how the assets were acquired. For international clients and expatriates living in Turkey, understanding the local "Matrimonial Property Regime" is crucial to securing a fair share of the marital wealth. In this guide, we explain the legal logic behind the Li