Conditions
Under the Turkish Civil Code, if the marriage has lasted at least one year, the spouses may divorce by mutual consent by applying together, or by one spouse accepting the case filed by the other.
The judge must hear the parties in person and be satisfied that they expressed their will freely and that the agreed protocol is appropriate. Considering the interests of the parties and the children, the judge may require amendments to the protocol.
Matters usually covered in the protocol
- Custody of children and visitation arrangements
- Child support and spousal maintenance
- Material and moral compensation
- Division of property and joint debts
General procedure
- Putting the agreed terms into a written protocol
- Preparing the petition and filing it with the family court
- Hearing the parties' statements before the judge
- Divorce judgment and its finalisation
Points to consider: The protocol becomes binding together with the judgment. Clear and enforceable wording on custody, maintenance and property reduces later disputes. Recognition of a Turkish divorce abroad, or of a foreign divorce in Türkiye, is a separate procedure.
The information on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each matter must be assessed on its own facts.