Bayraktar Attorneys represents international clients in divorce, custody, alimony and marital property matters throughout Turkey. You receive clear advice and steady representation from lawyers who work in English every day.
Talk to an English-speaking family lawyer today. The conversation is confidential and there is no obligation.
A family dispute is difficult anywhere. It is harder still in a country whose legal system and language are not your own. Our practice is built around foreign nationals, dual citizens and expatriates who need dependable guidance under Turkish family law.
Perhaps you are married to a Turkish citizen, living here on a residence permit, or dealing with children and property in more than one country. Whatever the situation, we handle the matter from start to finish. We plan the strategy, prepare the paperwork, represent you in court and see the decision enforced. We work in English and treat every case in confidence.
A Turkish court has jurisdiction over your divorce when either spouse lives in Turkey. As a rule it applies the law that both spouses share by nationality. Where they share none, Turkish law governs. Because the applicable law can change the outcome on property and support, it is worth taking advice before you file.
An uncontested divorce is possible when both spouses agree on every term, meaning custody, alimony and the division of property, and the marriage has lasted at least one year. It is quicker and less adversarial, and it usually concludes within one to three months. A contested divorce becomes necessary when the spouses cannot agree on the grounds or the terms. It calls for evidence, and depending on how far apart the parties stand, it can take one to three years.
A marriage that crosses borders raises further questions. Which country's courts should hear the case, which law applies, and how are assets held abroad to be treated? We plan the approach with these points in mind, so that you file in the forum that serves you best and avoid parallel proceedings in two countries.
A divorce you obtained abroad does not take effect in Turkey on its own. Before your Turkish civil records can be updated, and before any payment order can be collected here, the judgment has to be recognized and, where it orders payment, enforced by a Turkish court. We carry this procedure through for you, including the translation and legalization of your documents.
When a court decides custody, one consideration outweighs the rest: the welfare of the child. The judge looks at the child's age, the strength of each bond, the stability each parent can offer and the practical ability to provide care. Custody may go to one parent while the other keeps the right to a personal relationship, that is, contact and visitation.
Foreign parents stand on equal footing with Turkish parents. Your nationality does not decide the question of custody. Our task is to present your case clearly and with proper evidence, and to protect your relationship with your child. Where you live outside Turkey, we also arrange visitation terms that work in practice.
Turkey is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. If a child has been wrongfully brought to Turkey or kept here, we can bring return proceedings and represent you in this specialized process, acting promptly to preserve the child's stability.
Turkish law provides for several forms of support. There is interim support while the case is pending, spousal support after the divorce for a spouse who would otherwise face hardship, and child support toward a child's upbringing. The court sets each amount according to the parties' means and needs, and it can revise the figure later if circumstances change.
Under the default regime of the Turkish Civil Code, spouses divide the property acquired during the marriage, while assets owned before the marriage generally stay separate. Identifying and valuing those assets correctly, from real estate to shares in a company, is often the part of a divorce with the greatest financial weight. It is also where experienced representation counts for the most.
Divorce can affect inheritance rights as well. If an estate is involved, see our inheritance law services.
Couples in Turkey may set aside the default regime by signing a marital property agreement, either before the wedding or during the marriage. For international couples who own assets in more than one country, this is often a sensible step. We draft agreements that are clear and enforceable, and that lower the chance of a dispute later on.
Planning to marry in Turkey on a tourist visa? See our guide on getting married in Turkey on a tourist visa.
We review your situation, explain the applicable law, and outline realistic options and timelines.
We gather and prepare the required documents, including translations and legalization (apostille) where needed.
We file the case in the correct court and represent you throughout, so you needn't attend every hearing.
We pursue a favorable settlement where possible, or advocate firmly for you at trial where necessary.
We finalize the decision, update civil records, and enforce support or property orders.
We work daily with expats, dual citizens and international families, in English.
We handle filings, hearings and enforcement so you can stay abroad if needed.
Confidential handling with clear, upfront communication on cost and timeline.
Recognition of foreign decrees, Hague cases and multi-country assets.
Atty. Nevzat Oğulcan Bayraktar
Confidential, English-speaking legal support across Turkey.
This page provides general information about family law in Turkey and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please contact Bayraktar Attorneys for a consultation.
