Wedding, Marriage and Family laws of Turkey give couples greater choice within a simple legal framework to support and celebrate marriage. All couples, as well as all religious groups and non-religious belief groups, have the freedom to decide where and how their weddings will take place.

Couples are able to get married in a much wider variety of locations, including:

• outside, in a place unconnected with any building, such as in a forest, on a beach, or in a local park;
• in affordable local venues, such as community centres and village halls, as well as in their own homes;
• in international waters on cruise ships that are registered in Turkey.

Long-distance weddings

As the world becomes global, more people are choosing not only mixed marriages, but also long-distance weddings. Panicking about details when you’re not physically there to oversee them will not get you anywhere. The good news is that many brides who have planned weddings from afar say it can actually reduce stress. How? Having at least one ready-and-willing point lawyer in the locale in which you’re hosting the wedding is obviously going to ease stress. 

Wedding contracts

When it comes to wedding contracts, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of legal jargon. Good contracts protect you and the vendors providing the service. You’ll sign contracts for each vendor, from the florist to the baker, the DJ to the photographer, and for the venue that hosts your wedding.

Your marriage ceremony and celebration shouldn’t be fraught with stress about a contract’s fine print – choosing the right hors d’oeuvres and picking the perfect playlist creates enough pressure! Work with one of our attorneys who are well-equipped to translate and clarify the contract legalese so you can focus on bringing your vision and dream to life. Think of your wedding law attorneys as a member of your bridal party!

Vendors

We work with vendors including photographers/videographers, talent agencies, musicians, DJs, tourist attractions, and music and arts venues to:

• Advise on entity formations, trademark applications and copyright registrations
• Draft and review photo releases, vendor agreements, independent contractor agreements and non-disclosure agreements (NDA)
• Negotiate contracts
• Oversee guild or union membership
• Provide counsel on dispute resolution
• Represent them in court or litigation matters

Premarital Agreement

Drafting and signing a premarital agreement remains a contentious issue for many couples. However, having a premarital agreement is the best way to protect the interests of you and your spouse. A premarital agreement is defined as “an agreement between prospective spouses made in contemplation of marriage and to be effective on marriage.”

The agreement must pertain to property held before or gained after marriage, including income and earnings. Premarital agreements are binding legal documents. They are typically enforceable without consideration, meaning the court will enforce the agreement even if there is nothing of value exchanged for one party. 

Child Custody & Access

We understand that your children – and their well-being – are precious to you. Your relationship with your spouse or partner may have broken down, but there is no question you both love your children. There are many important choices that you and your former spouse/partner will have to consider with respect to your children.

As every family is unique with its own specific needs and requirements, the custody and access arrangements after a separation need to reflect these individual circumstances. We will help you understand how the law impacts the decision-making and care of your children after divorce.

As joint custodial parents, both you and your former spouse/partner will together continue to make important decisions that impact your children. On the other hand, as a sole custodial parent, you or your former spouse/partner will make decisions on behalf of the child or children after consultation with the other parent. Parents are also entitled to information from professionals involved with the children, including schools, doctors, dentists, counselors, and caregivers.

We recognize that in addition to decision-making, care of and time with your children are also of the utmost importance. We will review the various parenting models available to determine how to proceed to best meet the needs of your family.

Child Support

Upon separation, both parents have an obligation to support their children financially. One of the child support’ primary objectives is ensuring that children continue to benefit from the financial means of both parents. Child support is the child’s right and includes both basic/table support as well as contribution to special and extraordinary expenses, such as childcare, extracurricular activities, and educational expenses.

Spousal Support

In some cases, it may be appropriate for one spouse to receive financial support from the other. Calculating the amount and duration of support is not always clear-cut and depend on the establishment of entitlement. The amount and duration of spousal support are only considered when an entitlement to support has been established.

Property

Property division is a key issue in any divorce and can have a significant impact on your financial security. If you are married, the division of family property is achieved in accordance with the Civil Code of Turkey through an equalization of the parties’ net family properties and is premised on the equal sharing of property accumulated during a marriage.

Family property can include everything from the family home and other real property, such as cottages and rental buildings, and investments, bank accounts, stocks, business interests, and other assets. Special considerations may apply to property that qualifies as a matrimonial home, property held at the date of marriage, or property received through inheritance, gift, or other specified means. Debts and liabilities are also important.

Divorce Agreements

A Divorce Agreement is a legal document and domestic contract representing a written and enforceable agreement between the parties that addresses some or all of the issues arising from their separation. Divorce Agreements can be temporary or final; they can be limited to a few issues or entirely comprehensive. Divorce Agreements are often negotiated between parties and their respective lawyers.

Parties may also reach agreements at mediation, with or without counsel, and then seek to incorporate the terms of this settlement into a legal Divorce Agreement. Divorce Agreements obtained through negotiation or mediation are frequently a timelier, more amicable, and more cost-efficient means of resolving family issues than court proceedings. 

Divorce

Like most other European countries, divorce rates in Turkey have been increasing for several years. Statistics indicate that almost one third of all marriages in Turkey end in divorce. Because of the emotions and frustrations involved, every family law matter brings unique circumstances and personalities to the table. Every client is different. Judges and family law professionals in the various county courts have different expectations and philosophies about what is in the best interest of the families involved.  

The first step to getting a divorce in Turkey is submitting a petition to the local family court. If both partners agree to the divorce, you can submit a joint petition, where it’s not necessary to explain any grounds for divorce. The petition must be submitted to the family court, along with recommendations to the judge: ihow property and assets should be divided and who should have custody of any children.

Amicable divorces can be finalised in a few days. If there are more complicated circumstances, or the spouses do not agree to the terms, it could take several years. Another important factor to consider when getting divorced is the cost. Usually, costs will be split equally between both partners. You will need to pay court fees and lawyers fees.

Domestic Violence

No person should have to live in fear of violence. Likewise, no person should be deprived of his or her rights due to false allegations of abuse. In case you are a victim of domestic violence or you have been accused of domestic violence, we assist clients who are seeking or opposing the issuance of a domestic violence protective order. A victim of domestic violence may acquire a temporary protective order on an ex parte basis (an Order issued by the Family Court without notifying the alleged abuser).

International Family Law Disputes in Turkey

There is a hudge increase of international family law disputes in Turkey. The most of them prove to be very challenging to deal with. Divorce cases are almost never easy and pleasant but international divorces are a particular complicated field as all aspects of family law, including child support, child visitation and alimony payment differ excessively from country to country.

Ask for our expert advice that would include arrangements for your children and financial settlement you could expect to receive upon your international divorce. We will advice you not only how to start international divorce proceeding. We will find the best way for you to get out of the marriage with as little harm as possible for you, your children and your finance.

Child Custody After Divorce in Turkey

Separation and divorce are radical life changing events for adults involved in the case. For the children whose parents decided to either get separated or divorced the new situation after separation or divorce will be very stressful and hurtful. End of your relationship does not mean end of your and your ex-partner or ex-spouse responsibility towards your children.

The best way would be to have an amicable settlement concerning your parential responsibility. In addition, it would include other arrangements such as visitation right and regularly contact between your child and the ex-spouse or ex-partner staying apart. Finally, it can mention child support payments. Workig out an agreement can be a not easy thing to do.  

It might be even quit stressful especially if there are still anger and bitterness between the ex-partners or ex-spouses. However difficult it might be to have to comunicate with your ex, remember that you both should focus the well-being of your children. They have the full right to see both of you and to grow-up with both of their parents.

How to Protect Your Business After Divorce in Turkey

Protecting your business prior to filing for divorce in Turkey is maybe more important than the divorce itsself.  It  requires a lot of experience and care. What do you need to consider before filing for divorce? Do you want your ex-spouse to still remain your business partner?

Do you really want to continue to be a part of the family business even after the divorce? What can be undertaken when you have got your business in your name alone but it was created while you were marrried? Your business is one of your assets. It shall be divided the same way as other assets such as property, bank accounts and cars.

How to Get Trough Divorce with your Finances Intact

Divorce and money go hand-in-hand. The financial consequences of a divorce are difficult to get your mind around. Both spouses need to decide how they divide their assets and obligations. What will happen with our house or apartment? Who is going to keep the car? How will the marital assets be split? How can I get my premarital money back I invested in my ex-spouse property?

Is an inheritance considered to be a separate property or is it a marital property? These are the most frequently asked questions once partners decide to file for divorce or even before. Let us handle your financial issues before we file for divorce or immidiately after you have received petition for divorce in Turkey.

Your Residency in Turkey after divorce

Residence permit in Turkey after divorce is a crucial question for foreigners still wishing to remain in Turkey after their divorce. Foreigners engaged into marriages to Turkish citizens may be granted either a temporary residence permit or a permanent residence permit.

Following persons are considered to be family member of a Turkish citizen: a spouse, a minor child of the foreigner or the Turkish citizen, a child with respect to whom either the foreigner or the Turkish citizen exercise parental authority.

Child Abduction

The issues related to their common children are of vital importance for international couples. Unfortunately, even very strong marriage ties sometimes tend to break causing a wave of clashes and legal disputes between former spouses. In practice, it happens quite often that one of the spouses leaves the country with his or her child without any prior consent from another spouse. In such a case the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction comes on the scene and can be applicable (more than 100 countries of the world are parties to this Convention).

A spouse is entitled to lodge a claim for the return of the unlawfully removed child before the competent court of the country where his or her child is retained. That fact causes a question: are there any possibilities to get back the child if such a claim has been dismissed.