Turkey to Change Rules on Alimony After Divorce

Turkey to Change Rules on Alimony After Divorce

Divorce in Turkey may soon change the rules governing financial support paid to a former spouse. This is not child support. The issue concerns alimony paid for the personal support of a former spouse who cannot independently meet their living expenses after divorce. In practice, women are more often the recipients.

Under the current wording of Article 175 of the Turkish Civil Code, such alimony can be requested without a fixed maximum duration if the legal conditions are met. This means that payments may continue for a very long period and, under the existing framework, potentially for life.

Constitutional Court cancels the unlimited-duration provision

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Türkiye ruled that the phrase allowing alimony to be awarded “indefinitely” in Article 175 of the Turkish Civil Code is unconstitutional and annulled it.

The Court issued its decision on June 4, 2026, and the decision was published on September 30, 2026. However, the annulment does not take effect immediately. The Court gave lawmakers nine months from publication to introduce new legislation. The annulment will therefore take effect on June 30, 2027. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The Constitutional Court did not abolish post-divorce alimony. Its decision concerns the possibility of awarding alimony without any time limit under the current wording of the law.

Why did the Court cancel the provision?

The Constitutional Court stated that the rules on alimony must establish a reasonable balance between the interests and rights of both former spouses. The Court referred to factors such as the length of the marriage, the recipient spouse's age, education and health, as well as their ability to meet their own economic needs.

According to the Court, allowing alimony to be imposed indefinitely without sufficient criteria can place a heavy burden on the person required to pay it and may disrupt the balance between the competing rights involved. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

At the same time, the Court did not rule out the possibility of lifelong alimony in every situation. It stated that legislation could allow longer or even lifelong payments where clearly defined conditions justify them.

Will alimony be limited to seven years?

One of the options being discussed is a maximum seven-year period for alimony payments. However, seven years has not been established as the new legal limit.

Lawmakers still have to prepare the new framework before the Constitutional Court's decision takes effect. Therefore, it is too early to say what the final maximum duration will be.

For now, the situation is clear: Turkey is preparing changes to the rules governing alimony after divorce, but alimony itself has not been abolished. The key change concerns the possibility of awarding it without a fixed time limit.

What does this mean in practice?

• Post-divorce alimony for a former spouse is not being abolished.
• The provision allowing alimony to be awarded without a time limit has been annulled.
• The annulment will take effect on June 30, 2027.
• The current rules remain in force until that date.
• The final maximum duration, including the discussed seven-year option, has not yet been approved.

For foreigners living in Turkey or considering Alanya for relocation, it is worth keeping track of changes in Turkish family law. Anyone involved in a specific divorce or alimony case should seek up-to-date legal advice based on their individual circumstances.

Source: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Türkiye. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

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