If you got married in Turkey and went abroad, you can get divorced before you come to Turkey. However, one of the spouses must be resident in Turkey.
As Cebeci & Bayram Law Firm, we have extensive experience in marriage disputes and divorce cases between Turkish citizens and citizens of other countries. Apart from these cases, we also deal with the divorce cases of Turks living abroad for a long time.
In other words, if you live abroad, you can give us a power of attorney to divorce your spouse if he is in Turkey. You can also divorce without returning to Turkey.
For detailed information, you can check our article “Divorce Lawyer” and always reach us from our contact phones.
How Can You Divorce in Turkey If You Are Outside of Turkey?
Divorces are divided into contested and uncontested divorces.
You do not need to come to Turkey in a contested divorce, but in an uncontested divorce, you must be present in person on the day of the hearing, even if your lawyer has handled the other cases for you.
Contested Divorce of Turks Living Abroad in Turkey
Contested divorce is a type of divorce filed in family courts because they cannot agree on at least one of the issues of custody, compensation, acquired property and alimony.
In the case of a contested divorce, you can file a divorce case in court through a lawyer without having to come to Turkey from abroad (except for the uncontested divorce case). You can file for divorce without having to attend the hearing.
For example: You live in Germany and your spouse lives in Istanbul. You can get a divorce by giving a power of attorney to a divorce lawyer for your transactions before the authorized family court in Istanbul.
Since the divorce lawyer will follow the legal processes and procedures without the need for you to come to Turkey and attend the hearings, they will ensure that your divorce case is concluded quickly and without loss of rights.
Uncontested Divorce in Turkey by Turks Living Abroad
If you live abroad and want to divorce in Turkey, you can apply to the court through a lawyer. If you are present at the hearing date determined by the court, you can divorce in a single session.
** For an uncontested divorce, both parties must be present at the hearing.
Example: You live in Germany. Your spouse lives in Istanbul. In this case, you can file your case in the appropriate family court in Istanbul by giving a power of attorney to the divorce lawyer. You can get a divorce in a single session by being present at the hearing date determined by the court.
For an uncontested divorce, you must have been married for at least 1 year. In marriages that have lasted less than 1 year, a consensual divorce is not possible even if you have agreed on everything.
Both parties must agree to the divorce.
You should agree with your spouse about divorce and the financial consequences of divorce (settlement, alimony, custody, division of property, etc.) and draw up an agreed divorce report accordingly. Divorce is possible if you personally express your will in front of the judge.
Where to File a Divorce Case in Turkey?
You should file your divorce petition in the family courts of your spouse’s place of residence in Turkey, or, if there is no family court, in the civil courts of first instance, through a divorce lawyer. Also you might want to check our other articles such as “How to share Assets?”, “Valid Divorce Grounds” or “Alimony in Divorce Cases”.
