Turkey prepares new alimony laws after Constitutional Court annulment

The Constitutional Court of Turkey has annulled the provision in Article 175 of the Turkish Civil Code that allowed for indefinite poverty alimony. The court ruled that unlimited alimony requests violate the principle of legal proportionality, suggesting that factors such as age, economic status, marriage duration, and the potential for self-sufficiency must be considered.

Following this decision, the 13th Judicial Package is expected to be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in October. This legislative package aims to establish a new framework for alimony based on specific criteria rather than indefinite duration. Proposed models include determining alimony length based on the duration of the marriage or setting a minimum period, such as five years, even for shorter marriages.

The court's annulment will officially take effect on June 30, 2027, following a nine-month period granted to the legislature to fill the legal vacuum. Until then, local courts will continue to apply the existing law.