Turkey Supreme Court rules on return of wedding jewelry used for car purchases

The Turkish Supreme Court (Yargıtay) 2nd Civil Chamber has issued a precedent-setting ruling regarding the return of wedding jewelry used by spouses to purchase vehicles during a marriage.

In a divorce case, a woman sought the return of seven 22-karat gold bracelets, each weighing 15 grams, which her husband had sold to purchase a car. While a lower regional court had previously rejected the claim, arguing the jewelry was given to the husband voluntarily without the intent of return, the Supreme Court overturned this decision.

The High Court ruled that under the Turkish Civil Code, the burden of proof lies with the party claiming a specific legal outcome. In this instance, the husband must prove that the jewelry was gifted to him as a donation without the expectation of return. The court noted that the use of the bracelets for the car purchase was established through the husband's own statements and documentation, but his defense that the items were non-refundable gifts remained unproven.