Turkey's Constitutional Court abolishes perpetual alimony provision

The Turkish Constitutional Court (AYM) voted to cancel the "süresiz" (perpetual) alimony clause in Article 175 of the Turkish Civil Code. The decision nullifies the provision that allowed a divorcing spouse to claim unlimited alimony when facing poverty, declaring it unconstitutional. The court set a nine‑month transition period before the ruling takes effect, giving the Parliament time to draft new legislation.

The case originated from a divorce proceeding before Antalya’s 12th Family Court, which referred the matter to the AYM. The court had previously rejected a similar challenge in 2012, upholding the perpetual alimony rule as a social‑state principle. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that a new legal framework will be prepared and submitted to the Grand National Assembly, emphasizing fairness and the protection of family stability. The ruling is expected to prompt revisions to existing divorce cases and spark broader debate on family law reform in Turkey.