[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkish Supreme Court wedding jewelry ruling

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What changed

2026-10-31 09:25 UTC → 2026-10-31 19:50 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Turkish Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) has established a legal precedent regarding the return of wedding jewelry during divorce proceedings. The dispute involved a woman seeking the return of gold jewelry, including 22-karat bracelets and quarter gold coins, which her husband had allegedly used to purchase a vehicle and settle debts. While a lower court initially ordered the return of seven 15-gram bracelets, a regional appellate court contested this, suggesting the jewelry was a non-refundable gift. The Court of Cassation overturned these views, ruling that the burden of proof lies with the husband to demonstrate that the jewelry was intended as a permanent gift rather than for temporary use. The 2nd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation emphasized that under the Turkish Civil Code, the husband must prove the jewelry was a donation without the expectation of return. The court noted that it is customary for such jewelry to remain with the woman or be kept in the home. Because the husband could not provide evidence that the gold was a gift, the court ruled that the jewelry must be returned in kind, or its value must be paid with legal interest from the date of the lawsuit. In the specific case involving seven 22-karat gold bracelets weighing 15 grams each, the High Court noted that the husband’s use of the items for a car purchase was established through his own statements and documentation. However, his defense that the items were non-refundable gifts remained unproven, reinforcing the requirement for the husband to provide evidence of a donation to avoid the obligation of return.

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