Divorce, Custody & Cross-Border Families
Family Lawyer in Turkey
Divorce, child custody and the recognition of foreign family court judgments for international families.
International and binational families face a question purely domestic cases don't: does a divorce, custody or support decision from abroad actually have effect in Turkey, or does it need to go through a separate recognition process first?
Legalwise handles both contested and uncontested divorce in Turkey and the recognition (tenfiz) of foreign divorce and custody judgments, so a decision already obtained abroad doesn't need to be relitigated from scratch.
- Recognition (tenfiz) of foreign divorce, custody and support judgments before Turkish courts
- Uncontested divorce protocols drafted to reflect agreements already reached abroad where possible
- Direct coordination with counsel abroad when a matter spans two jurisdictions
- Clear guidance on which decisions need Turkish recognition and which do not
Turkish Legal Matters We Assist With
Team Members Working with International Clients
The lawyers below communicate directly with clients in English or French, in addition to Turkish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a divorce granted abroad automatically valid in Turkey?
Not automatically — a foreign divorce judgment generally needs to go through a Turkish recognition (tenfiz) proceeding before it has legal effect in Turkey, for example for property or civil status purposes.
Can a custody arrangement from another country be enforced in Turkey?
A foreign custody decision can be recognised by a Turkish court, but enforcement in practice depends on the specific judgment and circumstances, and should be reviewed case by case.
Legalwise is a law firm based in Ankara, Turkey. Our services concern Turkish law and legal matters requiring action in Turkey. Matters governed by another country's law may require coordination with locally qualified counsel in that jurisdiction. Legalwise does not have offices in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or any other country, and our lawyers are admitted to Turkish bar associations.