In uncontested divorce cases, the payment of alimony is generally not mandatory. In divorces realized within the framework of Article 166/3 of the Turkish Civil Code (TCC), the parties can regulate the issue of alimony with their free will or completely waive alimony. However, court decisions differentiate the limits and consequences of this freedom according to the type of alimony (alimony for indigence or child support).
1. Alimony for Indigence and Waiver
According to Supreme Court decisions, alimony for indigence is a right that parties can freely dispose of. It is binding for parties to agree in an uncontested divorce protocol that they will not claim alimony from each other, or to declare during the hearing that they waive these claims.
Binding Nature: A party who declares that they do not want alimony or waives this right in an uncontested divorce case cannot claim alimony for indigence again, even if they become indigent after the divorce becomes final (YHGK-2012/836 K, 3. HD-2015/10651 ).
Requirement of Clear Statement: For a waiver of alimony to be valid, this intention must be “explicitly” stated in the protocol or court record. While general expressions such as “There is no alimony or compensation claim” are accepted as a waiver in some cases, it has also been ruled that if the statement is vague, the court must collect evidence and determine the amount of alimony for indigence (3. HD-2011/136493. HD-2012/22724 K).
Prohibition of Demand After Finalization: After the consensual divorce decision becomes final, no new request can be made regarding the financial consequences of the divorce (2nd Civil Chamber-2019/3351).
2. Child Support and Public Order
Child support awarded in favor of children, unlike alimony for destitution, is a matter of public order. Therefore, the fact that the parties did not request child support in the protocol does not mean that this right has been entirely eliminated.
Subsequent Demandability: Even if child support was not requested in the protocol or this right was waived; a child support lawsuit can always be filed, taking into account the child’s best interest, changing circumstances, and increasing needs (YHGK-2017/2613 K, 3rd Civil Chamber-2010/12845 K).
Judge’s Supervisory Authority: In accordance with Article 182/2 of the Turkish Civil Code (TMK), the spouse who is not granted custody must contribute to the child’s care and education expenses in proportion to their financial capacity. This obligation is not entirely left to the will of the parties; the judge can intervene if they find the child support arrangement in the protocol not to be in the child’s best interest (3rd Civil Chamber-2014/6752 K).
Lump-sum Payment Situation: The fact that a lump-sum compensation or payment has been made for the child through the protocol does not completely relieve the father/mother from future child support obligations (YHGK-2017/2613 K
3. Adaptation of Alimony Agreed in the Protocol
If the parties have determined an amount of alimony in the protocol and this has been approved by the court, this arrangement is subject to general contract provisions. However, this does not mean that the alimony cannot be changed.
Increase and Decrease: In accordance with Articles 176/4 and 331 of the Turkish Civil Code, if the financial circumstances of the parties change or equity so requires, the amount of alimony agreed in the protocol can be increased, decreased, or entirely abolished by the judge (3. Civil Chamber-2016/4646 K, 3. Civil Chamber-2013/18856 K).
Abuse of Right: Requesting a reduction in alimony merely to deviate from the protocol, without the conditions required by law (extraordinary economic changes etc.) having materialized, can be considered an abuse of right (BAM Istanbul 10. Civil Chamber-2017/25 K).
4. Additional Context Obtained from Secondary Sources
Decisions acting as secondary sources provide additional information supporting the principles above:
Waiver and Procedure: Stating in the lawsuit petition that there is no alimony claim is considered a waiver, preventing the court from ruling on alimony ex officio (2. Civil Chamber-2008/2079 ).
Clarity of the Protocol: Failure to clearly specify the type of alimony (poverty/participation) in the protocol can lead to confusion; however, courts generally rule by adhering to the letter of the protocol (3rd Civil Chamber-2015/18556 Decision).
Judge’s Intervention: In some local court practices, even if the parties declare that they do not want alimony, the judge may rule for poverty alimony after conducting a social and economic status investigation; however, this situation can conflict with the parties’ explicit waiver (Silivri Family Court-2020/619 Decision).
Provisional Alimony: It is emphasized that until the consensual divorce case becomes final, the judge should evaluate provisional alimony for the parties’ housing and livelihood, and it can be claimed for the period from the date of the lawsuit until the date of finalization, even if not included in the protocol (2nd Civil Chamber-2014/14277 , 3rd Civil Chamber-2011/18354
Anlaşmalı boşanmada nafaka istemezsem sonradan talep edebilir miyim?
Anlaşmalı boşanma protokolünde yoksulluk nafakasından açıkça feragat edilmesi veya duruşmada nafaka talep edilmediğinin beyan edilmesi halinde, boşanma kesinleştikten sonra sonradan yoksulluk nafakası talep edilmesi mümkün değildir. Yargıtay uygulamasında bu feragat, tarafların serbest iradesiyle kullandığı ve bağlayıcı sonuç doğuran bir hak olarak kabul edilir. Sonradan yoksulluğa düşülmesi dahi bu sonucu değiştirmez. Bu nedenle protokolde yer alan her ifade ileride geri dönüşü olmayan sonuçlar doğurabilir.
Anlaşmalı boşanmada çocuk için nafaka yazılmadıysa tamamen ortadan kalkar mı?
Hayır. Çocuk lehine hükmedilen iştirak nafakası, yoksulluk nafakasından farklı olarak kamu düzenine ilişkindir. Protokolde iştirak nafakasına yer verilmemiş veya taraflar bu haktan feragat etmiş olsa bile, çocuğun ihtiyaçları ve üstün yararı gözetilerek her zaman iştirak nafakası davası açılabilir. Hâkim, çocuğun bakım ve eğitim giderlerini dikkate alarak protokoldeki düzenlemeye müdahale edebilir. Bu nedenle çocukla ilgili nafaka hükümleri kesin ve değiştirilemez nitelikte değildir.
Anlaşmalı boşanmada belirlenen nafaka sonradan değiştirilebilir mi?
Evet. Anlaşmalı boşanma protokolünde belirlenen nafaka miktarı mahkemece onaylanmış olsa bile, tarafların ekonomik durumlarının değişmesi veya hakkaniyetin gerektirdiği hallerde nafakanın artırılması, azaltılması ya da kaldırılması mümkündür. Ancak sırf protokolden dönmek amacıyla, şartlar oluşmadan yapılan değişiklik talepleri hakkın kötüye kullanılması olarak değerlendirilebilir. Bu nedenle nafaka uyarlama davaları ciddi hukuki gerekçelere dayanmalıdır.
Why is Expert Lawyer Support Necessary Regarding Alimony in Consensual Divorce?
Although consensual divorce cases may seem to conclude quickly in practice, they can lead to irreparable loss of rights, especially concerning alimony provisions. In regions with a heavy caseload like Istanbul, Tuzla, Kartal, Pendik, and Gebze, family courts may consider the statements in the protocol as directly binding; and a single sentence can be deemed a permanent waiver of poverty alimony.
In protocols prepared without the support of a divorce lawyer or an uncontested divorce lawyer, general statements like “no alimony request” can lead to serious grievances in the future. Especially, technical issues such as confusing spousal support with child support, the judge’s scope of intervention, and the prohibition of claims after finalization are the areas where mistakes are most frequently made in practice. An article suggestion.
A specialist family law lawyer operating in Istanbul and its surroundings, particularly in the Tuzla, Kartal, Pendik, and Gebze area;
The preparation of the protocol in a clear, unambiguous manner that does not lead to irreversible consequences,
The correct differentiation of alimony types,
The correct determination of the areas where the judge can and cannot intervene,
Ensures that no room is left for future alimony adjustment or child support lawsuits.
At this point, 2M Hukuk Avukatlık Ofisi adopts an approach that focuses not only on finalizing the case but also on eliminating potential future risks for the client in uncontested divorce and alimony arrangements. When an uncontested divorce is not managed with the right legal strategy, it is possible for even the seemingly fastest case to turn into one with the most severe consequences.
