Spousal Maintenance After Divorce in Turkey (2026)

Updated 8 July 2026 · By Bayraktar Attorneys

Quick answer: After a Turkish divorce, a spouse who would face hardship, and who is not more at fault, may receive ongoing support known as poverty alimony. It is not automatic; it must be requested. It ends on remarriage, on a relationship equivalent to marriage, when the need ends, or on death.

Spousal maintenance, called poverty alimony in Turkish practice, is support paid by one former spouse to the other after divorce. It is one of the four types of alimony, and it often causes the most anxiety because it can continue for a long time. Here is how it actually works.

Who Qualifies

The claiming spouse must show that the divorce would leave them in financial hardship, and they must not carry greater fault for the marriage ending. The idea is to prevent poverty, not to keep both parties at the same standard of living. A spouse with a comfortable income of their own is unlikely to receive it.

How the Amount Is Set

There is no fixed formula. The court weighs the claiming spouse's need against the paying spouse's means, along with the standard of living during the marriage. Clear evidence of income and expenses is decisive. Maintenance is decided together with the division of property, and a strong property outcome can reduce a maintenance claim.

When It Ends or Changes

The receiving spouse remarries or lives in a relationship equivalent to marriage.
The financial need no longer exists.
Either party dies.

Beyond these, either side can return to court to increase or reduce the amount if circumstances shift in a real way.

Key Points

Poverty alimony targets hardship, not equal living standards.
It must be requested and justified; it is never automatic.
It ends on remarriage, on loss of need, or on death.
Amounts can be revised, and a lump-sum option exists.

Lump Sum and Clean Break

Some couples prefer to settle maintenance as a single payment for a clean break, which a court can approve. This is often paired with a clear settlement on property. If you agreed terms in advance, a prenuptial agreement may also shape the outcome, though it cannot remove protections the law treats as mandatory.

Facing a maintenance claim, or making one?

Bayraktar Attorneys advises foreign clients on spousal maintenance in Turkey, in English.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who can claim spousal maintenance in Turkey?

A spouse who would fall into financial hardship because of the divorce, and who is not more at fault for the breakdown, can claim ongoing support from the other spouse. It is known as poverty alimony.

Is spousal maintenance automatic?

No. It must be requested and justified. The court looks at need, fault and each party's means before deciding whether to award it and how much.

When does spousal maintenance end?

It ends if the receiving spouse remarries or lives as if married, if the need disappears, or on the death of either party. Either side can also ask the court to change the amount if circumstances change.

Can it be paid as a lump sum?

Yes. By agreement or court decision, maintenance can be paid in a single lump sum instead of monthly payments, which some couples prefer for a clean break.