Turkey's Constitutional Court to review indefinite alimony provision

Turkey's Constitutional Court is set to review a request to repeal the provision for indefinite alimony payments for divorced spouses. The General Assembly of the court will hear the case and make a decision on the matter, which has significant implications for family law in the country.

The case was brought before the Constitutional Court by the Antalya 12th Family Court in 2025. The court argued that the indefinite nature of poverty alimony, as stipulated in Article 175 of the Turkish Civil Code (Law No. 4721), is unconstitutional. The court's application seeks the annulment of this provision.

Article 175 of the Turkish Civil Code, titled "poverty alimony," states: "The party who falls into poverty due to divorce may claim alimony from the other party in proportion to their financial capacity, indefinitely, provided that their fault is not greater. The fault of the alimony obligor is not sought."

The Constitutional Court has the option to decide on the annulment of the relevant provision, reject the request for annulment, or postpone the decision. The outcome of this review will determine the future of alimony payments in Turkey, potentially altering financial arrangements for many divorced individuals.