Engagement and marriage institutions are regulated in family law for people who want to unite their lives in Turkey.
Engagement in Turkey is when two people, a man and a woman, mutually promise to marry each other in the future and explain their intentions to each other in this regard. There is no need for any formal conditions or ceremony for the couple to be considered engaged, a statement of will in this direction is sufficient.
Engagement does not give the right to sue to force marriage. If one of the fiancées breaks the engagement without a just cause or the engagement is broken for a reason that can be attributed to one of the parties, the faulty party is obliged to give the other an appropriate compensation in accordance with good faith and in return for the expenses made for the purpose of marriage and the material sacrifices he/she has endured. The same rule applies to engagement expenses. In addition, non-pecuniary damages may be requested if the personal rights have been damaged due to the breaking of the engagement. If the engagement is terminated for a reason other than marriage, the unusual gifts given to the other fiancée may be demanded back.
If at least one of the couples is a foreigner, the law applicable to this situation will be determined according to article 12 of MÖHUK numbered 5718. The common national law of the parties, and if the parties are citizens of different countries, Turkish law is applied to the requests and results regarding the relationship between the parties.
What are the Consequences of Living Together Without a Marriage Union or Engagement in Turkey?
In Turkey, other than the concept of marriage and engagement, other institutions in some European countries such as joint partnership or registered partnership are not regulated.
In the decisions of the Supreme Court, the fact that the parties live together without the intention of marriage is not even considered as engagement.
Are There Any Consequences of Living with Only Religious Marriage?
Couples can marry religiously while living or residing in a country where religious marriage is compulsory or valid. In this context, marriage made with a religious ceremony is also valid according to Turkish law. However, in terms of marriages made in Turkey, it is valid in Turkish law if the marriage is made in an official way. For this reason, a marriage made in Turkey with a religious wedding or a similar ceremony cannot be officially connected as a result of marriage.