12.08.2026 12:42
Businessperson N.Y., who filed for divorce against his wife of 20 years after she did not attend his mother's funeral in Ankara, won the legal battle. The divorce decision, in which the court found the female defendant 'fully at fault,' was upheld by the Court of Cassation. Legal experts emphasized that this ruling, based on Article 185 of the Turkish Civil Code, sets a precedent regarding the obligation not to leave a spouse alone 'in good times and bad.'
In Ankara, businessperson N.Y. won a divorce case against S.Y., his wife of 20 years, who did not attend his mother's funeral. The court's decision finding the woman "fully at fault" was also upheld by the Court of Cassation, setting a precedent.
In Ankara, a precedent-setting decision that will be widely discussed in the legal world regarding the fundamental obligations of marital union was made. Businessperson N.Y. (58) filed for divorce against S.Y., his wife of 20 years and the mother of his 2 children, on the grounds that she did not attend the funeral ceremony of his mother, who passed away in 2024.
"SHE LEFT ME ALONE AT WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS"
In the petition, N.Y. recounted his experiences, stating that his wife had not accompanied him at weddings for years and did not attend condolence visits or funerals, and finally, her absence at his own mother's funeral had become an unbearable burden for him. The defendant, S.Y., in her defense, claimed that she loved her husband and that her problem was only with her mother-in-law. S.Y., who alleged that they argued because her mother-in-law came to their home unannounced, stated that her late mother-in-law had told her, "Don't come to either my death or my life," and therefore she did not attend the funeral, requesting that the case be dismissed.
THE COURT FOUND THE WOMAN FULLY AT FAULT
The Ankara Family Court, which ruled on the case, found the defendant woman "fully at fault" due to her faults in the marital union. The decision emphasized that the woman, who did not attend the funeral due to being angered by her mother-in-law's words, was fully at fault in the events leading to the divorce, and that no fault could be proven against the plaintiff husband. The local court's divorce decision was also upheld by the Court of Cassation after the appeal review and became final.
"HER NOT ATTENDING THE FUNERAL WAS THE LAST STRAW"
Evaluating the decision, N.Y.'s lawyer, Senem Yılmazel, noted that there had long been social and cultural differences and bride-mother-in-law tension between the parties. Stating that the funeral incident was the last straw, Yılmazel said: "My client stated that his wife left him alone in good times and bad, did not accompany him at weddings, did not attend funerals, and that not even attending his mother's funeral had become too heavy a burden for him, which is why he wanted to divorce. The opposing party requested the dismissal of the case, but the court did not find this justified. The decision became final after passing through the higher courts."
"LEAVING YOUR SPOUSE ALONE IS GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE"
Drawing attention to the legal aspect and precedent nature of the decision, Lawyer Yılmazel emphasized the mutual obligations of spouses under the Turkish Civil Code: "We can say this is a precedent-setting decision. Here, the issue is not just about a mother or mother-in-law. Not attending the funeral of a sibling or a closest friend is also, when we look at it, a ground for divorce. The main issue is leaving your spouse alone in good times and bad. Article 185 of the Turkish Civil Code states; 'The parties are obliged to be loyal to each other, to live in the same home, and to help each other.' The party who does not attend the funeral has violated this obligation because they did not help their spouse. Therefore, this situation has been accepted as a justified ground for divorce in law."