Family Law
Surname Rules for Spouses and Children
Agreement, notification and current statutory rules governing the surnames of spouses and children in the TRNC.
A surname is part of personal identity
Surname questions are determined by reading the Turkish Community Surname Rule Law No. 16/1974, the Family (Marriage and Divorce) Law No. 1/1998 and their amendments together. Amendments in 2015 and 2019 introduced important choices for spouses after marriage.
Choice by the spouses
Within the options permitted by law, intended spouses may state at the time of marriage which surname they will use. Retaining one’s own surname, selecting one spouse’s surname as the family surname, or an authorised combined form must be considered together with formal notification and registration requirements.
A child’s surname
The surname of a child born within marriage is linked to the spouses’ family-surname choice. For children born outside marriage, the Children Born Outside Marriage Law No. 22/2021 must also be considered. Parentage, joint declarations, custody and civil-status records can affect the result.
Why individual review matters
The date of marriage, earlier surname declarations, a divorce judgment, the child’s date of birth and parentage records may change the applicable rule. Current legislation and official records should be reviewed before applying to amend a civil-status entry.
Sources
Relevant legislation and official sources
Family (Marriage and Divorce) Law No. 1/1998 — consolidated textTRNC Supreme Court Legislation DatabaseThis publication is for general information and does not constitute legal advice on a particular matter. Legislation and case law may change. Seek legal assistance promptly, especially where a court or application deadline may apply.