UK decree absolute / final order translation into Turkish

Which court paper you need

Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force in April 2022, a divorce in England and Wales ends with a final order made by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS); before that date the same document was called a decree absolute. Both are one or two pages: the case number, the court (usually the Family Court at a named centre or the online Divorce Service), the names of applicant and respondent, the date of the marriage, the date the conditional order or decree nisi was made and the date the marriage was dissolved, with the court seal. Dissolution of a civil partnership produces an equivalent final order. Scotland issues an extract decree of divorce from the sheriff court or Court of Session.

Turkish bodies need the document that proves the marriage has ended and that the decision is final. The conditional order or decree nisi is not enough. If the receiving office also wants the reasoning, financial remedy order or child arrangements order, those are separate documents and are priced by their length.

Article 27/A: recording the divorce without a Turkish court case

Under Article 27/A of the Population Services Law (Nüfus Hizmetleri Kanunu), in force since 2018, a foreign divorce can be entered in the Turkish family register by application rather than through a recognition lawsuit. The consulate notes set out three conditions for the decree: it must carry a note of finality, it must carry an apostille, and it must be accompanied by a Turkish translation. Both former spouses apply, in person or through a representative; if they cannot attend together, the two applications must be made within ninety days of each other. Our page on registering a UK divorce in Türkiye under Article 27/A walks through the appointment.

One point on the translation: the London and other consulates ask for a translation from a translator on their own register, which we are not. If you apply at the consulate, use a translator from that list. If you apply at a nüfus müdürlüğü in Türkiye, or if the consulate refers you to the courts, a translation notarised in Ankara is the form those bodies expect.

When 27/A does not apply: tanıma

The registry can refuse a 27/A application, for example where one spouse will not cooperate, where the decree was made in default, or where the grounds conflict with Turkish public policy. The divorce is then recognised by a Turkish family court under Law 5718 (tanıma, or tenfiz where enforcement of a financial or custody term is also sought). The court file needs the apostilled decree, its notarised Turkish translation and a power of attorney for the Turkish lawyer. Read recognition and enforcement of UK judgments in Türkiye.

Apostille and translation in the right order

A final order is a court document, so the FCDO can apostille it electronically; the e-Apostille costs £35 and usually takes up to two working days, and a PDF final order downloaded from the online divorce portal is well suited to it. The paper apostille (£45, up to 25 working days) is the alternative. We do not obtain FCDO apostilles from Ankara, but a UK partner can order one for the FCDO fee plus £20 handling.

Only after the apostille is attached do we translate, because the apostille certificate must be translated as part of the same document. The notary-sworn translator signs before an Ankara notary; the notary's certificate is attached to a copy of the apostilled order. If the court or nüfus office wants the translation legalised too, we apostille the notarial certificate at the kaymakamlık for £15.

What it costs

A decree absolute or final order with its apostille is 1 to 2 pages of 1,000 characters: £6.50 to £13.00 for the translation, plus the Ankara notary tariff at about £13.50 per page and £5 handling. A full judgment with a financial order runs to 4 to 10 pages, £26 to £65 before notarisation. No UK VAT is charged. Standard turnaround is 1 to 2 working days for the translation and a day for the notary; the fast option halves the translation time for 60 per cent more. The scan comes by e-mail; the wet-sealed original, which the nüfus office or court keeps, travels by courier for £30 to the UK or to your lawyer in Türkiye. We cannot offer collection in the UK.