This is the English version of a Turkish article. The original, with further detail and linked petition templates, is at Ad ve Soyadı Değiştirme Davası.
A forename or surname can be changed by court order where there is good cause (Article 27 of the Civil Code). The claim goes to the civil court of first instance at the person's place of residence, with the population registry as a party. For material corrections such as a spelling error or a missing letter no proceedings are needed: an administrative application to the registry is enough.
Your name causes difficulty in pronunciation, nobody knows you by the name in the register, or your surname puts you in a difficult position.
The Civil Code provides a route. This article covers what counts as “good cause” and how the process works.
The Legal Basis
Article 27: a change of name may be sought from the judge only on good cause.
The change is recorded in the population register and published. A change of name does not change civil status: rights and obligations continue exactly as before.
Anyone prejudiced by the change may bring proceedings to have the decision set aside within one year of learning of it.
The court is the civil court of first instance, the venue is the claimant's place of residence, and the population registry is named as defendant.
The Grounds Accepted
- Being known by another name. The registered name is never used — the ground most often accepted.
- A name that is ridiculous, unpleasant or a subject of mockery.
- Difficulty of pronunciation or spelling.
- Religious or cultural reasons.
- Confusion caused by the same combination of names, particularly in criminal record and enforcement files.
- Family reasons: not wanting to bear the surname of a father who abandoned the family or has a criminal conviction.
- Professional reasons: being known by another name in art or in a profession.
The judge's discretion is wide. What decides it is whether the ground is concrete and documented.
The evidence to put in: witness statements, documents showing the name used in daily life (diplomas, employment records, social media, bank records), and documents showing the confusion in criminal record or enforcement files.
How the Process Works
The claim is brought against the population registry. The court may make enquiries through the police and hears witnesses.
Once the judgment is final it is entered in the register and published.
What must then be updated: the identity card, passport, driving licence, land registry records, social security records, bank accounts, diplomas and certificates, contracts and commercial registry entries.
Note: a change of name does not extinguish debts. The person is the same, so existing rights and obligations continue.
A change may also affect the surname of the person's descendants, and the children's records may need updating too.
| Request | Forum | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Change of forename or surname | Civil court of first instance | Civil Code, Art. 27 |
| Correcting a spelling or letter error | The population registry (administrative) | Act no. 5490 |
| A divorced woman keeping her former surname | Family court | Art. 173 |
| Changing a child's surname | Family court | Arts. 27 and 321 |
| A married woman using her own surname alone | Registry / family court | Art. 187 and case law |
Choosing the wrong forum costs months: a spelling correction taken to court, or a name change taken to the registry, is simply refused.
The judge's discretion is wide, and what decides these cases is whether the ground is concrete and documented: witnesses, and records showing the name you actually use. And check the forum first — a spelling error belongs at the registry, not in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a court order for a spelling mistake?
No. Material corrections such as a spelling error or a missing letter are dealt with by an administrative application to the population registry.
What evidence should I put in?
Witness statements and documents showing the name you actually use — diplomas, employment records, bank records — and any records showing confusion with another person.
Can someone challenge my change of name?
Yes. Anyone prejudiced by it may bring proceedings to have the decision set aside within one year of learning of it.
What about a surname after divorce?
A divorced woman takes back her previous surname as a rule; keeping the former husband's surname is a separate application to the family court under Article 173.
Can a child's surname be changed?
Yes, through the family court under Articles 27 and 321, on good cause and in the child's interests.