What Is a Name Change Lawsuit?
A name change lawsuit is a legal process that allows a person to change their first name or surname in Turkey. Under Article 27 of the Turkish Civil Code, a person can ask a court to change their name if they have a valid reason.
For example, you may want to change your name because people have always known you by a different name, your current name causes embarrassment, or it creates problems in your daily life.
The law does not list every possible reason for changing a name. The court looks at the reasons for the request and the evidence provided.
What Are Valid Reasons for Changing Your Name?
To change your name through the courts, you must explain why you want the change. Simply saying that you do not like your name may not be enough. You should explain how your current name affects your life.
The following reasons may support a name change request;
- Your name is embarrassing or offensive. Your name may expose you to jokes, insults or humiliation.
- You are known by another name. Your family, friends or colleagues may have called you by a different name for many years.
- Your name is difficult to pronounce. Your name may cause repeated problems in everyday or professional situations.
- You have professional or artistic reasons. You may have used another name consistently in your professional or public life.
- Your name differs from the name you use abroad. The difference between your Turkish records and foreign documents may create difficulties with official procedures.
Which Court Handles Name Change Cases in Turkey?
Name change lawsuits are generally filed with the Civil Court of First Instance (Asliye Hukuk Mahkemesi). In most cases, the relevant court is determined by the applicant’s place of residence in Turkey.
If you appoint a lawyer to handle the case, your power of attorney must include the specific authority required for a lawsuit involving personal rights.
Can Turkish Citizens Living Abroad Change Their Names in Turkey?
Yes. Turkish citizens living abroad can apply to change their names through the Turkish legal system.
Article 41 of Law No. 5718 on Private International Law and International Civil Procedure contains special rules for determining which Turkish court can hear cases involving the personal status of Turkish citizens.
Depending on the circumstances, the relevant court may be determined by looking at:
- The person’s place of residence in Turkey, where applicable.
- Their last place of residence in Turkey.
- If neither can be established, a court in Ankara, Istanbul or Izmir, subject to the legal requirements.
Therefore, not having a current address in Türkiye does not automatically prevent you from filing a name change lawsuit. However, the correct court must be identified under the applicable legal rules.
How Do You File a Name Change Lawsuit?
The process generally involves the following steps.
Step 1: Choose your new name.
Decide which first name or surname you want to use and check that your request is clearly stated.
Step 2: Explain why you want to change your name.
You must explain the problems caused by your current name and why you want to use the new one.
Step 3: Prepare supporting evidence.
Depending on your reasons, useful evidence may include witness statements, employment records, educational records or official documents showing the name you regularly use.
Step 4: Prepare the application.
The statement of claim must explain your request, the reasons for the change and the evidence supporting your case.
Step 5: File the lawsuit.
The application is submitted to the competent Civil Court of First Instance. The required court fees and litigation expenses must be paid.
Step 6: Attend the proceedings and receive the decision.
The court reviews the case and decides whether to approve or reject the request. If the case is handled by a lawyer, the lawyer can represent you within the authority granted in the power of attorney.
How Much Does a Name Change Lawsuit Cost in 2026?
The cost depends on the court fees, litigation expenses and whether you hire a lawyer. According to the 2026 fee figures cited for this procedure, the main court fees are:
- Court Filing Fee: 732 TL
- Fixed Judgement Fee: 732 TL
- In addition, witness fees, advance payments for expenses, and service-of-process costs also vary depending on the scope of the case.
These amounts cover only the two fees listed above. Other expenses may apply, including service-of-process costs, witness expenses and the advance for litigation expenses. If you hire a lawyer, legal fees are separate from court fees.
For this reason, TRY 1,464 should not be treated as the total cost of the entire case.
What Documents Do You Need for a Name Change Lawsuit?
The documents depend on why you want to change your name. Commonly relevant documents and evidence may include:
- Your identity details and civil registry information.
- A statement of claim explaining the requested change.
- Witnesses who can confirm that you are known by another name.
- Written evidence showing the problems caused by your current name.
- Employment, educational or social records supporting your request.
- Official foreign documents if you use a different name abroad.
How Long Does a Name Change Lawsuit Take?
There is no fixed legal deadline requiring every name change lawsuit to finish within a certain number of months. As a practical estimate, a straightforward case may take approximately 2–4 months for a first-instance court decision.
The process may take longer if the court needs to hear additional witnesses, arrange further hearings or obtain more documents. In such cases, the proceedings may extend to around six months or more.
An appeal can extend the total process further. These timeframes are estimates, not guaranteed deadlines. It is also important to distinguish between the court issuing its decision and the name change being fully completed. The decision may need to become final before the civil registry is updated.
Can You Change Your Name Through e-Devlet?
In general, you cannot use e-Devlet to change any name you choose simply by submitting an online request.
A temporary rule introduced in 2019 allowed certain names and surnames to be corrected through an administrative procedure without a court decision. It covered limited cases, such as certain spelling errors and names considered ridiculous by society.
However, this was a temporary arrangement, and the application period has ended.
If you want to change your name today, you should generally expect to apply to the court unless your situation falls under a separate legal procedure.
Frequently Asked Question
As of 2026, the general rule is that a change of first name or surname based on valid grounds must be requested through the courts. The temporary administrative procedure previously available for certain specific cases was time-limited.
Surname changes may also fall under the name change provisions of Article 27 of the Turkish Civil Code. However, different legal rules may apply to specific situations involving marriage, divorce, children’s surnames or parentage.
Following the amendment dated 14 November 2024, name change decisions are required to be published on the announcement portal of the Press Advertisement Agency (Basın İlan Kurumu). Therefore, the publication requirement must also be taken into account when considering a name change lawsuit.
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