Precedent-setting ruling from the Court of Cassation: It is now considered grounds for divorce!

The Court of Cassation has ruled that a husband who sells the family car without consulting his wife during the marriage is at fault, deeming it grounds for divorce.

According to a report by Özge Eğrikar from Hürriyet, a woman filed for divorce, alleging that her husband was irresponsible, failed to provide for her and their child, consumed alcohol excessively, cashed in her gold bracelets, and sold the car without asking her. The family court found the defendant husband at fault and ruled for the couple's divorce due to the 'irretrievable breakdown of the marital union.' The court granted custody of the child to the mother and ordered the father to pay 350 Turkish Lira in monthly child support, as well as 20,000 Turkish Lira to his ex-wife as compensation for her jewelry.

The defendant husband appealed the local court's decision and took the case to the Court of Cassation. The husband argued that it was his wife, not him, who failed to fulfill financial obligations during the marriage, and claimed that she played with his masculine pride by constantly saying, 'your money is your money, my money is my money,' requesting that the local court's decision be overturned. The 2nd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation reviewed the request and upheld the local court's decision.

Commenting on the ruling, Istanbul Bar Association lawyer Dilek Yüksel stated, 'Selling a car without consulting one's spouse while the marital union is ongoing is an act of economic violence regarding the management of the marriage. Furthermore, selling the vehicle without informing the spouse is a behavior that undermines trust. Based on this, a divorce case can be filed due to the irretrievable breakdown of the marital union.'