Attention married couples: Stinginess is considered a major fault

Stating that the grounds for terminating a marriage are divided into two categories, general and specific, Lawyer Nimet Türe explained that there are many umbrella topics under the breakdown of a marriage, one of which is economic abuse.

Expressing that one spouse exhibiting stingy behavior is considered a major fault during the divorce process, Türe said, "Economic abuse often manifests between parties as not buying household appliances, turning down the natural gas thermostat in winter, or not providing the spouse with sufficient allowance and canceling their credit card. As we see in all current rulings by the Court of Cassation, exhibiting excessively stingy behavior that puts the other party in economic distress and amounts to economic abuse within the marriage leads to the party committing this act being characterized as at fault during the divorce trial. In all rulings reflected by the Court of Cassation after 2020, it is seen that a spouse who exhibits excessively stingy behavior toward their partner is evaluated as being at major fault in the divorce and rulings are reached accordingly."

'STINGY BEHAVIOR CAN BE GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE'

Reporting on a case reflected in a precedent ruling by the Court of Cassation where a husband turned off the natural gas and forced his wife to cook with a camping stove, Türe stated, "In winter, he similarly turned off the natural gas, putting his wife in a difficult position regarding heating. Such situations create both emotional and economic abuse. In the ruling issued by the 8th Civil Chamber, the spouse was considered at major fault in the divorce, and the court not only ordered the husband to pay material and moral compensation but also ruled on a compensation for loss of support based on a market rate that had not been previously considered, ensuring the spouse receives the financial support they could not access during the marriage. A spouse who files for divorce based on the breakdown of the marriage and claims to have suffered economic abuse can prove that they have been subjected to economic abuse by having this situation verified through witnesses or by having an expert assess the conditions within the home, thereby gaining the right to compensation and alimony. This is a right granted to both parties. We advise parties to pay attention to their witnesses and other expert assessment situations in this regard," she said.