A grandfather may be able to adopt his grandchild if the statutory requirements are met and the court finds the circumstances appropriate. The family relationship does not itself establish a right to an adoption order. The grandchild’s status as a minor or an adult, the history of care, the required consents and the court’s inquiry all matter. This guide explains the general framework under the Turkish Civil Code.

Sources checked: · Türkçe okuyun

What conditions apply to a minor grandchild?

The adoption must benefit the child. It must also avoid unfairly harming the interests of the adopter’s other children. The main requirements can be summarised as follows:

  • Care and education: The prospective adopter must have cared for and educated the child for one year. The grandparent–grandchild relationship alone does not satisfy this requirement. Civil Code, Article 305.
  • Age difference and the child’s consent: The adopter must be at least 18 years older than the adoptee. A minor capable of discernment must consent. A child under guardianship also requires the permission of the guardianship authorities. Article 308.
  • Parental consent: As a rule, the child’s mother and father must consent, with their consent declared before a court and recorded. Articles 311–312 govern the exceptions and the decision to dispense with consent. A parent’s residence abroad does not, by itself, establish that these requirements are met. Articles 309–312.
  • The adopter’s marital status: Joint adoption by spouses is the general rule. They must have been married for at least five years or both have reached the age of 30. An unmarried person aged 30 or over may adopt alone. Adoption by one married spouse alone is subject to the special conditions in Article 307. Articles 306–307.

These rules do not mean that every applicant must have been married for more than five years, or that a parent’s inability to provide care guarantees approval. Care, consent and the child’s interests must be considered together. The Ministry’s explanation of the legal conditions also summarises these distinctions.

What if the grandchild is an adult or under legal restriction?

The adoption of an adult or a person under legal restriction (kısıtlı) is subject to different conditions. Article 313 requires the explicit consent of the adopter’s descendants. In addition, one of the following situations must apply:

  1. The prospective adoptee needs continuing assistance because of a physical or mental disability and has been cared for by the adopter for at least five years.
  2. The adopter cared for, supervised and educated the prospective adoptee for at least five years during childhood.
  3. There are other justified reasons, and the prospective adoptee has lived with the adopter as a family for at least five years.

If the prospective adoptee is married, their spouse’s consent is also required. The rules for the adoption of minors otherwise apply by analogy. The statement that a grandparent raised the person is therefore not enough, on its own, to establish that all requirements are satisfied.

What does the court examine?

The adoption relationship is established by a court order. Family courts deal with these matters; where there is no family court, a designated civil court of first instance performs that role. Article 315 identifies the court where the adopter resides, or where either spouse resides in a joint adoption. Civil Code, Article 315; Law No. 4787, Articles 2 and 4.

The court hears the adopter and prospective adoptee and investigates their personalities and health, their relationship, economic circumstances, ability to provide education, reasons for adoption and the development of the care relationship. Expert opinions may be obtained when needed. If the adopter has descendants, their views are considered too. The documents and inquiry depend on the circumstances; a standard checklist does not guarantee approval. Article 316.

How does adoption affect inheritance and biological family ties?

Adoption does not sever every legal tie with the biological family. Parental rights and obligations pass to the adopter, while the Code also provides for links between the original and adoptive family registers to be maintained. The adoptee becomes an heir of the adopter. Article 314.

The adoptee and their descendants inherit from the adopter as blood relatives, and the adoptee retains inheritance rights in their own family. Adoption alone does not create a reciprocal right for the adopter or the adopter’s relatives to inherit from the adoptee. Any existing blood relationship between grandfather and grandchild must be considered separately. A particular inheritance share cannot be calculated without examining the family structure and other heirs. Article 500.

This is general information. An individual case depends on age, care history, consents and family relationships. This English guide is an explanatory translation, not an official translation of Turkish legislation. Additional rules for adoption involving another country fall outside its scope.

Official sources and review date

The sources used for this guide were checked on 29 September 2026. This date does not indicate that an individual case has been legally assessed. Read about the guide’s editorial approach.

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