Marriage is one of the most important turning points in our lives. On this special day, many details are considered, planned and waited with excitement. One of these details is the change of surname. According to the Turkish Civil Code, a woman who gets married automatically takes her husband’s surname.
However, today, many women prefer the right to use their maiden name after marriage. This right was granted to women with the legal amendment made in 2014.
In this blog post, we will give detailed information about the right to use your maiden name.
Legal Basis for the Right to Use Maiden Surname
Before 2014, according to Article 187 of the Turkish Civil Code, a woman who got married automatically took her husband’s surname. This situation led to a disconnection in many women’s sense of identity and family ties.
However, with the amendment made in 2014, the following phrase was added to the article:
“A woman takes her husband’s surname upon marriage; however, she can also use her previous surname in front of her husband’s surname upon written application to the marriage officer or later to the civil registry office.”
With this change, women who marry now have the following two options:
Using the spouse’s surname alone: This is the most common option. After marriage, a woman may choose to use only her husband’s surname.
Using her maiden name before her husband’s surname: In this option, the woman can also use her own surname in front of her husband’s surname. For example, if Ayşe Yılmaz marries Ahmet Öztürk after marriage, she will be known as Ayşe Yılmaz Öztürk.
Advantages of Using Your Maiden Surname
There are many advantages to using your maiden name. Some of these are those:
Strengthening the perception of identity: Using one’s own surname can help a woman strengthen her perception of identity and increase her self-confidence.
Maintaining family ties: Using a maiden name can help a woman maintain ties with her paternal family.
Protecting professional identity: Especially for women with a well-known name, using their maiden name can help protect their professional identity.
Contribution to gender equality: Having the option to use a maiden name contributes to gender equality and strengthens the position of women in the family.
Disadvantages of Using Your Maiden Surname
There are some disadvantages to using your maiden name. Some of these are those:
Bureaucratic procedures: In order to use your maiden name, it is necessary to complete some bureaucratic procedures. These processes can be time-consuming and confusing.
Integration problems: Integration problems may occur, especially if there is a disagreement with the spouse and family about the surname.
Identity confusion in children: Having different surnames in children may cause identity confusion in children.
How to Make the Decision to Use Your Maiden Surname?
The decision to use your maiden name is a personal decision. When making this decision, it is important to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages mentioned above.
Here are some questions to help you decide:
How much do I care about my own surname?
How important are my connections with my family to me?
How important is it to use my maiden name for my professional identity?
What do my wife and family think about this?
Am I ready to go through the red tape?
How might having a different last name affect my children?