This law shall be known as the Surname Law and shall come into effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette. All Turkish citizens shall be required to adopt a surname in accordance with the provisions of this law. The surname shall be used in all official documents and records, and shall be the sole means of identification for all legal and administrative purposes. Failure to comply with this provision shall result in penalties as specified in Article 5.
Plain language: The Surname Law requires all Turkish citizens to adopt a last name, which will be used for all official purposes. This law applies to all citizens and is mandatory.
The surname shall be chosen by the individual or their family, and shall be subject to the approval of the relevant authorities. The surname shall not be offensive, nor shall it be a title or honorific. The surname shall be unique and shall not be identical to an existing surname, unless it is a variation of the same surname. The authorities shall maintain a registry of all approved surnames.
Plain language: Turkish citizens can choose their own last name, but it must be approved by the authorities and cannot be offensive or a title.
The surname shall be used in conjunction with the given name, and shall be written in the format 'given name surname'. The use of titles and honorifics, such as 'Bey' or 'Efendi', shall be prohibited. The surname shall be used in all official documents, including but not limited to, identification cards, passports, and birth certificates. The authorities shall ensure that all official documents are updated to reflect the new surname.
Plain language: The last name must be used with the first name, and titles like 'Bey' or 'Efendi' are no longer allowed in official documents.
The change of surname shall be permitted in certain circumstances, such as marriage, divorce, or adoption. The change of surname shall be subject to the approval of the relevant authorities, and shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this law. The individual shall be required to provide proof of the change of circumstances, and shall be subject to the payment of a fee as specified in Article 6.
Plain language: You can change your last name in certain situations like marriage or divorce, but you need to get approval from the authorities and pay a fee.
Any individual who fails to comply with the provisions of this law shall be subject to a fine of up to 100 Turkish Lira. Repeat offenders shall be subject to an increased fine, and may also be subject to imprisonment for a period of up to 6 months. The authorities shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this law, and shall take all necessary measures to ensure compliance. The fines and penalties shall be used to fund the administration of this law.
Plain language: If you don't follow the Surname Law, you can be fined or even go to jail, and the authorities will make sure everyone follows the rules.