Eligibility According to the 1917 Ottoman Decree of Family Law, the minimum legal age of marriage is eighteen years old for boys and seventeen years old for girls. This stipulation contradicts the
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Islamic law, which states that the age of consent is fifteen for girls. Familial consent is not required for men and women of marriageable age to enter into a marriage contract, however, the Decree of Family Law also stipulates that a judge will only permit a woman to marry if there are no legitimate objections from her guardians. The law also specifies an age range for puberty, with children below the threshold being considered minors and not being eligible for marriage, even with the consent of their guardian. People who are deemed mentally ill are also prohibited from marriage and cannot be married by their guardians.
Administration Following the promulgation of the Decree of Family Law, all marriages had to be registered with the national Population Registry. Matrimony was required to be performed in court so that it could be reported to the Registry, an uncommon practice prior this new regulation. In a report from the Ottoman Council of Ministers dated 27 April 1887, it was decided that a special committee under the direction of the Governorship of Istanbul was to conduct investigations before matrimony. It is unclear what the procedure was for these investigations, but it is thought that Islamic law's requirements for marriage may have provided their basis. == Divorce ==