Family Law Questions
Browse family law questions asked by people across India.
Questions in Family Law are answered with reference to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and Section 125 of the CrPC (now Section 144 of the BNSS, 2023) for maintenance. Each answer states the section that applies, the forum that hears the matter and the limitation period, so the position can be checked against the official text at India Code before you act on it.
The forum depends on the facts rather than the label: a dispute described as a family matter may be heard by a family court, a magistrate or a civil judge depending on whether the relief sought is maintenance, custody, injunction or declaration. Where the law has been renumbered by the 2023 criminal law reforms, answers note both the old and the new section numbers.
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Darbhanga, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Muzaffarpur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Bhagalpur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Gaya, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Patna, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Firozabad, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Gorakhpur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Saharanpur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Moradabad, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Aligarh, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Bareilly, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Allahabad, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Faridabad, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Noida, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Ghaziabad, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Meerut, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Agra, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Varanasi, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Kanpur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Lucknow, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Alwar, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Bikaner, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Ajmer, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Kota, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Udaipur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Jodhpur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Jaipur, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Gandhinagar, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Jamnagar, what legal steps do I take?
I want to challenge a paternity claim in Bhavnagar, what legal steps do I take?
Frequently Asked Questions about Family Law
What is family law in India?
Family law in India governs marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, maintenance, and inheritance. It includes personal laws based on religion (Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim Personal Law, Christian Marriage Act) and secular laws like the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
How much does a family lawyer cost in India?
Family lawyer fees in India range from ₹500 to ₹5,000 per consultation, and ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 for a full case, depending on complexity, city, and the lawyer experience. Mutual consent divorce is typically cheaper than contested divorce.
How long does a divorce take in India?
Mutual consent divorce takes 6 to 7 months (including the 6-month cooling-off period under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act). Contested divorce can take 2 to 5 years depending on the complexity and court backlog.
Can I get maintenance without divorce in India?
Yes. Under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a wife can claim maintenance from her husband without filing for divorce, if she is unable to maintain herself. The amount is decided by the magistrate based on the husband income.
What are the grounds for divorce in India?
Grounds for divorce include cruelty, adultery, desertion for 2+ years, conversion to another religion, mental disorder, communicable disease, and mutual consent. Different personal laws may have additional grounds.