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.
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Udaipur for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Jodhpur for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Jaipur for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Gandhinagar for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Jamnagar for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Bhavnagar for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Rajkot for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Vadodara for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Surat for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Ahmedabad for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Kurnool for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Tirupati for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Guntur for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Vijayawada for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Visakhapatnam for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Karimnagar for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Nizamabad for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Warangal for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Secunderabad for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Hyderabad for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Dindigul for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Thoothukudi for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Erode for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Vellore for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Tirunelveli for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Salem for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Tiruchirappalli for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Madurai for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Coimbatore for inter-country adoption?
How do I adopt a child through CARA in Chennai for inter-country adoption?
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.