Family Law
Your rights in marriage, divorce, child custody, maintenance, inheritance, domestic violence, and senior citizen welfare under Indian central law.
Marriage Rights
Marriage in India is governed by personal laws based on religion, or by the secular Special Marriage Act for inter-faith or non-religious marriages.Hindu marriages (HMA, 1955): Apply to Hindus, Buddhi...
Divorce Rights
Divorce under Indian personal law can be sought on fault grounds or by mutual consent.Fault-based divorce (HMA s. 13): Grounds include adultery, cruelty, desertion (2+ years), conversion to another re...
Child Custody Rights
In India, child custody decisions are guided by the paramount principle of the welfare and best interests of the child, not the rights of parents.Legal framework: The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 app...
Maintenance and Alimony
Indian law allows spouses, children, and parents to claim maintenance from the person liable for their support.Section 144 BNSS (formerly s. 125 CrPC): This is the most accessible remedy — available t...
Inheritance and Succession Rights
Succession law in India is personal-law dependent — Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, and others follow different rules.Hindu succession (HSA, 1956 as amended 2005): Daughters have equal rights as...
Protection from Domestic Violence
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) provides comprehensive civil protection — not just criminal prosecution — to women subjected to domestic violence.Who can apply: Any wo...
Adoption Rights
India has two separate legal frameworks for adoption depending on the religion of the adoptive parent(s).HAMA, 1956 (Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs): Adoption by Hindus is governed by the HAMA. A Hin...
Senior Citizens' Rights
The MWPSCA, 2007 creates a fast-track, low-cost system for senior citizens to obtain maintenance from their children or relatives.Who can claim: Any parent or grandparent (senior citizen aged 60+) who...