Family Law

Child custody is one of the most contested issues when a marriage breaks down. Child custody laws in India rest on a single overriding principle: the welfare of the child is paramount, and it prevails over the rights and wishes of both parents. This guide explains the legal framework, the types of custody Indian courts grant, the factors judges consider, and the practical process for seeking custody after divorce or separation. The Legal Framework The Guardians and Wards Act,

Learning how to make a valid Will in India is one of the simplest and most important steps in protecting your family's future. A Will lets you decide how your property is distributed after your death, and Indian law sets only a few clear requirements for making one valid. This guide explains who can make a Will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether registration is necessary, when a Will needs probate, and the practical steps that make a Will hard to challenge. Who Can

The Bombay High Court has reaffirmed that a wife can be entitled to maintenance even where the husband claims he personally committed no act of cruelty against her. Deciding a husband's revision petition, Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke of the Nagpur Bench held that ill-treatment within the matrimonial home can justify a wife living separately and claiming maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, even if the husband did not himself commit every act o

A will is a legal declaration of how a person wishes their property to be distributed after death. Making a valid will in India is one of the most effective ways to avoid disputes among heirs, ensure that your assets go to the people you intend, and provide for dependants. The good news is that a will need not be complicated or expensive; what matters is that it meets the legal requirements for validity. This guide explains who can make a will, how it should be drafted and si

The Allahabad High Court in April 2026 denied interim maintenance under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to a doctor-wife whose income tax returns reflected annual earnings exceeding Rs 31 lakh. In Dr. Garima Dubey v. Dr. Saurabh Anand Dubey, the Court held that a highly qualified professional who is capable of earning through her expertise but deliberately refrains from working in order to shift the financial burden onto her spouse is not entitled to maintenance pe

The Hindu Marriage Act 1955 is the foundational legislation governing marriage, divorce, maintenance, and custody for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains in India. Understanding the grounds for divorce, the procedures for separation and dissolution of marriage, spousal maintenance rights, and child custody principles is essential for individuals navigating family disputes. This comprehensive guide covers the statutory grounds for divorce under Section 13, the simplified proce

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 represents one of India's most sweeping business law reforms in recent years. Passed by Parliament in April 2026, this legislation amends 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries. The core principle is transformative: shift from criminal penalties for minor and technical violations to civil and administrative enforcement. If your business operates across multiple sectors, this article explains whi

The Repealing and Amending Act, 2025 introduced landmark reforms to India's succession law, effective January 1, 2026. The most significant change is abolition of mandatory probate for wills in most states, ending a colonial-era requirement that burdened executors and delayed estate distribution for 150 years. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court clarified that mutation is purely administrative and does not constitute title transfer. Together, these reforms modernize inheritance

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, proposes significant changes to how non-governmental organisations in India receive, manage, and account for foreign contributions. The Bill amends the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, and has generated considerable debate due to provisions that expand government oversight over NGO assets funded through foreign donations. For any organisation that relies on or ma

India is preparing to introduce a dedicated regulatory framework for large digital enterprises through the Digital Competition Bill, a landmark piece of proposed legislation that shifts from the traditional ex-post enforcement model to an ex-ante regulation approach. If enacted, the Bill will require designated digital platforms to comply with a set of upfront behavioural obligations before competition harm occurs, rather than waiting for an investigation and adjudication aft

What are the grounds for divorce in India?

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