Divorce and family court lawyer in Bangalore

A difficult conversation, handled privately

Most people who come to us about a divorce have thought about it for a long time before they call. Some have already agreed with their spouse. Some have not spoken in months. Either way, the first meeting is just a conversation. You tell us what has happened, we tell you what the law allows and what the process looks like in a Bengaluru family court.

What you tell us stays with us. Advocates are bound by professional confidentiality, and we take that seriously.

Mutual consent divorce

When both of you agree, a mutual divorce is the quickest and least painful way out. Under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act (and similar provisions for marriages under the Special Marriage Act and the Divorce Act), you file a joint petition after living separately for at least a year.

The petition records what you have agreed on:

• permanent alimony or a one-time settlement, if any
• return of jewellery, stridhan and household articles
• custody of children and the visiting schedule
• withdrawal of any pending cases between you

The law has a six-month gap between the first and second motion. In some cases the court can waive it. Our article on whether you can get a mutual divorce in 3 months explains when.

Most mutual divorce cases need you in court only on a few dates.

Contested divorce

When one side does not agree, the petition has to prove a ground recognised by law: cruelty, desertion for two years, adultery, conversion, mental disorder and a few others. Contested cases take longer, involve evidence and cross-examination, and usually go through mediation first. We prepare you for each stage so nothing in court comes as a surprise.

Maintenance, custody and domestic violence

• Maintenance for a wife, children or parents under Section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (earlier Section 125 CrPC) and under the personal laws
• Child custody and visitation under the Guardians and Wards Act and the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act. The court decides on the child’s welfare, not on who wins the divorce.
• Domestic violence cases under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, for residence, protection and monetary orders
• Restitution of conjugal rights, judicial separation, and annulment

Questions people ask

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Bangalore?

A mutual consent case costs much less than a contested one, because there are fewer hearings and no trial. We give you a written fee for the whole case after the first meeting. See divorce lawyer fees in Bangalore for how fees are usually structured.

Do both of us have to come to court?

For a mutual divorce, both spouses generally have to appear on the first and second motion dates. If one of you lives abroad, courts have allowed appearance by video in some cases. We will tell you what your court currently permits.

Which court will hear my case?

Usually the family court where the marriage took place, where you last lived together, or in some cases where the wife now lives. Bengaluru has several family courts. We file where the law and your convenience both point.