India: Family and Matrimonial

In a landmark ruling dated April 1, 2026 (2026 INSC 306), the Supreme Court of India upended years of lower court decisions, allowing a minor’s application to set aside an ex parte succession certificate.

A Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) is a unique legal institution recognised under Hindu personal law, arising from the joint status of a family, rather than any formal act of creation. It is ordinarily constituted of every person lineally descended from a common ancestor, together with their wives, sons, and unmarried daughters. Within this structure, a coparcener refers to a member who acquires an interest in joint family property by birth and has the right to seek partition.

The intersection of personal laws and statutory remedies presents persistent jurisdictional challenges in Indian family law. The Allahabad High Court addressed these complexities in Smt. Rizwana...

The intersection of digital communication and matrimonial law has increasingly demanded judicial attention in contemporary India. As smartphones become ubiquitous and instant messaging platforms...

In civil disputes, a decree is the formal adjudication by courts which conclusively determines the rights of parties pertaining to the issues involved in the suit.

In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court, in Neha Lal v. Abhishek Kumar , dealt with irretrievable breakdown of marriage and the Court's power under Article 142 of the Constitution of India to grant divorce without mutual consent.

In Dorairaj v. Doraisamy (Dead) through LRs & Ors.1, the Supreme Court revisited the principles governing classification of property under Hindu law, particularly where acquisitions are made in the name of the Karta of a joint Hindu family.

Estate planning in India often proceeds on the assumption that family assets are held by the primary earning member, typically the husband, and that the surviving spouse Will automatically be protected...

For most individuals, a simple Will suffices to outline how assets should be distributed. But for high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), wealth is rarely straightforward.