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Marriage Law in India: Before and After Marriage
Plain-language guides to the law around marriage — legal age, court marriage and protection for couples, divorce, maintenance, custody, domestic violence and dowry, and the personal laws of each community — each with its sources.
Before marriage
After marriage
Personal laws
Registering a marriage
Registration, court marriage under the Special Marriage Act and the office and portal in every state are covered in the marriage registration guides.
Questions people ask
Which law governs my marriage?
It depends on religion and on how the marriage was solemnised: the Hindu Marriage Act for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, Muslim personal law, the Christian Marriage Act and Divorce Act, the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, or the Special Marriage Act for anyone who marries under it. Uttarakhand and Goa have their own codes.
Where can I get free legal help?
The District Legal Services Authority in every district gives free legal aid, and women and children qualify whatever their income. Family courts in most cities also offer mediation.
Are these pages legal advice?
No. They explain the law in general terms with sources. For a decision about your own case, speak to a lawyer or the legal services authority.
Compatibility figures are the classical Guna Milan as computed by TrueSaath's free calculator and are offered as a reference, not as advice. Community and place pages describe how TrueSaath works; any member count shown is live and rounded, never a claim.