I’m going through a difficult time with my husband and am staying at home with our 8-month-old daughter. I’m wondering how long it takes to get alimony in India, and what the laws are regarding it.

In India, alimony, referred to as ‘maintenance’, can be granted during a divorce or separation proceeding. The duration for obtaining alimony varies depending on the complexity of the case, court proceedings, and factors like the wife’s financial situation and the husband’s ability to pay. The law, under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure, allows for interim maintenance to be granted while the case is pending, and permanent alimony after the divorce is finalized.