My husband and I have been married for a decade, and we have a six-year-old child. We’re considering a mutual divorce. Can we start the legal process right away, or do we need to be separated for a year first? I’m hoping for some guidance on this.

In India, there’s no mandatory separation period for a mutual divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act. You can file for divorce by mutual consent immediately. However, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’ve lived separately for at least a year and have reached a settlement regarding custody, alimony, and property division.