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What is Mutual Consent Divorce?

17-Apr-2024
Divorce

Answer By law4u team

Mutual Consent Divorce is a type of divorce in Indian law where both parties, i.e., the husband and wife, agree to end their marriage amicably. Here are some key points about Mutual Consent Divorce: Agreement: Both spouses must agree to the divorce and the terms of the divorce settlement, including issues such as child custody, alimony, division of property, etc. Petition: A joint petition for divorce is filed by both parties before the appropriate family court. The petition should include details about the marriage, the agreement for divorce, and the terms of settlement. Six-Month Waiting Period: After filing the joint petition, there is a mandatory cooling-off period of six months. This period is provided to give the spouses time to reconsider their decision and reconcile if possible. Second Motion: After the cooling-off period, both parties must appear before the court again and confirm their consent for the divorce. This second motion is necessary to finalize the divorce proceedings. Settlement Agreement: Along with the joint petition, the spouses must submit a settlement agreement detailing how they have agreed to settle issues such as child custody, maintenance, division of assets, etc. No Contest: In a Mutual Consent Divorce, neither party contests the divorce petition. Both spouses cooperate throughout the process, making it a smoother and less contentious procedure compared to other types of divorce. Final Decree: Once the court is satisfied that all legal requirements have been met and both parties are willing to divorce by mutual consent, it issues a final decree of divorce, officially ending the marriage. It's important to note that Mutual Consent Divorce is governed by the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and similar laws for other communities such as the Special Marriage Act, 1954. These laws outline the procedures and requirements for obtaining a mutual consent divorce in India.

Answer By Anik

Dear Client, A mutual consent divorce is sought by a married couple when both spouses mutually or jointly wish to end their marriage. This is a peaceful process and does not involve any kind of blame or alleging any faults on each other’s part. The legal provision for this, for Hindus in India, is given under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. For people following other religions, similar provisions are present in other personal laws, for example – Section 28 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954. However, there are certain requirements that need to be fulfilled to obtain a divorce by mutual consent in India – 1. Both spouses must have lived separately for at least one year before the divorce. 2. The spouses must be in mutual agreement that their marriage has broken down. 3. There should be no pressuring element present, like – coercion, fraud, or undue influence in giving consent to the mutual consent divorce. There has to be a joint petition filed before the family court to obtain such a divorce and the process for that is as follows – 1. After the first motion seeking divorce by the parties, the court usually gives the couple a six-month cooling-off period, which it can waive if it deems fit. 2. After this six-month period, the couple appears in court for the second motion, and this time, the court may grant the decree of divorce. 3. In mutual consent divorces, matters like custody of children, alimony, maintenance, and property division are mutually agreed upon by the spouses before filing for divorce. I hope this answer helps. For any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you.

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