Pune's Family Court sits on Nyaymurti Ranade Path in Shivajinagar, a short walk from the main district court complex. It hears divorce, judicial separation, custody and guardianship, maintenance and other disputes between spouses and family members. On a first date you will usually be referred to a counsellor before the case goes further, so come prepared to talk, not to argue.
Most people walk into the Family Court on a bad day. They have usually never been inside a court before, and they are about to see their spouse across a room. Knowing what the day will look like takes a surprising amount of the fear out of it.
What the Family Court hears
- Divorce — mutual consent and contested — and judicial separation
- Child custody, visitation and guardianship
- Maintenance for a wife, children or parents, including interim maintenance
- Disputes over property between spouses
- Declarations about whether a marriage is valid
A Domestic Violence Act application is normally filed before a Magistrate, but where a divorce or maintenance case is already pending in the Family Court, the same reliefs can be asked for there.
Why your first date is usually with a counsellor
The Family Courts Act requires the court to try to settle the dispute first. In practice that means both of you are sent to a marriage counsellor attached to the court, often for more than one sitting. Nobody is judging you there. The counsellor is trying to find out whether reconciliation is possible, and if it is not, whether the two of you can at least agree on the children and the money.
Do you need a lawyer in the Family Court?
Section 13 of the Family Courts Act says a party is not entitled, as of right, to be represented by a lawyer. In practice the court usually permits it, and most contested cases are argued by advocates. Many people at the counselling stage come alone. If maintenance, custody or property is at stake, take advice before you sign anything, including a settlement drafted at counselling.
What to carry
| Carry | Why |
|---|---|
| Photo ID and two passport photographs | Needed for appearance and for some applications |
| Marriage certificate, or wedding card and photographs | Proof of the marriage and its date and place |
| Children's birth certificates and school records | For custody and maintenance |
| Salary slips, ITRs, bank statements | Both sides must file an affidavit of assets and liabilities in maintenance cases |
| Copies of every notice and order received | Courts work from the file; keep your own complete set |
Video conferencing
Pune's Family Court has allowed parties abroad to appear by video link. One reported case was a mutual consent divorce where the husband lived in Portugal and the wife in Pune. If one of you is outside Pune or outside India, ask for this early rather than adjourning the case.
Checking your case online
Every case filed in a Pune court has a 16-character CNR number, printed on your papers. Enter it on the eCourts services website or app to see the next date, the stage of the case and orders passed. You can also search by party name or by the advocate's name.
Getting there
The court is close to the District Court metro station, which connects the Pimpri-Chinchwad and Swargate line with the Vanaz–Ramwadi line, and to Shivajinagar railway station. Parking around the court complex fills early on working days, so public transport is often easier.
The bottom line
Your first visit to the Family Court is usually the start of counselling, not a trial. Arrive with your papers in order and an honest idea of what you want for yourself and your children. That puts you in a far better position for everything that follows.