01Who this page is for
Family matters in Pune — custody, maintenance, domestic violence protection — are heard by the Family Court at Shivajinagar and the Magistrate's courts. Interim relief such as maintenance or protection orders can often be secured within the first few hearings, while the main matter proceeds.
Whether you are seeking custody of your children, fair maintenance, or protection from violence at home, the sequence matters: interim relief first, evidence built carefully, and no step taken that weakens your position later. That is how we run every family matter.
Child Custody
Interim and permanent custody, visitation schedules and guardianship under the Guardians and Wards Act.
How it worksMaintenance & Alimony
Interim maintenance under Section 144 BNSS (earlier Section 125 CrPC) and permanent alimony in matrimonial proceedings.
How it worksDomestic Violence
Protection, residence and monetary orders under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
How it worksRestitution & Judicial Separation
Matrimonial remedies short of divorce — and honest advice on when they help and when they don't.
How it works02The process, step by step
Most family matters before the Family Court, Pune follow this sequence:
Consultation & strategy
Facts, documents, and what relief the law actually provides in your situation — interim and final.
Week 1Petition & interim applications
The main petition is filed along with applications for interim custody, maintenance or protection.
1–3 weeksInterim orders
Courts decide interim relief early — often the most consequential stage for custody and maintenance.
1–3 monthsEvidence & final order
Pleadings complete, evidence led, and the matter argued to a final order or settlement.
Case-dependent03Documents required
Checklist — Family Court Matters
- Marriage certificate or proof of marriage
- Children's birth certificates
- Income documents of both spouses (salary slips / ITR)
- Details of assets and liabilities
- School and medical records (custody matters)
- Evidence relevant to allegations (messages, medical reports)
- Address proof of both parties
04Honest timelines
Interim relief — maintenance, protection orders, interim custody — is realistic within the first one to three months. Final orders in contested family matters commonly take one to three years depending on evidence and the court's board. We tell you which timeline applies to your facts at the first consultation, not after filing.
05Mistakes we see every month
- Leaving the house with the children without adviceIt shapes custody and residence orders before a single document is filed.
- Agreeing maintenance informallyUnrecorded arrangements are unenforceable — and often become evidence against you.
- Fighting every issue equallyCourts reward focus. Interim custody and maintenance decide the practical outcome; spend your strength there.
- Deleting messages and recordsElectronic records are recoverable and their deletion is noticed. Preserve everything; let your advocate decide relevance.
06Fees, discussed upfront
Every engagement begins with a written understanding of the fee structure — consultation, drafting, appearances — before any work starts. We will tell you plainly at the first meeting what your matter involves, and you will never see a charge we did not explain.
What happens at your first consultation
- You talk, we listen. Bring whatever papers you have, organised or not. There is no form to fill and nothing to prepare.
- We tell you where you stand — including the weaknesses in your position. An advocate who only tells you good news is not advising you.
- You get options, not pressure. Sometimes the honest answer is that you do not need to file anything yet.
- Fees in writing before any work begins, so no invoice ever surprises you.
Everything you say is privileged, whether or not you engage the firm. Consultations are held in Marathi, Hindi or English — in person at Kasba Peth, or over video.
Adv. Indrajit Dongre
Leads this practice, appearing before Pune's courts since 1998. Assisted by Adv. Rasika Kushte and Adv. Amruta Rasal.
07Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I get interim maintenance in Pune?
Who gets custody of young children?
Can maintenance be claimed without filing for divorce?
Is mediation compulsory?
Reading on family matters
Choosing between advocates? Our checklist for choosing a lawyer in Pune covers which court hears your matter, how to verify an advocate's Bar Council enrolment yourself, what fee structures are normal, and the questions worth asking at a first meeting — ours included.